SQLServerCentral.com Users Survey 2012

We want to make sure we're covering the things that are relevant to you, so we're asking for some feedback on what you use on SSC, where we need to improve, and what you'd like to see.

It should only take a few minutes, and three randomly-selected people will win a $100 Amazon gift card for their efforts.

SSIS Basics: Setting Up Your Initial Package

Up until now, it has been a curiously frustrating search to find out the basics of SSIS, fast, in order to get up and running quickly. No longer, as Annette Allen comes up with a simple introduction for the rest of us.

The Sequence Object in SQL Server 2012

The Sequence Object is one of the many exciting new features introduced in SQL Server 2012. Learn what this new feature can do for you and how you can use it.

SQL in the City London - 13th July

SQL in the City the one day free SQL Server training event is back in London this July. Join fellow SQL Server professionals for 5 hours of technical presentations on key issues for SQL Server developers and DBAs delivered by top MVPs. The event also offers you the chance to network with users passionate about SQL Server and the chance to see the latest Red Gate tools and meet the developers who built them. Find out more and register today.

SQL Server 2012 Integration Services - Project Deployment

SQL Server 2012 Integration Services parameters introduce a new way of dealing with package development, deployment, and execution. In order to truly appreciate their relevance, it is necessary to take a look at the new Project Deployment Model.

10 tips on converting MS SQL queries to MySQL

The syntax of SQL queries in MS SQL and MySQL are similar but not identical. This article discovers 10 most popular differences between MS SQL and MySQL syntax.

Create CNN-style Map in Reporting Services

This article demonstrates how to use US Census' TIGER/Line shapefile to display CNN-style map in Reporting Services.

SQL VIEW Basics

SQL Views are essential for the database developer. However, it is common to see them misued, or neglected. Joe Celko tackles an introduction to the subject, but there is something about the topic that makes it likely that even the experienced developer will find out something new from reading it.

Managing Database Data Usage With Custom Space Alerts

A quick how-to on configuring SQL Server Agent alerts to manage file space usage.

Maintaining SQL Server default trace historical events for analysis and reporting

I often see questions online where someone wants to find out who started a trace, when tempdb last had an autogrow event, or when the last full backup for master occurred. Since these and other events are captured by the default trace, but the default trace only keeps five 20MB rollover files by default. This means that the event you are after may no longer be there, depending on how long ago it was and how busy your server happens to be. Unfortunately, people often need to find this information well after the fact.