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Having a solid knowledge of the window functions if vital to high performance T-SQL Code. The key to these functions is how the OVER clause is used. This article will dive into how to use the OVER clause.  Read more...

Although SQL Server for Linux removes the concern that adopting SQL Server forces you to also adopt the Windows platform, it could also provide a useful alternative platform, and a more obvious alternative to Oracle. There are, however, several obvious concerns as to how such a product could ever achieve parity with the existing Windows-based product. Microsoft have made an interesting move with several ramifications, as Robert Sheldon explains.  Read more...

This article shows four ways you can use when installing missing R packages for Microsoft R Services.  Read more...

There are times when you want some users to see part of a column value but not the whole thing, but you want other users to see the complete column value without any masking. The new SQL Server 2016 Dynamic Data Masking feature will allow you to define these different kinds of masking rules - Greg Larson explains.  Read more...

SQL Compare 12 has landed with a brand new user interface, support for SQL Server 2016, and a wealth of fixes and improvements. Check out this blog post from Redgate's Carly Meichen to hear more about what’s new, why the team have built it, and how. Read now.  Read more...

This level of the Stairway to Exploring Database Metadata focuses on indexes and all the information you can gather about them.  Read more...

Three SQL Server MVPs (Jonathan Kehayias, Ted Krueger and Gail Shaw) provide fascinating insight into the most common SQL Server problems, why they occur, and how they can be diagnosed using tools such as Performance Monitor, Dynamic Management Views and server-side tracing. The focus is on practical solutions for removing root causes of these problems, rather than "papering over the cracks".  Read more...

DBCC CHECKDB is a built-in SQL Server command that allows you to check database integrity and consistency in one simple command, but running it on large databases can be a nightmare. In this article, Ahmad Yaseen explains how you can enhance the command to run faster in SQL Server 2016.  Read more...

In this tip, we will talk about PowerShell and SQL Server Log and Data Files.  Read more...

Desired State Configuration (DSC) allows you to automate the way that you manage configuration data for software services as well as the environment in which these services run. DSC uses a set of built-in and custom 'resources' as the building blocks for a configuration. If you have specific requirements you may need to create the relevant resource to make the configuration happen. Nicolas Prigent provides a practical guide to DSC resources.  Read more...