How to Check SQL Server Version When Service is Not Running
In this article we look at several ways to find the version of SQL Server that is installed when the SQL Server service is not running.
2021-01-12
Articles
Data Element Names and Scoping Rules in SQL
How you name data elements in databases and applications programs has often been a matter of personal taste. Decades ago, when I worked for state government, there is a COBOL programmer who would pick a theme for his programs. The paragraphs and variables would be named based on the current theme. One of his programs […]
2021-01-11
2,232 reads
Import Data from PDF to SQL Server
In this article we look at how we can use R and SQL Server to import lottery numbers from a PDF document into a SQL Server table.
2021-01-11
Masking Data in Practice
Phil Factor takes a strategic look at common SQL data masking techniques, and the challenges inherent in masking certain types of sensitive and personal data, while ensuring that it still looks like the real data, and retains its referential integrity, and distribution characteristics.
2021-01-11
How to Decipher @@Options
This article will show how you can read the @@OPTIONS variable and determine your settings.
2021-01-08 (first published: 2019-11-14)
8,271 reads
SQL Server Error Log
The SQL Server error log is a great source of information for DBAs for monitoring errors and the operation of the server. In this article, Greg Larsen explains the details and how to configure the SQL Server error log.
2021-01-08
The Joy of Realistic Generated Fake Database Data
Have you ever had to demonstrate a database-driven application, and longed to have the real data to do so? To do what, precisely? Well, so you can then scroll through the customers who have used the system, demonstrate the accounting and audit, browse through the products, maybe even demo the customer tracking system with comments, complaints and so on. All this is possible, using realistic, fake data.
2021-01-08
PostgreSQL DML Statements
DML, or Data Manipulation Language, statements are used to manipulate the data present in a database. The most important DML statements are INSERT, UPDATE & DELETE. This tutorial covers the various PostgreSQL DML statements and how we can use them with SQL shell as well as pgAdmin. Assuming you are familiar with table creation in PostgreSQL, […]
2021-01-07
8,234 reads
What is a Relational Database Management System
This article covers the relational database system evolution and covers terms used in relational models such as relation, tuple, attribute, domain, schemas, and key.
2021-01-07
DBA in training: Know your server’s limits
Comparing current performance to baselines helps DBAs know when there’s a problem. In this article, Pamela Mooney describes how to measure the physical resources drive space, latency, memory, and CPU.
2021-01-06
Blogs
How to Clear the SSMS Cache (SSMS 21 and Later)
By SQLPals
How to Clear the SSMS Cache (SSMS 21 and Later) Updated...
The flight recorder: Replaying what an AI agent did on my SQL Server
By Arun Sirpal
“What exactly did it do on my server?” is the first question a DBA...
Announcements from the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference — Barcelona 2026
By James Serra
Microsoft shared a broad set of Fabric, Power BI, and SQL updates at FabCon...
Forums
Let's Talk Certifications
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The Hidden Security Risks of Role Combination in SSAS Tabular
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The Empty Aggregate
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Empty Aggregate
Question of the Day
The Empty Aggregate
I have this table in a SQL Server 2025 database:
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[CustomerOrder] ( [OrderID] [int] NULL, [CustomerID] [int] NULL, [total] [money] NULL ) ON [PRIMARY] GOWhat is returned from this code? (answers are for the sum and then the count)
SELECT SUM(total) AS sum,
COUNT(total) AS count
FROM dbo.CustomerOrder;
See possible answers