How to Get a Random Row from a Large Table
Brent Ozar takes a look at four different ways to get a random row from a large SQL Server table.
2018-03-22
5,124 reads
Additional Articles
Charles Bachman and Pointer Chains
Joe Celko reminisces about the origins of databases and one of the early pioneers, Charles Bachman. He explains how pointer chains were used to traverse data in the NDL standard and referential integrity that we use today.
2018-03-21
2,756 reads
Different Ways to Import JSON Files into SQL Server
Nat Sundar explains the different ways to load JSON data into SQL Server, along the way also covering the use OpenRowset and OpenJSON functions to manage JSON data effectively.
2018-03-20
4,130 reads
What is the State of My Transparent Data Encrypted Database?
When using Transparent Data Encryption, you might wonder “What is the state of my transparent data encrypted database?” Read on to learn the many different states that a transparent data encrypted database might go through.
2018-03-19
2,510 reads
Data Encryption Using Always Encrypted in SQL Server
The key challenge for application developers is to build a foolproof system to ensure data security. This is not only more intense, but more complex these days, as many organizations are planning to move their applications to the cloud. Read on to learn more.
2018-03-16
3,579 reads
SQL Server Machine Learning Services – Part 6: Merging Data Frames in Python
In the final article in this series, Robert Sheldon demonstrates combining data sources with multiple formats into one Python data frame.
2018-03-15
3,337 reads
SET IMPLICIT_TRANSACTIONS ON Is One Hell of a Bad Idea
By default, when you run a query in SQL Server, your delete/update/insert (DUI) is finished as soon as your query finishes. That’s because the default behavior of SQL Server is IMPLICIT_TRANSACTIONS OFF – meaning, SQL Server doesn’t hold your queries open waiting for a COMMIT or ROLLBACK.
2018-03-14
3,761 reads
Changing Data Types on Large Tables: The INT to BIGINT Conundrum
Changing a data type seems like a simple task unless the table is quite large and downtime must be kept to a minimum. Danny Kruge walks you through the process he created to change an INT to a BIGINT in a large table.
2018-03-13
10,620 reads
Non-Standard Delimiters for Columns and Rows Using SQL Server Bulk Insert
In this tip, Tim Smith looks at how to use bulk insert to load data into SQL Server when the column and row terminators are not what you typically see.
2018-03-12
3,402 reads
Introduction to the Biml Language
Biml or Business Intelligence Markup Language is an open-source XML dialect to generate Integration Services (SSIS) packages. Take a look at this Biml tutorial to learn how you can use Biml to generate SSIS packages.
2018-03-09
3,767 reads
Blogs
Flyway Tips: AI Generating Migration Script Names
By Steve Jones
AI is a big deal in 2026, and at Redgate, we’re experimenting with how...
The Book of Redgate: Get the right stuff done
By Steve Jones
Another of our values: The facing page has this quote: “We admire people who...
Runing tSQLt Tests with Claude
By Ed Elliott
Running tSQLt unit tests is great from Visual Studio but my development workflow...
Forums
Introduction of OPTIMIZE_FOR_SEQUENTIAL_KEY = ON
Hi, We have low latency high volume system. I have a table having 3...
The Long Name
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Long Name
Eight Minutes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Eight Minutes
Question of the Day
The Long Name
I run this code to create a table:
When I check the length, I get these results:
A table name is limited to 128 characters. How does this work?