The Redmond Agenda
The things that are important to Microsoft might not be the same ones that are important to you as a customer. However Steve Jones thinks that the potential changes in the release strategy may be good for data professionals.
The Lure of Simplicity in IT
A deceptively simple solution to a business re-engineering problem can beguile companies into selecting a compromise that doesn't actually meet all their needs. Simple is great, but not at the expense of functionality. Some IT solutions are complex because the problem is complex, but they can be made conceptually clearer.
9 Things to Do When You Inherit a Database
Some tips on what to do when you inherit a database that you've never worked on before
Documenting the Undocumented
Not everything in SQL Server is documented and Steve Jones doesn't think that everything should be. However some features are used often and should have additional documentation.
T-SQL Integer Data-Type Conversions
This article will show some common integer data-type conversions using T-SQL.
Pioneering with PowerShell
In PowerShell, Phil Factor believes we have a true novelty: a Windows Scripting language that outsmarts Perl and Python and Ruby and one that will continue to cause radical changes to Windows server applications, and the tools we use to administer them.
The Next Generation
There's no shortage of technology workers, especially good ones. Today Steve Jones reminds us that we might wish to encourage others to try technology and then help prepare them for a career in this field if they enjoy it.
The Perils of Running Database Repair
In a perfect world everyone has the right backups to be able to recover within the downtime and data-loss service level agreements when accidental data loss or corruption occurs. Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world and so many people find that they don’t have the backups they need to recover when faced with corruption.
The Road to Professional Database Development: Database Normalization
Not only is the process of normalization valuable for increasing data quality and simplifying the process of modifying data, but it actually makes the database perform much faster. To prove the point, Peter Larsson takes a large unnormalised database and subjects it to successive stages of normalisation.
Get Performance Tips Directly From SQL Server
This article describes a utility that allows you to inspect cached plans and extract information that can be useful in improving the performance of your SQL.
Blogs
No Shortcuts for the SQLCMD Batch Terminator: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I was messing around with SQLCMD and I realized something I hadn’t known. I’ve...
Where Is My SQL Agent? Running Scheduled Jobs Against Azure SQL Database
By gbargsley
One of the first things I review when I inherit a new SQL Server...
AgentDBA vs Critical SQL Server
By Arun Sirpal
It’s 07:43. Someone’s already left a message. “Something’s wrong with the DB server.” You...
Forums
Increment a number in a SQL Query based on a value
I have an issue where I have a Bill of Material list of items...
Follow Your Hunch
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Follow Your Hunch
What Happens When You Ask a Local AI to Query Your Database?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item What Happens When You Ask...
Question of the Day
Detecting Characters
I have a SQL Server 2022 English default installation on a server. I want to detect if there are any upper case characters in rows and I have this code:
SELECT CustomerNameID,
CustomerName
FROM dbo.CustomerName
WHERE CustomerName = LOWER(CustomerName)
Here is the sample data I am testing with:
CustomerNameID CustomerName 1 John Smith 2 Sarah Johnson 3 MICHAEL WILLIAMS 4 JENNIFER BROWN 5 david jones 6 emily davis 7 Robert Miller 8 LISA WILSON 9 christopher moore 10 Amanda TaylorHow many rows are returned? See possible answers