An introduction to Terraform
As a Data Engineer I found myself having to learn rather more about cloud infrastructure than I had expected.
2024-12-02
3,614 reads
Articles
SQL IS NULL and SQL IS NOT NULL Examples
This article looks at how to use SQL IS NULL and SQL IS NOT NULL operations in SQL Server along with use cases and working with NULL values.
2024-12-02
Improving Performance for Some LIKE “%string%” Searches (SQL Spackle)
If you've ever wondered if you can do better than an INDEX SCAN when you do a LIKE "%string%" search, read on...
2024-11-29 (first published: 2014-04-07)
50,873 reads
Demystifying Continuous Integration vs. Continuous Delivery: Part 2
Welcome to part 2 of our Demystifying Continuous Integration vs. Continuous Delivery series.
2024-11-29
Execute Stored Procedures in the Microsoft GraphQL API
This tip explores leveraging existing SQL Server stored procedures within the Microsoft GraphQL API.
2024-11-27
A First Look at SSMS 21
This isn't really a first look, per se. I've seen Erin Stellato present on this a few times in MVP sessions and at the PASS Data Community Summit. However, this is a look on my machine, where I'm in control. The new version preview was announced recently, and this looks at the new process to […]
2024-11-25
18,285 reads
The SQLskills Black Friday Super Sale!
Starting at 4pm PST on Thursday, November 28th, SQLskills will be offering our lowest prices ever for our signature Blackbelt bundle with more than 158 hours of top-quality training.
2024-11-25 (first published: 2024-11-06)
Announcing SQL Server 2025
Bob Ward announces the next version of SQL Server, now in private preview.
2024-11-22
21,697 reads
Skipping Columns (& other tricks) Using BCP Format Files (SQL Spackle)
BULK INSERT and BCP are powerful, high performance tools for importing text files. SQL Server MVP Jeff Moden gives us several nifty tips in this introduction to BULK INSERT and BCP Format Files including "Skipping Columns" and the sequestration of bad rows while still loading all the good data.
2024-11-22 (first published: 2014-01-23)
25,262 reads
Transactions
By now, pretty much everyone has heard the stories about the first computers. They were huge, cost a fortune, required incredible amounts of air conditioning, and perhaps more importantly, ran batch jobs submitted on punched cards and magnetic tape. But even before we had these dinosaurs, there were E.A.M (electric accounting machine) units.
2024-11-22
Blogs
Learn Better: Pause to Review More
By Brian Kelley
If you want to learn better, pause more in your learning to intentionally review.
Azure SQL Managed Instance Next-Gen: Bring on the IOPS
By John
If you’ve used Azure SQL Managed Instance General Purpose, you know the drill: to...
SQL, MDX, DAX – the languages of data
By DataOnWheels
Ramblings of a retired data architect Let me start by saying that I have...
Forums
Two foreign keys to the same table. Can't cascade deletes.
Not sure if this is really a relational theory question but it seems about...
Connecting Power BI to SSAS and effective user not working
Hi everyone, Below is a consolidated summary of what we validated Architecture & data...
High Availability setup - has anyone seen this method?
Hi all, I recently moved to a new employer who have their HA setup...
Question of the Day
Encoding URLs
I have this data in a SQL Server 2025 table:
CREATE TABLE Response ( ResponseID INT NOT NULL CONSTRAINT ResponsePK PRIMARY KEY , ResponseVal VARBINARY(5000) ) GOIf I want to get a value from this table that I can add to a URL in a browser, which of these code items produces a result I can use? See possible answers