Check your default constraints
Default constraints can lead to assumptions about the values in a column. Combine a check constraint to avoid slip ups.
2018-09-17
4,651 reads
Articles
Examples and Function for Using SQL Server LIKE Operator and Wildcard Characters
In this tip we look at different examples of how to use the LIKE operator to get the correct results when strings contain wildcard characters. We will also look a function to make this easier to do.
2018-09-17
4,254 reads
Single-Column-Key Missing Index Recommendations are Usually Wrong.
When Clippy suggests an index with only one key, look closer.
2018-09-14
2,975 reads
2018-09-13
5,042 reads
How to Linux for SQL Server DBAs — Part 1
As running SQL Server on Linux becomes more common, DBAs must learn and become comfortable with the Linux OS. In this article, Kellyn Pot'Vin-Gorman demonstrates how to create a SQL Server instance running in Linux via a Docker container.
2018-09-13
3,067 reads
Deep dive into Python scripts execution in SQL Server
This article looks at how Microsoft implemented the Python language support into SQL Server and how it can be used.
2018-09-12
2,982 reads
What is the impact of setting SET ANSI_WARNINGS OFF?
Setting ANSI_WARNINGS OFF to avoid NULL value elimination warnings can have an impact on the data quality and system behaviour.
2018-09-11 (first published: 2016-08-23)
29,785 reads
Displaying and Removing Unprintable Hexadecimal Characters from SQL Server Data
There are times when you might need to look at your SQL Server data in hexadecimal format. Occasionally some string data will contain unprintable characters, which can cause downstream problems, if not detected and removed. Read on to learn how to display and remove unprintable hexadecimal characters from SQL Server data.
2018-09-11
2,713 reads
Bringing them back from the dead
When trying to find the causes for why the SQL Server service doesn’t start, one of the best places to start is the SQL Server Error log, but there is a problem!
2018-09-10
1,359 reads
Questions About Kerberos and SQL Server That You Were Too Shy to Ask
Kerberos authentication is a topic that many database administrators avoid. It’s really not that difficult to understand, but it’s also easy to get wrong. In this article, Kathi Kellenberger talks about what you need to know about configuring Kerberos for SSRS and SQL Server databases but were too shy to ask.
2018-09-10
3,437 reads
Blogs
How to Find Expensive Queries in Amazon Redshift
Slow-running queries can degrade your Redshift cluster’s performance and lead to increased costs. Identifying...
The Notification Trap: How Input Fatigue Is Killing Deep Work in Tech
By gbargsley
If you've been here before, you know this blog is usually about SQL Server,...
Designing a Storage Load Test for SQL Server
I’ve been doing storage load tests for SQL Server for a long time, both...
Forums
How Long is a Long I/O?
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T-SQL Trigonometric Functions in SQL Server
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Half of All Engineers
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Question of the Day
How Long is a Long I/O?
In SQL Server 2025, a long I/O is recorded in the error log with message 833. How long much an I/O request be outstanding before this message is written to the log?
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