Programmers v Salespeople
This Friday Steve Jones asks whether you think the salespeople or the technical people are more important to the success of a company. And if they should be better compensated.
Use Dynamic SQL to Improve Query Performance
This article by Jonathan Roberts demonstrates how to use dynamic SQL and overcome its downsides.
Solving a Problem Importing Integers Using Format Files
When using format files to import data into SQL Server, the Integer(INT) data type needs special handling.
PASS Data Architecture VC presents On Beyond Zebra AdventureWorks OR where did I go wrong?
On Thursday February 16th at 12PM noon Central, Steve Simon will discuss “No Matter how well planned and executed, data structures sometime resembles something out of a Dr. Seuss book."
Use Your Tools
It's easy to get stuck in a rut and not learn to use the new features and capabilities of your tools are they evolve. Steve Jones reminds you it's worth a little time investment to learn about your tools.
What's the Point of Using VARCHAR(n) Anymore?
The arrival of the (MAX) data types in SQL Server 2005 were one of the most popular feature for the database developer. At the time, there was a lot of discussion as to whether this freedom from having to specify string length came at a cost. Rob attempts to give a final answer as to any down-side.
A Guide to Installing SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services
This document shows how to install a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services instance.
A Valentine for the Community
This Valentine's Day Steve Jones wants to thank everyone in the community for their efforts.
Buck Woody's Cloud Howlers
We asked Buck Woody to come up with his favourite 'Cloud' Howlers. After 'Howler' monkeys, we are faced with Howler letters. Buck dreams of sending Howler letters to the folks who dreamed up the marketing hype around 'cloud' services, who misunderstand services, who don't prepares applications for distributed environments and so on.
Blogs
A New Word: on tenderhooks
By Steve Jones
on tenderhooks – adj. feeling the primal satisfaction of being needed by someone, which...
Ramblings about data communities and your contributions, no excuses
By DataOnWheels
I have been active in the data community throughout my career. I have met...
SQL Server Journey till 2025 (brief)
By Vinay Thakur
Quick Summary for Microsoft SQL Server till 2025, I am fortunate to be part...
Forums
how do i map the "current" object entry in for each to one variable
hi, in an ssis for each loop over an object variable called MyListVariable, i...
Simulating Mercury’s Orbital Motion Using Pure T-SQL (NASA 2025 Dataset)
SQL Server is typically viewed as a transactional or analytical database engine. However, it...
Azure SQL Database | CREATE EVENT SESSION [Blocking_Capture] ON DATABASE
Hello, Is there a way in Azure SQL Database to change the 'Blocking Process...
Question of the Day
String Similarity I
On SQL Server 2025, when I run this, what is returned?
SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE_SIMILARITY('SQL Server', 'MySQL') See possible answers