Celko on SQL: Natural, Artificial and Surrogate Keys Explained
SQL programming guru Joe Celko offers a classification scheme and advice on using the right keys.
2007-10-25
3,595 reads
Articles
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 8 - XCopy Deployment
Part 8 of our series provides an overview of User Instance model (also known as “Run As Normal User” or simply RANU) and automatic database connectivity, which serve as two primary enablers for XCopy deployment, facilitating distribution of single-user databases.
2007-10-25
1,766 reads
Date and Time in SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008 is well on its way to being complete and released with the release of the second CTP recently. There aren't a tremendous number of changes, but one of the more interesting ones is the changes to date and time handling in this new platform. The time and date datatypes have been separated and longtime SQL Server author Vincent Rainardi brings us a short look at how there can be used.
2007-10-24
12,823 reads
Working with Time Spans and Durations in SQL Server
What is the best way to return the "duration" of an event in SQL, given the start and end datetime values? How can we add up these durations to return grand totals? What data types should be used to return this data to our clients? How do we handle overflows, such as when hours go over 23 or minutes total up to over 59? Are there any T-SQL functions or other techniques that are useful in these scenarios?
2007-10-24
4,455 reads
Featured Blog: BACKUP LOG WITH NO_LOG
From one of the SQL Server 2005 storage engine lead developers comes this look at the impact of using the NO_LOG and TRUNCATE_ONLY options.
2007-10-24
3,313 reads
Performance Tuning
Performance tuning is an art or science, depending on who you talk to. SQL Server guru Joe Sack has authored a book on SQL Server 2005 T-SQL and brings us the performance tuning chapter as a preview.
2007-10-23 (first published: 2006-10-25)
14,551 reads
The Reporting Services 3-Trick Pony
Rodney Landrum demonstrates an ingenious way to monitor blocked SQL Server processes across all your servers, using nothing but SSRS.
2007-10-23
13,601 reads
Microsoft Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO – Part 8
This installment illustrates how to use PowerShell in conjunction with SMO to display object properties of all SQL Server Objects.
2007-10-23
2,594 reads
Distributing SQL Server Databases
Longtime SQL Server author Raj Vasant brings us a technique for delivering databases along with an application. As more and more systems take advantage of SQL Server or Express, this is a technique that can come in very handy.
2007-10-22
5,626 reads
Maximizing Attribute Relationship Aggregations in Changing Dimensions
When designing your SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (SSAS) dimensions and related attributes—appropriately called attribute relationships—you should consider how changes in your dimension data will affect the underlying dimension aggregations and, in turn, processing and query performance.
2007-10-22
951 reads
Blogs
Power BI Performance in 2026: A Practical Guide to Faster Semantic Models and Reports
By James Serra
Originally published April 2022; substantially updated July 2026. This post is a complete replacement...
Getting Started with Azure SQL Developer on Macbook
The idea behind Azure SQL Developer is for anyone to build, iterate, and test...
AI Experiments: Claude Solved a DAB Issue
By Steve Jones
I’m sure many of you are using AI regularly, perhaps chatting, perhaps using some...
Forums
SQL Agent Job Automated Change Capture Process
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Another Model, More Data Loss
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Finding a Database Master Key
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Question of the Day
Finding a Database Master Key
Where do I check for the existence of a Database Master Key (DMK) in SQL Server 2025?
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