Stairway Series

Stairway to Database DevOps

Stairway to Database DevOps Level 1: Setup a Local Git Repo with Azure DevOps

  • Stairway Step

In this first level of the Stairway to DevOps, you will learn how to get version control set up on your local machine and connect to an Azure DevOps repository.

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2023-10-16 (first published: )

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Stairway to DAX and Power BI

Stairway to DAX and Power BI Level 25: Time Intelligence – Dates Functions: The DAX CLOSINGBALANCE*() Functions

  • Stairway Step

Business Intelligence Architect, Analysis Services Maestro, and author Bill Pearson introduces three similar DAX Time Intelligence functions related to Date: CLOSINGBALANCEMONTH(), CLOSINGBALANCEQUARTER(), and CLOSINGBALANCEYEAR(). He discusses the syntax, uses and operation of each function, and then provides hands-on exposure to it in Power BI.

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2026-04-15 (first published: )

882 reads

Stairway to DAX and Power BI

Level 24: Time Intelligence – Dates Functions: The DAX OPENINGBALANCE*() Functions

  • Stairway Step

Business Intelligence Architect, Analysis Services Maestro, and author Bill Pearson introduces three similar DAX Time Intelligence functions related to Date: OPENINGBALANCEMONTH(), OPENINGBALANCEQUARTER(). and OPENINGBALANCEYEAR(). He discusses the syntax, uses and operation of each function, and then provides hands-on exposure to it in Power BI.

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2026-04-15 (first published: )

1,522 reads

Stairway to DAX and Power BI

Stairway to DAX and Power BI - Level 23: Time Intelligence – Dates Functions: The DAX PREVIOUS() Functions

  • Stairway Step

Business Intelligence Architect, Analysis Services Maestro, and author Bill Pearson introduces four very similar DAX Time Intelligence functions related to Date: PREVIOUSDAY(), PREVIOUSMONTH(). PREVIOUSQUARTER() and PREVIOUSYEAR(). He discusses the syntax, uses and operation of each function, and then provides hands-on exposure to it in Power BI.

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2026-04-15 (first published: )

1,120 reads

Stairway to DAX and Power BI

Stairway to DAX and Power BI - Level 22: Time Intelligence – Dates Functions: The DAX NEXT() Functions

  • Stairway Step

Business Intelligence Architect, Analysis Services Maestro, and author Bill Pearson introduces four very similar DAX Time Intelligence functions related to Date: NEXTDAY(), NEXTMONTH(). NEXTQUARTER() and NEXTYEAR(). He discusses the syntax, uses and operation of each function, and then provides hands-on exposure to it in Power BI.

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2026-04-15 (first published: )

1,269 reads

Stairway to DAX and Power BI

Stairway to DAX and Power BI - Level 21: Time Intelligence – Dates Functions: FIRSTDATE() and LASTDATE()

  • Stairway Step

Business Intelligence Architect, Analysis Services Maestro, and author Bill Pearson introduces two DAX Time Intelligence functions related to the Date: FIRSTDATE(), and LASTDATE(). He discusses the syntax, uses and operation of each function, and then provides hands-on exposure to it in Power BI.

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2026-04-15 (first published: )

5,135 reads

Technical Article

Stairway to SQL Server Automated Database Testing

  • Stairway

Automated testing is a way to ensure you can repeatedly examine your code as you make changes by running a series of tests. Since these are automated, you have the ability to execute all tests with one programmatic call rather than hoping a developer runs all tests. This also allows the effort of writing tests […]

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2023-10-15 (first published: )

1,099 reads

Stairway to DAX and Power BI

Stairway to DAX and Power BI - Level 18: Time Intelligence Dates Functions

  • Stairway Step

Business Intelligence Architect, Analysis Services Maestro, and author Bill Pearson introduces five DAX Time Intelligence functions related to Dates: DATESBETWEEN(), DATESINPERIOD(), DATESMTD(), DATESQTD(), and DATESYTD(). He discusses the syntax, uses and operation of each, and then provides hands-on exposure to the functions in Power BI.

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2026-04-15 (first published: )

2,233 reads

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Question of the Day

SQL Server Certificates

Which of these is not true for certificates used for SQL Server connections?

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