Set Up Grouping Intervals for Excel (SQL Spackle)
So you want to group your data for charting in Excel? Here's how, the easy way!
The DBA Database
One very handy item Steve Jones found as a DBA was a DBA only database on each instance. Today he asks you if you have one and if not, why not. There are good reasons to have one, and security is usually not a problem.
Implement Continuous Integration In Your Software Project
Continuous integration, or CI, brings developers closer to delivering error-free software flawlessly. Find out how to implement it.
Better Bosses Needed
These days it seems there's no shortage of bad managers out there. However the bad ones do more than hurt morale, they actually can impact productivity. Steve Jones wonders why companies don't do more to fix this.
Don't Share Passwords Across Sites
There is a rippling effect from the hack on Yahoo. Those users and passwords are being used on other sites. Steve Jones reminds us that we shouldn't be sharing passwords, and we should educate our users to do the same thing.
Track source dates when loading a data warehouse
A primer on how to reduce network and source system load when reading a relational source into the data warehouse.
An Introduction to SQL Server Service Broker
Service Broker is a technology built into SQL Server and utilized by the engine for its internal asynchronous processing. The great thing about Service Broker is that its functionality is exposed so we can build our own custom data integrations. Deanna Dicken introduces you to the concepts needed to create a service broker integration.
Performance Data
Great DBAs collect all kinds of metrics on their instances and let them manage themselves. However many administrators need help monitoring and interpreting the data. Today Steve Jones asks if you think this data needs extra security or is it less of an issue than other PII data.
Summarizing Imported Data
This article shows a few simple techniques to summarize table data using T-SQL.
Data Generator Source Adapter
This component needs little explanation. It generates random integer (DT_I4) and string (DT_WSTR) data and places them in the pipeline. You specify how many columns of each you would like and for any string columns you pass a fixed length value. You then need to specify how many rows in total you require to be generated. This component is used by us to do testing of the pipeline and components downstream.
Blogs
Claude AI Convinced Me Not to Build an iPad App
By Steve Jones
I coach volleyball and I do a lot of stat stuff on paper. I...
A New Word: Dolorblindness
By Steve Jones
dolorblindness – n. the frustration that you’ll never be able to understand another person’s...
Claude Code Helps Analyze Test Data Manager Log Files
By Steve Jones
I had a customer ask about analyzing their Test Data Manager (TDM) usage to...
Forums
Data Warehouse Toolkit meets Star Schema: The Complete Reference
Is there a good syllabus for reading these two together? (Yes, it's called the...
GPX distance and time analysis in SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item GPX distance and time analysis...
The DBA is Dead; Long Live the DBA
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The DBA is Dead; Long...
Question of the Day
Changing the AG Listener
In SQL Server 2025, if I want to remove an IP from a listener, what do I do?
See possible answers