Index Utilization Trending
An important part of regular database maintenance is to monitor index usage and make adjustments as needed. How can we monitor, store, and trend this data effectively over time?
2014-05-05
6,846 reads
Articles
SQL Server Reporting Services Basics: Building SSRS Reports
Kathi Kellenberger describes the basics of SSRS before showing you how to build quick, simple reports.
2014-05-05
3,936 reads
How to centralize your SQL Server Event Logs
Learn how you can centralize the Event log data for your servers using a process that Geoff Albin has been using for over 10 years.
2014-05-02 (first published: 2010-11-08)
14,129 reads
Use Extended Events to Get More Information About failed SQL Server Login Attempts
You may have cases where an ancient application is using an old login or the wrong password. SQL Server is great about auditing failed logins and recording that they happened; it is not so great, however, at providing enough information to locate them. Aaron Bertrand offers some help.
2014-05-02
3,423 reads
DAX: Topn is not a Filter
In this document I will demonstrate how using the TOPN function in a DAX query doesn’t necessarily do what you may expect.
2014-05-01
4,523 reads
Searching for Strings in SQL Server Databases
Sometimes, you just want to do a search in a SQL Server database as if you were using a search engine like Google. Besides the obvious Full-Text search, Phil Factor describes some of the techniques for finding that pesky data that resists the normal SELECT blandishments.
2014-05-01
8,755 reads
SQL Saturday #292: Detroit
SQL Saturday is coming to Detroit MI on May 17, 2014. Join us for a free day of SQL Server training and networking. Register while space is available.
2014-05-01
2,008 reads
Options to Move a Big SQL Server Database to a New Drive with Minimal Downtime
This article outlines the pros and cons associated with the different methods for moving SQL Server databases to new storage within a 15 minute timeframe.
2014-04-30
3,013 reads
Duplicate Detection and Management
Inevitably, every DBA is eventually asked to delete, merge, or otherwise report on duplicate data. There are many tools at our disposal to make this task both simple and efficient to complete. Read on for simple steps and examples to effectively deal with duplicate data.
2014-04-29
6,717 reads
Moving from Practice to Production with Test-Driven Development
Test-driven development is often taught using simple examples, such as calculating the scores for a game of ten-pin bowling. Using the same practice effectively on a real code base isn’t as easy. This article covers some of the questions that arise when dealing with larger code bases and changing requirements.
2014-04-29
5,710 reads
Blogs
Methodology for dealing with bad data in production
By Brian Kelley
Pinal Dave wrote up his methodology for what to do when you discover bad...
How to Provision an Azure SQL Database
Aside from spinning up a SQL Server instance container, the free Azure SQL Database...
Claude finds two cryptographic weaknesses (but the sky isn’t falling)
By Brian Kelley
If you haven't seen the announcement, Anthropic was able to utilize Claude (Mythos Preview)...
Forums
Why SQL Server Database Attach fails and how to repair it
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Why SQL Server Database Attach...
Fixing P1 Queries
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Fixing P1 Queries
BIT_COUNT() IV
Comments posted to this topic are about the item BIT_COUNT() IV
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT() IV
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code:
select bit_count('A')
What is returned? See possible answers