Junk Drawer
Dale Newman created open source project called Junk Drawer. It's goal is to make the majority of Excel or text file importing a one step, no-brainer process without using the Import Wizard.
2014-03-05
3,095 reads
Articles
Fixing Cache Bloat Problems With Guide Plans and Forced Parameterization
Imagine it. You've been asked to fix a dire performance problem with a SQL Server database. You find a severe case of 'Cache Bloat' due to ad-hoc queries, but you can't fix the code itself. What should you do? Specify forced parameterization? Perhaps a better idea would be to use guide plans.
2014-03-04
2,646 reads
SQLSaturday #269: SQL South West, Exeter, UK
SQL South West user group are running their second SQL Saturday on March 21st and 22nd and have another spectacular schedule of technical content from SQL Server professionals from the UK, Europe and USA including SQL Server MVPs and Microsoft staff. All the session details and how to register for the full-day pre-con sessions or the free-to-attend Saturday:
2014-03-04
1,702 reads
The SQL TABLE Type: Beyond Table-Valued Parameters
Follow along as this starter article on the SQL TABLE Type walks you through the various ways it can be used in T-SQL.
2014-03-03
9,997 reads
Avoid using NOLOCK on SQL Server UPDATE and DELETE statements
Occasionally I come across UPDATE and DELETE statements where the target SQL Server table is referenced with the NOLOCK hint. Does this hint help or hurt performance in this case?
2014-03-03
4,698 reads
SQL Saturday #269 - Exeter, UK
SQL Saturday is coming to Exeter on March 22, 2014. Join Red Gate's David Atkinson and the rest of the speakers at this free day of SQL Server training and networking, organized by SQL South West.
2014-03-03
1,737 reads
See Grant Fritchey and Steve Jones at SQL Intersection
Come see Grant Fritchey and Steve Jones (from Red Gate Software) and many more SQL Server experts while you enjoy spring in Orlando, FL at SQL Intersection.
2014-02-28
407 reads
Calculating Gaps Between Overlapping Time Intervals in SQL
There are a number of real-life reporting tasks in SQL that require a 'gaps and islands' analysis. There are a number of techniques around that work, but finding ones that scale well makes for a tougher, but interesting, challenge.
2014-02-28
3,824 reads
Identify the Backup used to Restore the Database
This article will help us identify the backup which was used to restore the database. This may seem simple when the database backup is from the same server but the complications begin when the backup is not from the same server.
2014-02-27
4,388 reads
DBAs Checklist for Designing and Reviewing SQL Server System Architectures
In this tip, Sadequl Hussain will try to list a few areas DBAs need to cover when they are designing new systems or reviewing proposed solutions.
2014-02-27
5,421 reads
Blogs
A New Word: Dolorblindness
By Steve Jones
dolorblindness – n. the frustration that you’ll never be able to understand another person’s...
Claude Code Helps Analyze Test Data Manager Log Files
By Steve Jones
I had a customer ask about analyzing their Test Data Manager (TDM) usage to...
PowerPoint to HTML with Claude AI
By Steve Jones
I had an idea for an animated view of a sales tool, and started...
Forums
Optimism Without Illusion or Why AI Needs Blunt Technologists
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Optimism Without Illusion or Why...
SSIS with VS2022 64/32 issue with Excel files
Hi all, I'm trying to do classic scenario for loading multiple Excel files into...
Case part is sloooooow
Hi So the case statement is slowing this down - but for the life...
Question of the Day
The String Distance I
In SQL Server 2025, what is returned by this code:
SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE('tim', 'tom')
Assume preview features are enabled. See possible answers