Basics of XML and SQL Server, Part 4: Create an XML invoice with SSIS
This article demonstrates how to build an SSIS package that generates an XML invoice document from data stored in SQL Server and saves it to an XML file.
Is Computer Science Dead?
Today's editorial was originally published on Apr 27, 2007. It is being re-run as Steve is at SQL Server Connections. Today Steve talks programming.
SQL Server Indexing Best Practices: Stairway to SQL Server Indexes Level 15
Dos and don’ts that lead to a healthy, well-performing database.
Vendor Selection
Today's editorial was originally published on Apr 29, 2007. It is being re-run as Steve is at SQL Server Connections. Today Steve Jones talks about purchasing software.
Storing E-mail addresses more efficiently in SQL Server
A lot of people are storing large quantities of e-mail addresses in their systems. Since a large percentage of any system's user base is going to be supplying e-mail addresses from a few of the vastly popular providers (such as GMail and Hotmail), we are storing the "@gmail.com" and "@hotmail.com" parts of those addresses on disk over and over and over again.
Generating Test Data: Part 1 - Generating Random Integers and Floats
Learn how you can easily generate large amounts of test data efficiently in this new series from Jeff Moden. Part 1 covers integers and floating point values.
Make Meetings Fun
Today we have a guest editorial from Andy Warren as Steve Jones is at SQL Server Connections. Today Andy talks about how we can make those dreaded daily events, meetings, better.
The Clonesome Database
You need a quiet couple of hours poking about with DMVs, and checking execution plans to get to the bottom of the a query issue, but you can't make a copy the production database either. It's too big, and the data is private....
Using SQL Server's Output Clause
When you are inserting, updating, or deleting records from a table, SQL Server keeps track of the records that are changed in two different pseudo tables: INSERTED, and DELETED. These tables are normally used in DML triggers. If you use the OUTPUT clause on an INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE or MERGE statement you can expose the records that go to these pseudo tables to your application and/or T-SQL code.
Dealing with custom date formats in T-SQL
Should I be formatting dates on the database side? What tools can I use in SQL Server to format and parse dates? This article helps you decide which one best suits your needs.
Blogs
Moving On-Prem PostgreSQL to the Cloud: Picking the Right Path for Big Tables
Every PostgreSQL migration eventually hits the same fork in the road. The database is...
A Spread of Vacation
By Steve Jones
I’m off on vacation today. Which is a little weird as I just got...
How AgentDBA Identifies Backup Failures
By Arun Sirpal
Every DBA has a box like this. Sitting untouched for months. Nobody’s proud of...
Forums
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From SQL Server On-Premises to Claude Desktop: How I built a Full MCP Pipeline
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Independence Day 2026
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Question of the Day
Independence Day 2026
In the original Independence Day movie (1996), what type of computer did Jeff Goldblum use to connect to the alien mainframe? Take a guess, don't look it up or ask AI.
See possible answers