This article exlores the usage of CTEs as a replacement to cursors in order to generate additional data by applying logic to existing data.  Read more...

How do keep the best programmers? Steve Jones has a few thoughts that might cause you to rethink how you manage your programming stars.  Read more...

Updates to the latest CUs for SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 from Aaron Bertrand.  Read more...

On Thursday June 20 at 12 noon Central time, Steve Simon will discuss the challenges of designing financial warehouses.  Read more...

Slowly Changing Dimension (SCD) Transformation is a quick and easy way to manage smaller slowly changing dimensions but it has several limitations and does not perform well when the number of rows or columns gets larger. Arshad Ali explores some of the alternatives you can use for managing larger slowly changing dimensions.  Read more...

Windows Cluster\SQL Availability Group rebuild times comparison - Management Studio & Cluster Manager Vs PowerShell Commands   Read more...

Why does the IT industry seem to act and run so differently than many other industries? Steve Jones takes a stab at explaining this.  Read more...

As data professionals, we want to avoid losing data. We won't always be successful, but we can avoid making the easy mistakes.  Read more...

SSAS Tabular models are in-memory databases that model data with relational constructs such as tables and relationships, in order to provide a rapid and powerful way of providing self-service BI to client applications such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power View. You’ve deployed SSAS in tabular mode, and deployed Adventureworks into it. What next? Rob Sheldon explains all.  Read more...

SQL Saturday Dublin is hosting a two-day training event covering SQL Server 2012, Business Intelligence, Database Administration and Personal Development. The free training event will be Saturday June 22 2013, and three preconference sessions (not free) will take place the 21st.  Read more...

Check if databases are really in FULL recovery model with a recovery model called pseudo-simple, where the database still behaves like it is still in SIMPLE recovery model until a full database backup is taken.   Read more...

This article shows how to implement low cost custom sequence numbering logic via a cunning use of the the ROW_NUMBER() function  Read more...

The best at their crafts are usually the most rewarded in sports, but not necessarily in other fields. This week Steve Jones asks if you would like it to be different?  Read more...

I've tried using SSIS checkpoints, but have found them to be difficult to configure and, on occasion, unpredictable. Is there a better way to build in restartability in my SSIS packages?  Read more...

An SSIS ETL package created with the Import/Export Wizard uses a Data Flow Task to process one data file at a time. If the need arises, however, the Data Flow Task generated by the wizard can be embedded inside a Foreach Loop Container to batch-process a continuous stream of data files.  Read more...

SQL Server Integration Services provide a versatile way of reading Excel files into SQL Server. A task like this illustrates the advantages of the graphical approach of SSIS. Andy Brown explains.  Read more...

Is your IT department outdated? There's a prediction that they won't be around in five years. Steve Jones doesn't agree.  Read more...

Computer vision has been something that researchers have worked on for years. We have no shortage of cameras, and we are starting to see the computing systems behind these devices starting to actually understand what is being seen. That understanding is very valuable. Will we see something similar happening in our SQL Server technologies?  Read more...

SSAS Maestro, SQL Server MVP and Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson introduces three “major players” within the MDX “relative” functions. These basic, but highly employed, functions include the .CurrentMember, .PrevMember and .NextMember functions.  Read more...

SQL Server databases move around as an organisation’s data grows, applications are enhanced or new versions of the database software are released. If not anything else, servers become old and unreliable and databases eventually need to find a new home. Here's what to do when migrating your databases.  Read more...