How do I look at my error log if SQL won’t open?
Quick and easy post today. Hopefully you’ve opened the error log on a SQL instance. However, what happens if you...
2018-10-31 (first published: 2018-10-22)
2,660 reads
SQLStudies
What is the Object Explorer Details tab good for?
For a long time there I would see the Object Explorer Details tab show up when I opened SSMS (SQL...
2018-10-17
291 reads
Highlighting sp_spaceused
I’ve been using sp_spaceused a lot recently so I thought I would bring it up again. Basically it’s a quick...
2018-10-15
243 reads
Which is faster? IN (list) or IN (SELECT FROM Temp)
If you’ve done much with IN (list) then you’ve realized that it basically translates out to
col=val1 OR col=val2 OR...
2018-10-11
2,494 reads
Letting the business bully you: T-SQL Tuesday #107
Before I start anything I want go give a disclaimer. I absolutely believe that the business should be involved in...
2018-10-09
231 reads
Generate a random number of children for each parent
I was asked an interesting question the other day.
Is it possible to get a different random number of rows...
2018-10-17 (first published: 2018-10-03)
2,069 reads
SQL Homework – October 2018 – Time for an upgrade
When you created your home lab last September you probably installed a version of SQL 2016. Well, SQL 2017 was...
2018-10-01
316 reads
Data Types Word Search
Just for fun here is a word search with all of the data types available in SQL Server. Well, two...
2018-10-05 (first published: 2018-09-26)
1,843 reads
Escaping strings
No, I’m not talking about that nightmare everyone has where a bunch of strings are chasing you across a loom.
Not...
2018-09-24
899 reads
You can’t DELETE TOP (x) with an ORDER BY
Did you know you can’t do this?
DELETE TOP (10)
FROM SalesOrderDetail
ORDER BY SalesOrderID DESC;Msg 156, Level 15, State 1, Line 8
Incorrect...
2018-09-27 (first published: 2018-09-19)
3,233 reads
Blogs
Asking for Help Isn’t a Weakness
By Brian Kelley
During COVID, I attended training on software/enterprise architecture given by Mark Richards. One of...
The Proof of the Backup Is in the Pudding
For me, the objective is straightforward: have a backup strategy that is reliable, understandable,...
T-SQL Tuesday #204 – Are blogs still relevant?
By DesertDBA
Note: This post is the invitation for T-SQL Tuesday #204 on November 3rd, 2026....
Forums
The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
Planning for Change
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Planning for Change
Importing Excel files into SQL Server, Azure Edition
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Importing Excel files into SQL...
Question of the Day
The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
On SQL Server 2025, I run this code as a sysadmin:
CREATE LOGIN Demo WITH PASSWORD = 'Demo1234567' GO ALTER SERVER ROLE ##MS_DatabaseConnector## ADD MEMBER Demo GOI then login as Demo and run this:
USE sandbox go SELECT CURRENT_USERWhat is returned? See possible answers