How Many Databases Can You Name?
There is a huge number of databases available. How many could you name? Create our list and then compare to our list of well over 100 databases!
2020-08-03
Articles
Removing Extended Properties
With the new labeling and classificiation options in SQL Server, there might be a need to remove these labels before deploying the database.
2020-07-31 (first published: 2018-12-20)
4,933 reads
Install SQL Server Integration Services in Visual Studio 2019
Learn the step by step process to install SQL Server 2019 Integration Services in Visual Studio as well as the history for the tool.
2020-07-31
Tracking use of Deprecated SQL Server Features
Phil Factor explains how to use SQL Prompt, or SQL Change Automation, to detect use of deprecated SQL Server syntax, during development, and Dynamic Management Views and Extended Events to track its use on working databases.
2020-07-31
Honorifics in the 21st century
As data professionals, we should understand how language and forms of address can impact our data model. In the 21st century, we should also learn how to communicate with colleagues in a respectful and professional manner.
2020-07-30
2,439 reads
Getting Started with Azure Blueprints
Learn about Azure Blueprints, available in the Azure portal, which is a new method of deploying Azure Resources through ARM templates.
2020-07-30
Creating a Simple Development Harness with SQL Compare and SQL Data Generator
There is no single, correct approach to developing and testing your SQL batches and routines. It depends on the requirement. For simple tasks, like modifying and testing a view or stored procedure, SQL Compare and SQL Data Generator, combined, provide a useful, lightweight development harness.
2020-07-29
What If You Really DO Need to Shrink a Database?
You’ve heard that shrinking a database is bad because it introduces both external and internal fragmentation, it causes blocking, it causes transaction log growth while it runs, and it’s slow and single-threaded. You understand that if it’s just a matter of 10-20-30% of a database, and the database is only 100-200GB, you might as well just leave the space there, because you’re gonna end up using it anyway.
2020-07-29
Access external data from Azure Synapse Analytics using Polybase
Learn how you can use Polybase technology in Azure Synapse to load data into your warehouse.
2020-07-28
28,111 reads
Exploring the SQL Compare Options
Phil Factor dissects and disentangles the various SQL Compare options.
2020-07-28
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
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Let's Talk Certifications
The Hidden Security Risks of Role Combination in SSAS Tabular
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Hidden Security Risks of...
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