It Cant be Done with SQL
New Author! This is a great walkthrough that starts out with a description of the problem and goes all the way to the solution - all using TSQL.
2003-10-30
12,138 reads
Articles
How to use the new function fn_get_sql() ?
This article shows you how to use the new function fn_get_sql() and the 3 new columns of master.dbo.sysprocesses. These changes were introduced in SQL Server 2000 SP3/SP3A. In this article, you will find a general purpose stored procedure called ShowCodeLine. It makes use of these new features, to inspect a given spid, and display the currently executing line/query
2003-10-30
56 reads
Design A Database Using an Entity-Relationship Diagram
New Author! Ramesh talks a little about database theory, using the ERD, and how you can put it to work.
2003-10-28
22,473 reads
Cycling Those Error Logs
Have you ever tried to open the current error log in Enterprise Manager only to have it seize up and hang? Has that annoyed you? It certainly annoyed Steve Jones and he decided to do something about it. A little techinque for helping to manage the size of those logs and prevent the "not responding" message from appearing in Task Manager.
2003-10-27
6,332 reads
Code Stored in Files Instead of Stored Procedures
This articles proposes storing the source code for stored procedures on disk rather than in the database itself, the intent to give developers the ability to easily change them or potentially to allow third party encryption of source code. (Note from SSC: If you choose to implement a technique like this, please be sure you understand the implications of exec'ing strings)
2003-10-24
8,305 reads
Bulk Data Load Using OLEDB Template Libraries
New Author! This is a fairly article that looks at how to do bulk data loading at a very (very) low level. You'll need to be able to read code to make use of this.
2003-10-23
5,847 reads
For SQL Server, XML Is One Answer
New author! Nick discusses why 'XML is One Answer', outlining some of what he believes are key points about using XML with SQL Server. This is a follow up (and sort of counter point) to another great article we had here on the site a couple weeks ago by Don Peterson. Good stuff!
2003-10-22
5,732 reads
An Interesting Article on Unicode and Character Sets
This may well be more than you want to know about Unicode (and no, it's not a SQL article), but it's a pretty useful discussion to have.
2003-10-21
70 reads
Documenting Stored Procedures
Regular columnist Robert Marda discusses a few ideas on stored procedure documentation. How much documentation do you need and is "documentation" different than code comments?
2003-10-20
18,668 reads
Mapping Database File Objects and Fragmentation
Chris proposes a tool that would allow you to graphically see the space utilized by objects in a SQL database. Good idea?
2003-10-16
8,850 reads
Blogs
SQL Server 2025 RegEx and AI
By Steve Jones
One of the language changes in SQL Server 2025 that I’ve seen a lot...
T-SQL Tuesday #192: SQL Server 2025 Backup Changes
By Steve Jones
I hosted this month, but I decided to put my own entry in as...
Why Databases Still Fascinate Me
By Chris Yates
I get asked a lot about why or how I began working with databases...
Forums
Columnstore index question
Hi experts, I’ve been going through several articles and videos about Columnstore indexes, but...
Transactional Replication
Recently stood up a 2022 Enterprise server. Have 8 publications with subscriptions on a...
Member was not found in the cube when the string
Hey, I've not done a cube for many years but I find myself supporting...
Question of the Day
Identify a Slipstream Installation
I get a new SQL Server instance from my build team. How can I tell if the instance was installed using a slipstream installation later?
See possible answers