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External Article

Auto generate SQL Server restore script from backup files in a directory

One of the ongoing challenges of a DBA is to backup and restore databases. Backups are done on an automated schedule, but restores can take on many different versions, you may need to restore a production database, restore a development or test database or just create another copy of the database somewhere else. There are several ways of automating the restore process and creating a script, but this approach shows a way this can be done by just reading the contents of a directory for the backup files that exist.

2008-09-29

4,985 reads

Technical Article

Cryptography in SQL Server

This white paper presents an overview of cryptographic functionality and discusses how this applies to authentication, signed procedures, permissions, and encryption. Because the target audience is the database professional and not necessarily security experts, the focus is on practical ways to use cryptography in SQL Server.

2008-09-26

3,859 reads

External Article

Faking Arrays in Transact SQL

It is a simple routine that we all need to use occasionally; parsing a delimited list of strings in TSQL. In a perfect relational world, it isn't necessary, but real-world data often comes in a form that requires one of the surprising variety of routines that Anith Sen describes, along with sage advice about their use.

2008-09-24

5,751 reads

External Article

Scheduling Jobs in SQL Server Express

As we all know SQL Server 2005 Express is a very powerful free edition of SQL Server 2005. However it does not contain SQL Server Agent service. Because of this scheduling jobs is not possible. So if we want to do this we have to install a free or commercial 3rd party product. This usually isn't allowed due to the security policies of many hosting companies and thus presents a problem. Maybe we want to schedule daily backups, database reindexing, statistics updating, etc. This is why I wanted to have a solution based only on SQL Server 2005 Express and not dependent on the hosting company. And of course there is one based on our old friend the Service Broker.

2008-09-23

3,241 reads

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Question of the Day

Two Table Hints

What happens when I run this code: 

SELECT
  p.ProductName
, p.ProductCategory
FROM dbo.Product AS p WITH (NOLOCK, TABLOCK);

See possible answers