Working with SQL Agent Durations
SQL Agent stores duration in HHMMSS format - not always useful. Discover how to use Powershell, some basic math, and T-SQL to tame these unruly values.
Provisioning a New SQL Server Instance – Part Two
So how should you install and configure SQL Server 2012 properly? Glenn Berry completes his two-part series by explaining the steps needed to complete the preparation and do the actual installation.
Make a Backup First
The hack on a Gizmodo writer using Amazon and Apple customer service security holes was shocking. Steve Jones notes that while security is important, backups are even more important.
Stairway to T-SQL DML Level 8: Using the ROLLUP, CUBE and GROUPING SET operator in a GROUP BY Clause
In this article I will be expanding on my discussion of the GROUP BY clause by exploring the ROLLUP, CUBE and GROUPING SETS operators. These additional GROUP BY operators make it is easy to have SQL Server create subtotals, grand totals, a superset of subtotals, as well as multiple aggregate groupings in a single SELECT statement.
Row Number Transformation
The Row Number Transformation calculates a row number for each row, and adds this as a new output column to the data flow. The column number is a sequential number, based on a seed value. Each row receives the next number in the sequence, based on the defined increment value.
Big Data Jobs
Big Data is in the news and there is a lot of job growth. Steve Jones lists a few industries and areas where you might find one.
Hierarchies in SQL, Part II, the Sequel
In a followup to his first article on Hierarchies, Gus Gwynn takes a look at the performance of a few different methods of querying a hierarchy. Learn how the HierarchyID stacks up.
How To Support Multiple SQL Server Package Configurations in SSIS
I have several applications that use SSIS packages and I want to be able to store all the configurations together in a single table when I deploy. When a package executes I need a way of specifying the "application" and having SSIS automatically handle the package configuration based on the application.
Brad McGehee Moves On
The SQLServerCentral and Database Weekly editors recognize the contribution of Brad McGehee to the websites and newsletters, and to DBA education in general, over the past 5 years.
Enforce business rules with indexed views and a two-row table
Here’s a technique that uses a view with a unique index and a dummy table with only two rows to trick SQL Server into enforcing your business rules.
Blogs
A New Word: los vidados
By Steve Jones
los vidados – n. the half-remembered acquaintances you knew years ago, who you might...
In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026
By Brian Kelley
I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class...
EightKB 2026
EightKB is back again for 2026! The biggest online SQL Server internals conference is...
Forums
query to track time spent on individual tasks in SSIS
Hi everyone I am looking at building a query to determine how much time...
SQL Server Transactional Replication from Always On Availability Groups to Azure SQL Database
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Transactional Replication from...
Hidden Heroes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Hidden Heroes
Question of the Day
Identities and Sequences I
When thinking of the Identity property for auto incrementing columns and sequences for the same action, which are explicitly linked to increment a number in a table when a new row is added?
See possible answers