As the SQL Developer community grows to embrace the benefits of test-driven development for databases, so the importance of learning to do it properly increases. One way of learning effective TDD is by the use of code kata – short practice sessions that encourage test-first development in baby steps. I have a limited number of licences for SQL Test to give away free – just for practicing a bit of TDD and telling me about it.  Read more...

The city by the bay welcomes Steve Jones, Grant Fritchey and more for a day of debate, discussion and learning about SQL Server. It's free. Just register and join us.  Read more...

You may have data in a database that was inserted into a table by mistake, or you may have data in your tables that is no longer of value. In either case, when you have unwanted data in a table you need a way to remove it. The DELETE statement can be used to eliminate data in a table that is no longer needed. In this article you will see the different ways to use the DELETE statement to identify and remove unwanted data from your SQL Server tables.  Read more...

An optimized Damerau-Levenshtein Distance (DLD) algorithm for "fuzzy" string matching in Transact-SQL 2000-2008  Read more...

If you want to run an Oracle Package and then execute a web service, copy files or folders, a sequence of tasks, you may need to use SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).  Read more...

Learn about this new feature in SQL Server 2012 and how to move your binary data.  Read more...

A free day of training in Austin, TX with Grant Fritchey, Steve Jones and a few others. Join us to learn about SQL Server and how you can more efficiently work in your job every day.  Read more...

The challenge is to find the Tax Code based on Price. Each sales amount is uniquely made up by the sum of one or more prices. Based on this you should assign the tax code to each price.   Read more...

It is often recommended that system tables should not be updated directly. Presenting a case in point built around nightly job configuration in order to demonstrate the possible issues with updating system tables directly.  Read more...

Come join Grant Fritchey, Steve Jones and others for a free day of training in New York City on Sept 28, 2012.  Read more...

When the Cloud was new, it was often presented as an 'all or nothing' solution. Nowadays, the canny Systems Architect will exploit the best advantages of 'cloud' distributed computing in the right place, and use in-house services where most appropriate. So what are the issues that govern these architectural decisions?  Read more...

This white paper provides practical guidance to help BI professionals and decision makers decide whether SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services tabular or multidimensional modeling provides the best fit for your next BI solution.  Read more...

SQL in the City is a free, full day training and networking event for database professionals. After the success of last year’s event, Red Gate has expanded the event to cover six cities from sea to shining sea, including: New York, Austin, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Seattle.  Read more...

Another in our series of articles to help you fill in the cracks in your knowledge with SQL Spackle. MVP Jeff Moden shows us how IsNumeric works and how you should use it.  Read more...

Once again Jonathan Lewis (Oracle Ace Director, OakTable Network) and Grant Fritchey (Microsoft SQL Server MVP) will host a live discussion on Oracle and SQL Server, this time in relation to temporary tables. Will they agree on some common ground? Or will it be an out and out argument? Either way, be prepared for a lively exchange that will not only entertain, but will teach you key concepts on Oracle and SQL Server.  Read more...

The open-source Unit Test framework tSQLt is a great way of writing unit tests in the same language as the one being tested. In retrospect, after using tSQLt for a while, what are the 'gotchas'; those things that you'd have been better off knowing about before you get started? David Green lists a few tips he wished he'd read beforehand.  Read more...

When you're getting spikes of high CPU, it's quite likely it's a rogue query. But how do you find out which query? Grant Fritchey explains, using SQL Monitor.  Read more...

Start the week in Seattle off with a free day of training on Nov 5, 2012 with SQL in the City. Grant Fritchey, Steve Jones and more will be talking SQL Server in the Pacific Northwest. Join us and debate and discuss SQL Server the Red Gate Way.  Read more...

In Level 8 of the Stairway to SSIS we look at more advanced workflow management within a package.  Read more...

A great list of SQL Server resources that you can use to help you improve your knowledge or ask questions.  Read more...

A free day of training in Chicago on Oct 5, 2012. Join Grant Fritchey, Steve Jones and more to discuss, debate, ask questions, and learn about how to better run your organizations SQL Servers.  Read more...

SQL Saturday comes back to Michigan. Come see Jeff Moden and others talk SQL Server on Sept 22, 2012.  Read more...