(Arthur Fuller) SQL Server allows only one clustered index per table because a clustered index reorders the table, arranging the data according to the index key. This results in wonderful performance–when you only have to worry about one particular column.
Other News
Validating date using SQL
(Craig Mullins) Is there a way to validate a date using DB2 SQL? I have a date field from a file (COBOL is the programming language), and I need to determine if it is a valid date. (R)
Design patterns for information architecture with DITA map domains
(Erik Hennum, Don Day, John Hunt and Dave A. Schell) The Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) provides maps for assembling topics into deliverables. By specializing the map elements, you can define a formal information architecture for your deliverables. This architecture provides guida
An Introduction to Java Map Collection Classes
(Jack Shirazi) The collection classes in java.util include some of the most commonly used classes in Java. The most commonly used collection types are List and Map. Concrete implementations of List include ArrayList and Vector, which are variable size lists ideal for building, storing and manipulati
Hacking XML
(Michael Fitzgerald) Among my favorite hacks in XML Hacks are two that use an SGML package called SP to do some clever tricks. James Clark’s SP is a free, open-source SGML-parser package that includes an SGML parser called nsgmls and an SGML-to-XML converter called sx. The first hack excerpted b
Use an Oracle API to Extract and Store Database Objects’ DDL
(Boris Milrud) There are times when database data manipulation requires extracting DDL (Data Definition Language) commands for various objects, such as database tables, indexes, constraints, triggers, etc.
Using the XML Features of the Access 2003 Object Model
(Frank Rice) Microsoft Office 2003 adds a number of significant features for working with XML data. This article explores the XML-related objects, methods, and properties for Microsoft Office Access 2003. Detailed information on these new members is provided as well as code samples illustrating thei
Minding Memory
(Tom Davidson and Prakash Sundaresan) Starting with SQL Server 7.0, a central goal of the SQL Server development team has been to produce an easy-to-use system that requires little care for daily operations. To meet this goal, the team designed SQL Server to be a self-tuning system that dynam
How to use DB2’s cross-reference files to help manage your database — Part II
(Ron Turull) In the first installment, I introduced you to the eight database cross-reference files that the AS/400-iSeries automatically maintains for the database files on your system. These eight files contain exhaustive information about each and every database file on your AS/400-iSeries. N
Sorting output with CASE expressions for custom sort orders
(Serdar Yegulalp) Sometimes, a recordset will need to be returned with a non-standard sort order — something which isn’t possible with conventional sort or collation mechanisms. One example would be to have a zero in a numeric column placed at the bottom of the sort order, but to have everything el