Evil Code
/*
A couple
of years ago, I wrote the Simple-Talk Prettifier. This is really no more than a stored
procedure that...
2009-08-14
3,552 reads
Phil Factor
- Interests: Motorbikes, Beer, gardening, conservation, Local history.
The Joy of Data Modelling.
You may think that the task of teasing out the exact nature
of the data and processes within a company...
2009-08-11
2,492 reads
There's a Lot to Learn From Even Simple Puzzles
Phil reflects on the problem-solving power of SQLServerCentral at its best, and mentions some of the impressive contributions to the Summer SQL Stumpers competition
2009-08-11
421 reads
Advice for the Unemployed
Everyone has an opinion on the best advice to give an IT person who is unemployed and wants to get back into paid work. Phil Factor outlines what he would advise.
2009-07-16
227 reads
Basically Available, Soft State, Eventually Consistent
The use of non-relational databases is a fascinating topic but they will remain special-purpose and are not competing with SQL-based relational databases.
2009-07-13
833 reads
Stress
Developers and DBAs both tend to lead stressful lives. Occasionally, things don't go to plan, and this stress can then build to pretty intolerable levels. Without adaptive methods of dealing with stress, things can go very wrong...
2009-07-02
277 reads
Documenting Database Code: Structured Headers
When you're doing any database development work, it won't be long before you need to seriously consider the documentation of your routines. Should we, as a community, propose a common standard for T-SQL headers, and the information that should go into them?
2009-06-30
485 reads
When the next object-persistence boat comes in.
Phil enjoys an old Microsoft Training manual and wonders why it is no longer possible to encompass the whole of SQL in a 400 page book any more..
2009-06-29
1,933 reads
The secret skill revealed in the dusty booklet
Going through one’s father’s belongings after his death is always a poignant, bitter-sweet experience. I was going through his most precious books a while back; there were books that were written by him, books by friends and relatives, books about friends...
2009-06-26
2,357 reads
When the next object-persistence boat comes in.
I was reading a MCP training manual for SQL Server the other day. It was good. The whole of TSQL...
2009-06-22
1,744 reads
Blogs
A New Word: on tenderhooks
By Steve Jones
on tenderhooks – adj. feeling the primal satisfaction of being needed by someone, which...
Ramblings about data communities and your contributions, no excuses
By DataOnWheels
I have been active in the data community throughout my career. I have met...
SQL Server Journey till 2025 (brief)
By Vinay Thakur
Quick Summary for Microsoft SQL Server till 2025, I am fortunate to be part...
Forums
how do i map the "current" object entry in for each to one variable
hi, in an ssis for each loop over an object variable called MyListVariable, i...
Simulating Mercury’s Orbital Motion Using Pure T-SQL (NASA 2025 Dataset)
SQL Server is typically viewed as a transactional or analytical database engine. However, it...
Azure SQL Database | CREATE EVENT SESSION [Blocking_Capture] ON DATABASE
Hello, Is there a way in Azure SQL Database to change the 'Blocking Process...
Question of the Day
String Similarity I
On SQL Server 2025, when I run this, what is returned?
SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE_SIMILARITY('SQL Server', 'MySQL') See possible answers