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What Power BI DirectQuery does to your SQL Server (and how to fix it)

Power BI DirectQuery can quietly overwhelm your SQL Server. Unlike Import mode, DirectQuery sends live T-SQL for every visual interaction, multiplying queries and placing heavy analytical load on the database. This article explains how to identify the worst offending DirectQuery queries, why the generated SQL is often inefficient, and what you can do from the database side, including indexing, Query Store, and reporting views, to improve performance. It also outlines practical changes on the Power BI side and when DirectQuery is simply the wrong architectural choice.

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2026-04-20

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External Article

How User-Defined Types work in PostgreSQL: a complete guide

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, sometimes I get sidetracked. In this particular instance, I hadn’t intended to start learning about User-Defined Types (UDT) in PostgreSQL – I just wanted to test a behavior that involved creating a UDT. But, once I started reading, I was hooked. I mean, four distinct UDTs with different behaviors? That’s pretty cool. Let’s get into it.

2026-04-17

SQLServerCentral Article

SQL Server 2022 Build List

This is a list of the builds for SQL Server 2022. There are other build lists available here. A list of all the builds that I can find and install on my Build VM. If you find a build not listed here, please let the webmaster know (webmaster at sqlservercentral.com). All builds are listed in reverse […]

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2026-04-16 (first published: )

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SQLServerCentral Article

SQL Server 2025 Build List

This is a list of the builds for SQL Server 2025. There are other build lists available here. A list of all the builds that I can find and install on my Build VM. If you find a build not listed here, please let the webmaster know (webmaster at sqlservercentral.com). All builds are listed in reverse […]

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2026-04-16 (first published: )

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Question of the Day

Creating a JSON Document II

I want to create a JSON document that contains data from this table:

TeamID TeamNameCity         YearEstablished
1      Cowboys  Dallas       1960
2      Eagles   Philadelphia 1933
3      Packers  Green Bay    1919
4      Chiefs   Kansas City  1960
If I run this code, what document(s) is/are returned?
SELECT json_objectagg( n.city : n.TeamName)
FROM dbo.NFLTeams;

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