SQL SUM() for Beginners

In SQL, the SUM() function is an aggregate function that returns the sum of all values in a given expression.

It can also be used to return the sum of all distinct (unique) values in an expression.

The expression must be numeric (it cannot be character string, bit string, or datetime).

Below are some basic examples to demonstrate how it works.

Continue reading

Find Out Which Partition a Given Value Would be Mapped to in SQL Server (T-SQL)

If you have a partitioned table or index in SQL Server, and you want to determine which partition a given value would be mapped to, you can do this nice and quickly with the $PARTITION system function.

All you need to know is the name of the partition function (and of course, the value you’re interested in).

Continue reading

How Implicit Transactions Work in SQL Server

There are four transaction modes in SQL Server. One of these is implicit mode.

In SQL Server, an implicit transaction is when a new transaction is implicitly started when the prior transaction completes, but each transaction is explicitly completed with a COMMIT or ROLLBACK statement.

This is not to be confused with autocommit mode, where the transaction is started and ended implicitly.

Continue reading