(Bill Hatfield) As you know, data types in the .NET Framework come in two varieties: value types and reference types. Likewise, you can pass any argument to a subroutine or function using the ByVal or ByRef keyword. In both cases, the term value implies that you are working with the data and the ter
Other News
Oracle Database Listener Security Guide
The Oracle Database Listener is the database server software component that manages the network traffic between the Oracle Database and the client. The Oracle Database Listener listens on a specific network port (default 1521) and forwards network connections to the Database. The Listener is compris
Developing Gadgets using ASP.NET Ajax Extensions
(Scott Dowding) After doing some reading about the new sidebar gadgets available in Windows Vista I wanted to try creating one. Since I love moves, I thought I would build a gadget that displays reviews. It’s built using ASP.NET Ajax Extensions and a RSS data source from Rotten Tomatoes.
TechTip: Cut to the Chase with DB2 Index Advisor PTFs
(Kent Milligan) While index advice from the DB2 query optimizer is not new, the advice itself is much easier to capture and analyze with the new V5R4 tooling. A recent set of V5R4 PTFs simplifies the process even further.
Understanding the SB+ Security API
(Ehab AbuShmais) In the past, accessing U2 SB+ for UniData and UniVerse security from outside of SB+ security screens was difficult. But now, you can use a new function, SH.SEC.API, to talk to SB+ security using routine calls when outside of SB+ security screens and reports. SB+ Release 5.4.0 makes
Print Discuss Subscribe to XML XInclude Processing in XSLT
(Erik Wilde) Assembling various parts of a document before processing the assembled document is a recurring theme in document processing. XML Inclusions (XInclude) is the W3C standard created to support this scenario, but since it is a standalone specification, it needs to be supported by a piece of
Improve query performance with SQL Server 2005 execution plans
(Baya Pavliashvili) One of the most exciting and useful additions to the query performance tuner’s arsenal is the ability to force the database engine to use a pre-generated query execution plan. Previous versions of SQL Server allowed a DBA to specify query hints, to perhaps alter the transaction i
Can you trust your constraints?
(Hugo Kornelis) SQL Server allows you to temporarily disable your CHECK and FOREIGN KEY constraints. I would not recommend this as part of your regular production schedule, but there are certainly cases where this comes in handy.
The magical disappearing column
(Willie Favero) DB2 9 is fascinating. The more you read about it, the cooler the stuff is that you find out about. This post is about a feature I have seen little to nothing published about it so far. Granted, it’s pretty simple feature and extremely straightforward. However, it’s still pretty cool
Kill or Be Shamed
(Rodney) Every tidbit of knowledge gleaned over years of working with a product comes at a price and that price is sometimes shame at not having known such slacious info beforehand. So it is with shame I admit that today I learned something I suspect I should have known.