On table variable row estimations
At first glance, the question of how many rows are estimated from a table variable is easy. But, is it really that simple? Well, not really. To dig into...
2020-12-23 (first published: 2020-12-15)
427 reads
Daily Coping 15 Dec 2020
I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m...
2020-12-15
46 reads
ETL Antipattern: Lazy Metadata
If data is a train, then metadata is the track on which it travels. A good metadata definition in ETL processes will help to ensure that the flow of...
2020-12-15
26 reads
SQL Puzzle – Eight Queens on a Chess board
Here's a SQL Puzzle for the festive period. 2020 has been a year of many things but amongst it all, it has been the year of chess. The combined...
2020-12-24 (first published: 2020-12-15)
538 reads
Setting Defaults for New SQL Compare Projects
Recently I wrote about ignoring comments in SQL Compare. That seems like something I want to do in all my projects, so I went looking for how to set...
2020-12-23 (first published: 2020-12-14)
191 reads
Getting Started Reading Execution Plans: Highest Cost Operator
Reading execution plans in SQL Server is just hard. There’s a lot to learn and understand. I previously outlined the basics I use to get started when I’m looking...
2020-12-22 (first published: 2020-12-14)
665 reads
Daily Coping 14 Dec 2020
I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m...
2020-12-14
28 reads
ETL Antipattern: Performing Full Loads Instead of Incremental Loads
In my last post in the ETL Antipatterns series, I wrote about the common antipattern of ingesting or loading more data than necessary. This brief post covers one specific...
2020-12-14
44 reads
Introduction to SQL Server Query Store
Introduced with SQL 2016, Query Store was, probably without doubt, the most anticipated and talked out new feature. In this post we'll just take a brief look at it,...
2020-12-21 (first published: 2020-12-14)
936 reads
What exactly is a modern data warehouse?
G’day, I was asked recently what a modern data warehouse is – and that’s a vey thought provoking question. First, there’s the tag “Modern” – I think what’s modern...
2020-12-14
20 reads
Blogs
Microsoft Fabric OneLake Shortcuts: When to Use Them and When Not To
By James Serra
An architecture scenario Imagine separate Sales, Finance, Shared Data, and Executive Analytics workspaces. Sales...
SQL Server Security Hardening Guide Using the DoD STIG Checklist
Security on your SQL Server is important. That doesn’t need any explaining. But where...
EightKB 2026: Registration is Open!
It’s that time of year again! EightKB is back on August 20th at 13:00...
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Backing Up a DMK
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The Quiet Part
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BIT_COUNT in SQL Server
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Question of the Day
Backing Up a DMK
In SQL Server 2025, I have a database with a Database Masker Key (DMK). I want to back up this key and keep a copy offline. When do I have to open this key before running the backup?
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