Q:

Viewing previous query results from SQL Server Management Studio

I left my computer last night running a batch delete in the Query Editor of Sql Server Management Studio. I was running this to test the speed of the delete on a large database before we used the script on our live database. During the night my computer restarted for an update. I am wondering if there's any way to view a log of the previous statements executed, and see the time it took to execute. It was deleting from SQL Server 2000. Thanks!

A:

The only way to do this is by having set up some form of monitoring process prior to (and during) the operation. E.g. the Profiler tool allows you to log the duration of (and any statements, but not results) of any batch, or you could issue a SELECT or PRINT showing the results of getdate() prior to, and after, the statement.
With modification operations like a DELETE, there will be a record in the transaction log (assuming it hasn't been truncated since, with a log backup or a checkpoint in simple recovery mode), but mere mortals can't inspect the transaction log with built-in tools. Third-party log inspectors are available though, but the transaction log shows the time an operation occurred, it doesn't contain information about its duration :)
I realise that this is shutting the gate after the horse is bolted, but there's no built-in record of things like this that will survive a reboot, sorry!

