Manually updating Statistics in SQL Server
Having up to date statistics is vital for getting the best performance out of your queries. Even though SQL Server automatically updates statistics in the background for you, you...
2023-09-06
32 reads
Blog Posts
Quick Tip About Fonts in Deneb Visuals in Power BI
This week, I was working with a client who requested I use the Segoe UI font in their Power BI report. The report contained a mix of core visuals...
2023-09-06 (first published: 2023-08-17)
122 reads
Running Flyway from PowerShell–A Gotcha
I ran across an interesting gotcha while trying to run a Flyway command from PowerShell. Specifically, the snapshot command and providing a parameter that is the snapshot.filename parameter. Someone...
2023-09-06
130 reads
Connecting to SQL Server Database Engine, simplified
One of the advantages of being on the Database Docs team at Microsoft is that I get to work with amazing people, which means we can respond quickly to...
2023-09-05
113 reads
SQL Server is not a Car
Lets compare them anyway, just for fun. Both have an engine Both have a monitoring device (Dashboard/Activity Monitor) Both need power (Gas/Electricity) Both need to be told what do...
2023-09-05
36 reads
Another option is coming to gain extended support for SQL 2012
Another option is coming to gain extended support for SQL 2012
If you still have SQL 2012 servers, you are probably aware that support...
2023-09-04 (first published: 2023-08-17)
271 reads
BotChat BiWeekly 1.00.00
Hey there, I’m Mala. I’ve been in the data game for a good 25 years, first as a DBA and then as a Data Engineer, mainly working with Microsoft...
2023-09-04
62 reads
Decrypting Stored Procedures The Cumbersome Way
I had a client that was struggling with some encrypted stored procedures. They needed to decrypt them, which I know is a pain in the #@$%@#$@#$#@. I had to...
2023-09-04 (first published: 2023-08-14)
1,469 reads
Mastering Data Engineering with Databricks: Your Path to Becoming a Data Engineer Associate
Introduction
In today’s data-driven landscape, skilled data engineers are the backbone of organizations, driving insights from vast data streams. If you’re aspiring to become a Data Engineer Associate and harness...
2023-09-04
48 reads
The PASS Data Community Summit On Guy in a Cube
I’ve known Adam and Patrick for a long time and I’m thrilled with the content they produce on their Guy in a Cube show. It’s a great resource for...
2023-09-04
16 reads
Blogs
PowerPoint to HTML with Claude AI
By Steve Jones
I had an idea for an animated view of a sales tool, and started...
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...
Forums
SSRS shared dataset parameters not showing in expression builder
I am creating shared datasets that our executive staff can use for creating reports...
SSRS shared dataset parameters not showing in expression builder
I am creating shared datasets that our executive staff can use for creating reports...
Delta Lake: The Definitive Guide: Modern Data Lakehouse Architectures with Data Lakes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Delta Lake: The Definitive Guide:...
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