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So I'm running through some practice tests for the MCSA, and it seems that the questions that require me to actually type out a SQL query almost never accept my answer as correct, and the only thing I can come up with is that case matters, along with spacing between operators. This is highly annoying (and adds to my pre-existing negative attitude towards MS certifications), and I'm hoping the actual cert tests don't do this.
I've taken to opening notepad and saving both my answer and the expected answer for the questions that are scored as wrong. This way, I can go back and count up these incorrectly scored questions and adjust my score accordingly. This adds about an hour to every run through of the test.
As a result, I'm actually passing the tests more often then not, but I'm in an increasingly foul mood.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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What do you get in return for the frustration? AKA, what was the bribe to get you to do this?
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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I get to keep my job (and the tangible value of that "benefit" is becoming less attractive every day).
I wasn't informed until AFTER my first day that the MCDBA for SQL 2008 cert was required, which hasn't been available for a year or more. To make matters worse, I can only get MCSA for SQL 2012, which doesn't conform to the contract language, and will be completely pointless because the customer is going to *skip* that version of SQL Server.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: I get to keep my job
Yes, temporarily forgot, but I read most of the other posts.
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: and will be completely pointless
Respect for your endurance. I can only wish you a lot of patience - sounds like a place where I would not have much of that.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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The power of bad software!
cat fud heer
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Well, I already gave you my opinion to your predicament.
However, in the mean time, just write the sql statements the way they want, and allow your foul mood to ferment in time for the Holidays...of which, I wish you and your family the best.
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Jeez, that would annoy the hell out of me as well. Surely the damned test should compare the results of your query to those it expects, and the text of your query should have almost zero weight.
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly. - Oscar Wilde
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Actually, SQL is case-insensitive and operator spacing agnostic, but I'm not entirely convinced that these VCE files are capable of distinguishing that, or if they are, the particular one I'm using is FUBAR.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Even if the test that is such a dumb elephant was also case-insensitive and operator spacing agnostic, you might like to write your T-SQL bunched up, or like I do, each keyword and column name on a new line; whatever, as long as it has the same damned outcome on the DB.
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly. - Oscar Wilde
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Philosophical debate as to what 'lucky' is postponed.
After some years of soul searching as a -mainly- freelancer, I gave up, and 'prayed' for a return to frustrating but reliable corporate life. After an apparent multitude of interviews, and tests, and etc. [I know what I did there re redundancy], I had one first interview, and the "talent manager" directly said he wanted to make me an offer.
This was not only the first time - in the last decade - that I've had such direct feedback at the first interview, but also the only interview out of about twenty where no external recruiter was involved.
I had done several written assessments for companies (lets face it, i wouldn't want to even interview someone that can't fix a syntax error in a Hello World), but I really clicked with the dev manager that interviewed me. I started 17 November 2014.
I have never worked for a real dev house before, but have known several fine people from other houses, but where I find myself now is unprecedented in my working history in terms of the sheer number of people, from my company and the client I am now at, that are so clued up and focused on the work we as [agile] developers are expected [by me and others] to know and do.
For me, being at work this December makes for a much greater Christmas gift than any other stay at home could ever.
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly. - Oscar Wilde
modified 19-Dec-14 12:50pm.
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Hi Brady, Congratulations !
Towards the end of his life, Sigmund Freud, in his retrospective book, "Civilisation and Its Discontents," wrote that he had come to view life as having two essential elements, "leben und arbeit," "love and work."
To have "good work" with people you respect, with peers, and with those whose skills are advanced compared to your own: what a gift !
cheers, Bill
«OOP to me means only messaging, local retention and protection and hiding of state-process, and extreme late-binding of all things. » Alan Kay's clarification on what he meant by the term "Object" in "Object-Oriented Programming."
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Thank you, Bill. ![Rose | [Rose]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly. - Oscar Wilde
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Great news, keep going and get used to the regular pay checks.
veni bibi saltavi
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Awesome! Great feeling, I know.
Best to you and your new job. Way to go. 
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The 1970's !!!
Yeah I can see the disco glitter and starburst !
I'd rather be phishing!
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Pictures like that I can see why Orion was big news in the '70s...
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Here in the states it is a "working" day. But I don't think much work will be done.
I am monitoring email. I have another co-worker who is "working" as well.
Anyone else?
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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We've been given the 26th and the 2nd off. Sweet.
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I'm off for three weeks. ![Jig | [Dance]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/jig.gif)
There are plenty of long weekends this year so I only need to take a week of vacation.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
(√-sh*t) 2
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can I officially say. Congrats.
In secret though. You suck. LOL. Very jealous. Enjoy your time off.
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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I can live with that.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
(√-sh*t) 2
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I got you beaten by a week (off for a month )
Tom
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If I did that I'd have to scrap Tuscany this summer.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
(√-sh*t) 2
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Herself has Christmas Eve off, then is working right through to New Years Day - which is also her birthday... 
So, I'll be working most of the time, probably including the 25th and 26th - cooking the Xmas dinner if nothing else! 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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