Are Auto-Updates Good?
Internet Explorer is going to get automatic updates soon and Steve Jones thinks it's a mixed blessing.
ETL Magic with SSIS – Part I
The first part of two parts of a paper discussion the implementation of a "real-world" ETL example using SSIS.
Raw Materials - Decisions, Decisions
Centuries ago, the philosopher Leibniz had a dream that all decisions could be made by machine. Today, his vision comes to life, more or less.
Using bit columns with NULLs when three options exist in SQL Server
Frequently surveys ask yes/no questions and use a bit datatype. What are the effects of allowing this column to be NULL in a SQL Server table? Check out this tip to learn more.
Stairway to T-SQL DML Level 7: Summarizing Data Using a Simple GROUP BY Clause
In this article you will be see how to group data using the simple GROUP BY clause, in order to summarize more complex data.
Truth and Demos
Today Steve Jones reminds us that we are all selling something in technology, even if it's our reputation. We ought to be truthful in our dealings with our clients.
XML-XSL Transformations in SQL Server
With the release of Master Data Services (MDS) for SQL Server 2008R2, it is now possible to perform XML transformations on the database server.
When to Break Down Complex Queries
Microsoft SQL Server is able to create very efficient query plans in most cases. However, there are certain query patterns that can cause problems for the query optimizer; this article describes four of these patterns.
Cloud Patches
The cloud changes the way that we can administer and deploy changes to our systems. Steve Jones highlights an interesting idea, and hopes we get similar techniques applied to databases in the cloud.
Managing Transaction Logs
A great article that should answer all your questions about the transaction log from MVP Gail Shaw. A must read for all DBAs.
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