A Syntax Mystery in a Previously Working Procedure
A previous working script show syntax errors on recreating (sp_helptext script line length limitation)
2015-06-18
5,755 reads
Articles
Using R to Explore Data by Analysis - for SQL Professionals
What's the best way for a SQL programmer to learn about R? It's probably by trying out various experiments with an interesting set of data, and some helpful suggestions that point out the parallels with SQL. Feodor provides the data and the helpful suggestions. The rest is up to you.
2015-06-18
5,591 reads
Automating A Heartbeat Check Against an Azure-SQL Database Using PowerShell
In this article, Tim Smith goes through a couple of options to automate heartbeat checks against Azure databases. This is useful if you're moved SQL Server databases to Azure and you want to have periodic checks to make sure the databases are responsive.
2015-06-17
2,129 reads
Converting Rows to Columns (PIVOT) and Columns to Rows (UNPIVOT) in SQL Server
Learn how to convert row values into column values (PIVOT) and column values into row values (UNPIVOT) in SQL Server.
2015-06-16
4,888 reads
How do you use change scripts for your database deployments?
Redgate is researching how people deploy their database changes. This is a very quick survey, and there's an opportunity to sign up for a research call in exchange for a $50 Amazon voucher.
2015-06-16
3,886 reads
Cellular Automation – SQL Server CPU, IO and Hekaton Stress Testing
This article shows how you can use SQL Server spatial methods, mathematical rules and oscillating patterns to benchmark CPU, IO and Hekaton performance.
2015-06-15
3,716 reads
Powershell day-to-day Admin tasks: WMI, CIM and PSWA
WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) is the basic way of querying and changing basic information about any windows server, including SQL Server or Exchange Server. It provides a logical structure and representation of systems and services that are hosted on the server and is essential for anyone who is keen to automate routine monitoring and administration work via PowerShell, especially where many servers are involved in the task.
2015-06-15
4,326 reads
Stored Procedures and SQL Injection
Why do stored procedures help with security? In this piece, MVP Brian Kelley explains why SQL Injection and information gathering are hampered with stored procedures.
2015-06-12 (first published: 2013-02-18)
21,028 reads
Managing Test Data as a Database CI Component - Part 2
Tim Hidalgo goes through some practical demos to show you how you can automatically keep your testing environments up to date, and ship more robust databases.
2015-06-12
3,004 reads
Checking Table Metadata with tSQLt
In this article on tSQLt, learn how you can use the AssertResultSetsHaveSameMetaData method from the framework to enforce your API.
2015-06-11
5,460 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?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Long is a Long...
T-SQL Trigonometric Functions in SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item T-SQL Trigonometric Functions in SQL...
Half of All Engineers
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Half of All Engineers
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?
See possible answers