Byte Me: Diagnosis Data

Comparing SSIS Catalog Contents Using DBFit Framework

When you are doing the rapid deployment of an updated SSIS project, there are a number of things you have to check to make sure that the deployment will be successful. These will include such settings as the values in environment variables, Package parameters and project parameters. The DbFit test framework turns out to be ideal for the purpose of doing final checks as part of a deployment process, as Nat Sundar demonstrates.

The OUTPUT Clause for UPDATE Statements

In this article, I will provide a set of examples to showcase the use of OUTPUT clause in capturing the results of the updated rows into a table variable for the UPDATE statements.

How to style your SQL using SQL Prompt’s new formatting options

Prefer tabs but your teammates use spaces? That's not a problem with the brand new formatting options in SQL Prompt. It's now possible to customize, save, and share multiple styles that you can then quickly switch between when working. Here's how it works, and how to get set up.

SQL Server Temporary Object Caching

Paul White describes temporary object caching in SQL Server – what it is, why it exists, and how to use it to your advantage.

Practical usage of SQLCLR: Building QueryToHtml function

This article shows a few techniques with SQLCLR to to transform a query result into HTML.

Where is my SQL Server Configuration Manager?

If you are running Windows 8 and above, you might have found out that you can’t find SQL Server Configuration Manager in the list of installed applications. Read on to learn how to locate it.

Why Scalar Functions Can Be Costly

Scalar user defined functions can be costly in more ways than you know. Watch Mickey Stuewe show the hidden costs of using them incorrectly.

Free ebook: Stairway to SQL Server XML

Free download to all Simple Talk users. XML has been part of the SQL Standard since 2003, and is essential for any DBA because so many of the dynamic management views return XML data. Now that the industry is more used to data defined by document markup, it is becoming more important than ever for Database Developers and DBAs to understand the technology and to know where it makes sense to use XML.

Introducing DLM Techniques for a Multi-Database Multi-Server System

Although the techniques of Database Lifecycle Management can reduce the timescales for the delivery of new functionality to business systems, what if the database 'layer' consists of several large interdependent databases and data flows with replication and audit? Does DLM scale to this level of complexity? Margaret Cruise O'Brien starts a series of articles that describes the practicalities of improving DLM within an existing framework and team supporting a multi-database multi-server system, by describing some of the database management problems and solutions in an enterprise-scale database.