This tip is for SQL Server 6.5 and up. When debugging a SELECT query, add an absolute true condition as the first condition of the WHERE clause:
SELECT au_lname, au_fnameFROM authorsWHERE 1=1 --absolute true condition and state = 'CA' and contract = 1
That way, you can comment out one or more of the real conditions in the WHERE clause using the “- -” comment character sequence to narrow down which condition(s) cause the query to malfunction. When you