Your SQL Starting Line: Best Free Databases for Beginners
Wondering which database to tackle first? I’ve got the lowdown on the top free choices for anyone new to SQL, and I’ll tell you exactly why they’re stellar for...
2025-05-28
860 reads
Blog Posts
SQL Server 2025: Using ZSTD Compression for SQL Server Backups
SQL Server 2025 introduces a new compression algorithm, ZSTD (Zstandard), which can help with database backup performance. The implementation of ZSTD gives you more control over your backup performance...
2025-05-27
62 reads
Azure Vulnerability Assessments
Regarding managing databases in the cloud, security should never be an afterthought. That’s where Azure Vulnerability Assessments, officially named Microsoft Defender, come in—they help you spot weak spots in...
2025-05-26 (first published: 2025-05-07)
439 reads
Speaking at the TechnoSecurity and Digital Forensics East Conference
The Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference (East) runs from June 3-5, 2025, this year in Wilmington, NC. I'll be speaking on Thursday, June 5, from 11:30 AM -12:20...
2025-05-26
23 reads
Stop Wasting Time Rebuilding Indexes Every Night
Too many IT teams run index rebuild jobs on autopilot. Every night. Every index. No questions asked. Here’s the truth: if you’re doing this daily on indexes smaller than...
2025-05-26 (first published: 2025-05-14)
673 reads
Techorama 2025 – Slides
You can find the slides for my session Building the €100 data warehouse with the Azure Data Platform on GitHub.
The post Techorama 2025 – Slides first appeared on Under...
2025-05-26
49 reads
SQL Inventory Dashboards: From Raw Data to Real Insight
Tired of inventory headaches? Stock shortages and gluts don't just cause stress; they cost you. Good news: an SQL-powered product inventory dashboard puts you firmly in control of stock...
2025-05-25
194 reads
Free SQL Practice: 9 Killer Resources to Boost Your Query Skills
So, you want to get your SQL skills razor-sharp without dropping any cash? You're in the right place. I’ve pulled together a list of the absolute best free SQL...
2025-05-24 (first published: 2025-05-23)
941 reads
Uninstall PolyBase from SQL Server
If you have SQL Server 2019 or SQL Server 2022 installed with PolyBase and you try to install SQL Server 2025, it will fail during...
2025-05-24
21 reads
Advice I Like: Take Two Trips
If you have any doubt about being able to carry a load in one trip, do yourself a huge favor and make two trips – from Excellent Advice for...
2025-05-23
29 reads
Blogs
No Shortcuts for the SQLCMD Batch Terminator: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I was messing around with SQLCMD and I realized something I hadn’t known. I’ve...
Where Is My SQL Agent? Running Scheduled Jobs Against Azure SQL Database
By gbargsley
One of the first things I review when I inherit a new SQL Server...
AgentDBA vs Critical SQL Server
By Arun Sirpal
It’s 07:43. Someone’s already left a message. “Something’s wrong with the DB server.” You...
Forums
Increment a number in a SQL Query based on a value
I have an issue where I have a Bill of Material list of items...
Follow Your Hunch
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Follow Your Hunch
What Happens When You Ask a Local AI to Query Your Database?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item What Happens When You Ask...
Question of the Day
Detecting Characters
I have a SQL Server 2022 English default installation on a server. I want to detect if there are any upper case characters in rows and I have this code:
SELECT CustomerNameID,
CustomerName
FROM dbo.CustomerName
WHERE CustomerName = LOWER(CustomerName)
Here is the sample data I am testing with:
CustomerNameID CustomerName 1 John Smith 2 Sarah Johnson 3 MICHAEL WILLIAMS 4 JENNIFER BROWN 5 david jones 6 emily davis 7 Robert Miller 8 LISA WILSON 9 christopher moore 10 Amanda TaylorHow many rows are returned? See possible answers