The Sequence Object in SQL Server 2012
The Sequence Object is one of the many exciting new features introduced in SQL Server 2012. Learn what this new feature can do for you and how you can use it.
The Upgrade Avalanche
This year we will see a large number of upgrades from Microsoft to much of its technology stack. Can IT Pros handle the load?
SQL in the City London - 13th July
SQL in the City the one day free SQL Server training event is back in London this July. Join fellow SQL Server professionals for 5 hours of technical presentations on key issues for SQL Server developers and DBAs delivered by top MVPs. The event also offers you the chance to network with users passionate about SQL Server and the chance to see the latest Red Gate tools and meet the developers who built them. Find out more and register today.
SQL Server 2012 Integration Services - Project Deployment
SQL Server 2012 Integration Services parameters introduce a new way of dealing with package development, deployment, and execution. In order to truly appreciate their relevance, it is necessary to take a look at the new Project Deployment Model.
10 tips on converting MS SQL queries to MySQL
The syntax of SQL queries in MS SQL and MySQL are similar but not identical. This article discovers 10 most popular differences between MS SQL and MySQL syntax.
Career Engagement
This Friday Steve Jones asks if you like your job. Are you engaged? Do you want to stay? Give us your answer today.
Create CNN-style Map in Reporting Services
This article demonstrates how to use US Census' TIGER/Line shapefile to display CNN-style map in Reporting Services.
SQL VIEW Basics
SQL Views are essential for the database developer. However, it is common to see them misued, or neglected. Joe Celko tackles an introduction to the subject, but there is something about the topic that makes it likely that even the experienced developer will find out something new from reading it.
Never, Ever Use Clustered Indexes
Today we have a guest editorial from Grant Fritchey that might surprise you. Today Grant talks about clustered indexes in your tables.
Is Empowerment Good?
Today Steve Jones notes that we use computers to enable others to handle their own work without help. But is that always a good idea.
Blogs
Presenting with Visual Studio Code
A while back I wrote a quick post on setting up key mappings in...
Advice I Like: In 100 Years
By Steve Jones
In 100 years a lot of what we take to be true now will...
dataMinds Saturday 2026 – Slides
At Saturday the 21st of February I’m presenting an introduction to dimensional modelling at...
Forums
AllocationType as ROW_OVERFLOW_DATA
Hello, I inherited a number of tables with like 20-30 column using nvarchar(256) in...
is it true we cant debug c# scripts in ssis anymore under vs
Hi, i'm running vs2022. I'm trying out a c# script that i'd like to...
Question of the Day
Missing the Jaro Winkler Distance
I upgraded a SQL Server 2019 instance to SQL Server 2025. I wanted to test the fuzzy string search functions. I run this code:
SELECT JARO_WINKLER_DISTANCE('tim', 'tom')
I get this error message:Msg 195, Level 15, State 10, Line 1 'JARO_WINKLER_DISTANCE' is not a recognized built-in function name.What is wrong? See possible answers