Optimizing a cursor based routine – Part 1
Learn how you can remove a cursor and optimize a routine that loops through a series of data and performs various calculations in this short article from Dave Ballantyne.
TSQL Challenge 59 - Playing Chess in TSQL – Part 2
Your job is to generate a string using Forsyth-Edwards Notation which represents the final position of pieces after performing a series of moves from the original position
Where Do You Go for Authoritative SQL Server Best Practices?
There is now a vast amount of SQL Server information and 'best practice' advice available on the Internet, in the form of innumerable blogs, community sites and forums. Finding an answer to your question is relatively easy, but finding the right, or best, answer is harder than ever.
Highlighting repeating groups in SSRS 2008 R2 charts
In a typical bar chart, the height of the bars represents the value of the data along the X axis and the Y axis represents the category of the data point. All these values can be classified in logical groups depending upon the logic used for analysis. One general requirement that arises in the case of repeating groups, is to highlight these groups without representing it on the X or Y scale. In this tip we will look at how to address this requirement.
Taking It to the Extreme: SQLCLR and Parallelism
Learn to use SQLCLR, parallelism and how to write better performing SQL code from MVP Adam Machanic in New York City on July 14-15. Early bird discounts available with the code "EARLYBIRD".
Regular Audit Analysis
This Friday Steve Jones asks about how you handle audit data in your environment. Do you regularly analyze the data? Or do you wait for something to go wrong before you check the data.
Reporting Services: Adding extra columns / rows to a matrix
The functionality of additional columns / rows in a cross table ("matrix") in Reporting Services is limited to totals / subtotals. By using a stored function a solution is described.
Fast and Free; SQL Scripts Manager's Script Generator
When William produced his second article on the free tool 'SQL Scripts Manager', revealing that it worked just as well with PowerShell and Python scripts as it does with TSQL, he thought that would be the end of the series. Oh no; in response to feedback, comes a small add-in called 'Script Generator' that makes a big difference to the speed of developing and producing new scripts.
SSMS: The Query Window Keyboard Shortcuts
Simple-Talk's free wallchart of the most important SSMS keyboard shortcuts aims to help find all those curiously forgettable key combinations within SQL Server Management Studio that unlock the hidden magic that is available for editing and executing queries.
Blogs
Claude AI Convinced Me Not to Build an iPad App
By Steve Jones
I coach volleyball and I do a lot of stat stuff on paper. I...
A New Word: Dolorblindness
By Steve Jones
dolorblindness – n. the frustration that you’ll never be able to understand another person’s...
Claude Code Helps Analyze Test Data Manager Log Files
By Steve Jones
I had a customer ask about analyzing their Test Data Manager (TDM) usage to...
Forums
Data Warehouse Toolkit meets Star Schema: The Complete Reference
Is there a good syllabus for reading these two together? (Yes, it's called the...
GPX distance and time analysis in SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item GPX distance and time analysis...
The DBA is Dead; Long Live the DBA
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The DBA is Dead; Long...
Question of the Day
Changing the AG Listener
In SQL Server 2025, if I want to remove an IP from a listener, what do I do?
See possible answers