Build Dynamic Backup Locations with Minion Backup
See how Minionware Backup gives you the ability to customize backup files and locations.
2017-05-03
274 reads
Sean McCown
- Interests: Kenpo, French cooking, computers, chess.
Get Away From Confusing Code
Most time we probably think that lots of our code is confusing, but when working with data values that need or contain quotes, it can get especially confusing. Sean McCown looks at a method for making this code easier to read.
2005-11-15
8,802 reads
How To Mess Up An Interview
We started a trend with our Worst Practices, looking at things you should not do instead of those you should. Sean McCown has taken that to a new level looking at some things that you can do to ensure you don't get your next job. Read about a few things that you might avoid in your next interview.
2005-10-17
20,654 reads
Interviews Part 2
In a followup to the recent articles and discussions on interviewing and DBA skills, Sean McCown brings us a new article that looks at one situation that resulted in a rejection. Learn what you might want to work on before your next interview.
2005-09-19
12,122 reads
Calling All Editing Buffs
Author Sean McCown would like to see some improvements in the editing tools that are available. He's proposed some changes and ideas to make a better tool. Join the discussion and see if you can get the SQL Server vendors to build something to make every DBA's job easier.
2005-09-02
4,142 reads
How do you spell S-Q-L?
We've spent quite some time investigating career issues for SQL Server DBAs lately. I've received quite a few emails from friends on their adventures in interviewing and now Sean McCown shares an experience he had interviewing a few prospective DBAs.
2005-08-18
14,724 reads
Disappearing DBAs
In response to an article the Brian Knight write on the death of the production DBA, Sean McCown writes about the role that DBAs may play in shops that upgrade to Yukon (SQL Server 2005).
2005-06-02
9,740 reads
Blogs
Don’t Miss Out – SQL Server Query Tuning Fundamentals Starts Next Monday!
Next Monday, February 9, 2026, my one-day live online training SQL Server Query Tuning...
Monday Monitor Tips: SQL Auditing Preview
By Steve Jones
One of the features we advocates have been advocating for is a better way...
SQL Server 2025 CU1 Fixes the Docker Desktop AVX Issue on macOS
Microsoft fixed the AVX instruction issue in SQL Server 2025 CU1. The container now...
Forums
25 Years of SQL Server Central
Comments posted to this topic are about the item 25 Years of SQL Server...
The Decoded Value
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Decoded Value
Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition in Kubernetes: A Cost-Effective Alternative to RDS
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition...
Question of the Day
The Decoded Value
In SQL Server 2025, what is returned from this code:
DECLARE @message VARCHAR(50) = 'Hello SQL Server 2025!'; DECLARE @encoded VARCHAR(MAX); SET @encoded = BASE64_ENCODE(CAST(@message AS VARBINARY(1000))); SELECT BASE64_DECODE(@encoded)See possible answers