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.
The 2012 SQLServerCentral/Exceptional DBA Awards Party at the PASS Summit
The 2012 SQLServerCentral party at the PASS Summit is on and will once again include the awards ceremony for the Exceptional DBA of 2012. Get your tickets now.
SSIS Basics: Introducing Variables
In the third of her SSIS Basics articles, Annette Allen shows you how to use Variables in your SSIS Packages, and explains the functions of the system-defined variables.
Blogs
Automatic Index Compaction
By ReviewMyDB
Index maintenance has always meant nightly jobs and a window you have to defend....
The Goldilocks problem – Materialized Views
I’m sure you’ve all heard the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but...
Monday Monitor Tips: Virtual Machine Usage and Cost
By Steve Jones
One of the things I’ve been requesting for a number of years is cost...
Forums
SQL Art, Part 4: Happy 4th of July — A British DBA's Guide to Celebrating a War We Don't Talk About
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art, Part 4: Happy...
How We Handled a Vendor Retry That Loaded Twice in Snowflake
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How We Handled a Vendor...
Cognitive Coverage
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Cognitive Coverage
Question of the Day
Getting the Average
I have this data in the dbo.Commission table in a SQL Server 2022 database.
salesperson commission Brian 12 Brian 16 Andy 7 Andy 14 Andy 21 Steve 20 Steve NULLAll the data is a varchar, and I decide to run this query to get the totals for each salesperson.
SELECT SalesPerson
, AVG(TRY_PARSE(Commission AS int)) AS TotalCommission
FROM commission
GROUP BY SalesPerson
GO
What average commission is calculated for Steve? See possible answers