If you are using replication in SQL Server, you can monitor it in SSMS, but it makes sense to monitor distribution jobs automatically, especially if you can set up alerts or even set up first-line remedial action when a problem is detected. Francis shows how to do it in T-SQL as an agent job.  Read more...

A future world where the machines rule, as shown in films like Terminator and the Matrix, isn't what most people want. However the fears of machines taking over much of our world are very real. Steve Jones thinks it's not as bad as you might believe.  Read more...

How to render PDF documents using SQL CLR. Also a good introduction on creating SQL CLR functions.  Read more...

To meet our database configuration standards we want to make sure that we have only one database transaction log file and more than one data file. In this tip we look at how this can be done using a policy.  Read more...

Join us for a free day of SQL Server training and networking in Atlanta on May 18th.  Read more...

With all the talk about Big Data recently, Steve Jones looks at some of the issues with Big Data and how small data might be more important to you.  Read more...

Learn how to simplify deployment and maintenance of SQL CLR assemblies by using T-SQL instead of Visual Studio.  Read more...

The easiest ways to maintain and manage slowly changing dimensions is using Slowly Changing Dimension Transformation in the data flow task of SSIS packages.  Read more...

Using SQLCMD Mode in SSMS is easy. This short piece will show you how to get started.  Read more...

Research in industry can help a company leap ahead of it's peers. Steve Jones thinks this is a good idea for many companies to engage in and highlights some of the great work being done at Microsoft Research.  Read more...

SQL Server filtered indexes can save space and improve performance if they are used properly. Under what circumstances can they be used? When are they most effective, and what sort of performance gain or space-saving is likely? How does a filtered index affect the choice of execution plan? Seth Delconte explores these questions with practical experiments.  Read more...

The state of cloud computing is confusing and unstable. Steve Jones has a few thoughts about the good and bad things in this industry.  Read more...

Learn how to dynamically load data from ETL load files using SSIS as a shell. The code downloads files from FTP, parses them and loads them into the database.  Read more...

There is a lot of data out there that is specific to an individual, none more important perhaps than biometric data. Steve Jones writes a bit about the security implications involved in working with this data. (This editorial was originally published on Nov 10, 2008. It is being re-run as Steve is at SQL Bits.)  Read more...

This tip will demonstrate how to monitor SQL Failover Cluster Instances if they become unbalanced using Windows PowerShell.  Read more...

A more detailed look at the DAX language and some of its more frequently used functions  Read more...

A new application manages data from your IT machines and software, but doesn't use a database. Steve Jones talks a little about this. (This editorial was originally published on Jan 20, 2009. It is being re-run as Steve is at SQL Bits.)  Read more...

When you need to present the same SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) report in eight or more different languages, or in different formats for different recipients, and the boss demands last-minute changes, it suddenly makes sense to use the Report Definition Customisation Extension (RDCE) .NET class library to create the final reports automatically. But how?  Read more...

Join us for a free day of SQL Server training and networking in Redmond, WA  Read more...

Even planning allows for failure, sometimes you can't see everything else where you're standing.   Read more...