Author: way0utwest

Someone submitted an article recently that walked through how to find the rules in your database, which columns they were bound to, and then how to remove them in order to replace them with Check Constraints. It was interesting because it had been a long time since I’d worked with rules.

Actually I never used them in any databases I designed, though I did run into them with some third party products. For those of you not familiar, a rule functions like a CHECK CONSTRAINT, and determines what is a valid value to put into a column. You use sp_bindrule to link a rule (like a default) to a column. As that page says, however, rules are deprecated and shouldn’t be used.

In fact, they ought to be replaced with check constraints, which function in much the same manner. It’s fairly easy to do, although determining where the rules are bound isn’t. Look for the article soon at SQLServerCentral.

And start replacing those rules with constraints. It will save you some work down the road as likely SQL 11 or SQL 12 won’t upgrade with them.

We usually stuff stockings with little things for each other in the family. Sometimes it’s junk, or candy, but this year I tried to be a little better. I aimed for funny and practical, and cheap.

My wife got some wiper blades since her truck needs them. My oldest got deer whistles since he’s worried about hitting a deer out here. All the kids got little flashlights, and there were a couple book lights in there.

Me? I got pens! Nothing fancy, just a pack of cheap Bic clicker pens.

It’s funny since I am always complaining that I can’t find pens. Despite all the stuff on my desk, I have lots of pencils, sharpies, and other desk instruments, but not pens. So finding them in my stocking was pretty funny for me.

Just a short Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas wish to everyone out there. Enjoying our White Christmas here in Denver.

Actually we’re not quite like the Denver Zoo, which is open every day of the year. The zoo in Virginia where I grew up closed on Christmas, which is kind of like SQLServerCentral. Some years I’ve sent out a Christmas newsletter, just saying Merry Christmas and wishing everyone a happy holiday, but I’m not doing that this year. It’s good to take a break around the holidays, and in addition to letting the servers slow down, I’ll also be skipping the Christmas newsletter. Probably the only one this year.

I’m not closing down, however, as I’ve got things to do over the holidays, newsletters to get out, and writing to get done. My wife has almost the two weeks off around Christmas with vacation she needs to take and her clients closing down. She’s ready to ski and was thinking I’d be off as well. I’m not, though I’ll likely slip away for some days to enjoy the white stuff up in the CO mountains.

So while I’m trying to get ahead for the new year, when I do have some vacation, I hope everyone has a great Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate, and enjoy the time away from work.