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.
Managing Database Data Usage With Custom Space Alerts
A quick how-to on configuring SQL Server Agent alerts to manage file space usage.
Maintaining SQL Server default trace historical events for analysis and reporting
I often see questions online where someone wants to find out who started a trace, when tempdb last had an autogrow event, or when the last full backup for master occurred. Since these and other events are captured by the default trace, but the default trace only keeps five 20MB rollover files by default. This means that the event you are after may no longer be there, depending on how long ago it was and how busy your server happens to be. Unfortunately, people often need to find this information well after the fact.
Create Your Own Intense Interview
Today Steve Jones talks about interviews and the way in which he approaches them to make sure that the job is the best fit for both the company and the candidate.
SSIS FTP Task – Receive Files from FTP Site
This article will show you how to configure the FTP task in SSIS to recieve files from remote server using the FTP protocol.
Blogs
Identity Columns Can’t Be Updated: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I’m not sure I knew identity column values could not be updated. I ran...
Rolling Back a Broken Release
By Steve Jones
We had an interesting discussion about deployments in databases and how you go forward...
A bespoke reporting solution doesn’t have to cost the earth
By ChrisJenkins
You could be tolerating limited reporting because there isn’t an off the shelf solution...
Forums
Can someone please explain what happens?
I have mentioned this several times over several years. Can someone please help me...
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT) returns null when nothing is found instead of 0
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT Component) AS Found FROM tblComponents WHERE(Component NOT LIKE '%[a-z]%') AND(LTRIM(RTRIM(Component)) = 'GM13622')...
Remotely Engineer Fabric Lakehouse objects: The Fabric Modern Data Platform
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Remotely Engineer Fabric Lakehouse objects:...
Question of the Day
Creating JSON III
In a SQL Server 2025 table, called Beer, I have this data:
BeerIDBeerName 1Becks 2Fat Tire 3Mac n Jacks 4Alaskan Amber 8KirinI run this code:
SELECT JSON_OBJECTAGG(
BeerID: BeerName )
FROM beer;
What are the results? See possible answers