varchar(255), varchar(256), nvarchar(255), nvarchar(256), nvarchar(max), etc? 256 seems like a nice, round, space-efficient number. But I've seen 255 used a lot. Why? What's the difference between varchar and nvarchar? ...
I have seen the references to VistaDB over the years and with tools like SQLite, Firebird, MS SQL et. al. I have never had a reason to consider it. What are the benefits of paying for VistaDB vs using another technology? Things I have thought of: 1. Compact Framework Support. SQLite+MSSQL support the CF. 2. Need migration path to a 'm...
The default asp.net membership provider uses a .mdf sql server database file in the app_code database. How scalable is this in terms of calling a flat file database instead of running it in a standard sql environment? Is this recommended only for small/medium traffic sites? Thanks. ...
I'm creating an ASP.NET web site where all pages hang off a database-driven tree-hierarchy. Pages typically present HTML content. But, some will execute programming. Examples: (1) a "contact us" form or (2) a report generator How should I represent/reference the programming within the database? Should I have a varchar value of a Web...
What are the recommended strategies to do versioning of database changes to tables, views, functions, stored procedures, etc.? ...
I'm creating a web site where all pages hang off a database-driven tree-hierarchy. All but one node has a parent node. Nodes may have role-based read permissions. Some nodes may have special rules (such as: don't display within navigation menus). Nodes may represent links to other nodes (like a shortcut in Windows). Nodes typically ...
Does anybody know of any sample databases I could download, preferably in CSV or some similar easy to import format so that I could get more practice in working with different types of data sets? The Canadian Department of Environment has historical weather data that you can download. Unfortunately it's not in a format I can import int...
I would like to get opinions or suggestions regarding embedded databases in Java. In particular I was looking at H2, HSQLDB and Derby. Have you use any of these in a production project? Do you have comment or recommendations to select one over the others? Thanks Edit: I am currently evaluating these options to use in our internal devel...
How do sites like yahoo get their NFL information. I wanted to tap into NFL information for a web app. ...
Let's say I've got Alpha things that may or may not be or be related to Bravo or Charlie things. These are one-to-one relationships: No Alpha will relate to more than one Bravo. And no Bravo will relate to more than one Alpha. I've got a few goals: a system that's easy to learn and maintain. data integrity enforced within my databas...
I'm familiar with SQL Server Indexed Views (or Oracle Materialized Views), we use them in our OLAP applications. They have the really cool feature of being able to usurp an execution plan and remap it to the indexed view w/out having to change existing code. IE. Let's say I had a SPROC that was a really expensive join. SELECT [SOME ...
I'm currently updating a legacy system which allows users to dictate part of the schema of one of its tables. Users can create and remove columns from the table through this interface. This legacy system is using ADO 2.8, and is using SQL Server 2005 as its database (you don't even WANT to know what database it was using before the att...
I'm obviously not talking about a full solution, but just a good starting point for common applications for software architects. It could be for a CMS, e-commerce storefront, address book, etc. A UML diagram is not essential, but a table schema with data types in the least. Thanks! ...
Hi A database that stores a lot of credit card information is an inevitable part of the system we have just completed. What I want though is ultimate security of the card numbers whereby we setup a mechanism to encrypt and decrypt but of ourselves cannot decrypt any given number. What I am after is a way to secure this information eve...
Is there a system stored procedure to get the version #? ...
A former coworker insisted that a database with more tables with fewer columns each is better then one with fewer tables with more columns each. For example rather than a customer table with name, address, city, state, zip, etc. columns, you would have a name table, an address table, a city table, etc. He argued this design was more ef...
Should I use a dedicated network channel between the database and the application server? ...or... Connecting both in the switch along with all other computer nodes makes no diference at all? The matter is performance! ...
Conventional wisdom states that stored procedures are always faster. So, since they're always faster, use them ALL THE TIME. I am pretty sure this is grounded in some historical context where this was once the case. Now, I'm not advocating that Stored Procs are not needed, but I want to know in what cases stored procs are necessary in m...
I was going to ask a question here about whether or not my design for some users/roles database tables was acceptable, but after some research I came across this question: What is the best way to handle multiple permission types? It sounds like an innovative approach, so instead of a many-to-many relationship users_to_roles table, I ha...
If it's possible, I'm interested in being able to embed a PostGreSQL database, similar to sqllite. I've read that it's not possible. I'm no database expert though, so I want to hear from you. Essentially I want PostGreSQL without all the configuration and installation. If it's possible, tell me how. ...