When a SQL Server database is operating smoothly and performing well, there is no need to be particularly aware of the transaction log, beyond ensuring that every database has an appropriate backup regime and restore plan in place. When things go wrong, however, a DBA's reputation depends on a deeper understanding of the transaction log, both what it does, and how it works.  Read more...

This tip looks at how to use a control file that lists the structure to use within SSMS and a PowerShell script that will automatically maintain the list of registered servers within SSMS.   Read more...

SQL Saturday is coming to Albany, NY on July 26, 2014. This is a free full day of training and networking for SQL Server professionals. This event also features a paid-for precon session with Grant Fritchey on query performance tuning. The event is soon so register while space is available.   Read more...

In the third part of a series on loading a partitioned data warehouse efficiently, we see how SSIS can be used to perform the ETL tasks.  Read more...

The complexity of financial trading systems is too much for an amateur approach, as the losses of various Bitcoin exchanges show.  Read more...

Robert Sheldon wonders if cloud-based version control still too risky for a service that must be secure, and risk-free?   Read more...

Many of you are interested in learning more about SQL Server and improving your career. However can you extend that to your colleagues? Can you convince them to become better IT professionals? Andy Warren has some thoughts.  Read more...

In this lesson we will learn the basis about XMLA and we will execute the command line to create DM objects.  Read more...

After a period of abstinence, Rodney Landrum adjusts to life back in the USSRS.  Read more...

What is the difference between the KeyColumn, the NameColumn, and the ValueColumn for a dimension attribute in SQL Server Analysis Services? When should you use each one for a dimension attribute? Check out this tip to learn more.  Read more...

This metric measures the amount of memory used by the total number of ad hoc queries in the plan cache that have only run one time. This value is only accurate for the instant the query is run, and the value can change radically from one capture time to the next.  Read more...

One of the common problems is dealing with apostrophes in T-SQL. This article examines the challenges of single quotation marks and ends with a short quiz.  Read more...

It is only when you start to take genuine pleasure in other people's successes that you experience the true rewards of being in a leadership position.  Read more...

Big data applications are here to stay. The promise of this technology is the ability to quickly and easily analyze large amounts of data and derive from that analysis changes to customer-facing systems, hopefully at a reasonable cost. So, do these applications really need tuning?  Read more...

This article describes a way to speed up various file operations performed by SQL Server.  Read more...

Phil Factor ponders a cull of some of SQL Server's worst-behaving functions.  Read more...

Although many professions require judgement and skill, they also require the ability to do many repeated standard procedures in a consistent and methodical manner. For DBAs, standardization involves providing and following checklists, notes and instructions so that the results are predictable, correct and easy to maintain.  Read more...

Agile Alliance is holding a conference July 28 - August 1 in Orlando, Florida. If you're interested in Agile development, whether your initiative is mature or brand new, enterprise-wide or team-centric, you will find the finest knowledge, resources and people at Agile2014. This conference is for Teams, Developers, Managers and Executives. Register while space is available.  Read more...

Today we have a guest editorial from Andy Galbraith that looks at the ways in which he has helped others in his career.  Read more...

No one wants to use more keystrokes than they have to when they write a chunk of T-SQL code. To help with minimizing the number of characters a T-SQL developer needs to type the Microsoft team introduced three new shortcuts operators when they release SQL Server 2008. These shorts cuts are the String Concatenation, Add EQUALS, and the Subtract EQUALS operators.  Read more...