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.
Raw Materials - Transportation Management
Transportation Management is an information technology problem in more ways than one.
The Age of Software
Does the age of software matter? Steve Jones talks about this after there was a decision for the SQL 11 tools not to support Windows XP.
XLSExport: A CLR procedure to export proc results to Excel
A CLR procedure utilizing the NPOI library to export the results of a passed stored procedure to an Excel spreadsheet.
Harnessing PowerShell's String Comparison and List-Filtering Features
When you are first learning PowerShell, it often seems to be an 'Alice through the looking-glass' world. Just the simple process of comparing and selecting strings can seem strangely obtuse. Michael turns the looking-glass into wonderland with his wall-chart of the PowerShell string-comparison operators and syntax
SSRS 2008 R2 KPIs with bullet graphs
Key Performance Indicators are typically displayed in a scorecard with stop light indicators, which are either red, amber or green light icons. The limitation for these kind of indicators is that you can see the actual and target values in two different fields as well as see the status of the KPI in red, amber or green color. If the user wants to figure out the thresholds associated with the KPI, these values are generally not visible. Further, representing the threshold values in the scorecard itself defeats the purpose of the scorecard. The scorecard should display the KPI's status in the most summarized form and use a minimal amount of space on the dashboard. In this tip we would look at how to address this issue.
Excel in the Clouds
Today Steve Jones talks about a new use for cloud computing with Excel to analyze large sets of data.
Blogs
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...
Tip: Expanding a SQL statement
In all recent versions of the database you can call DBMS_UTILITY.EXPAND_SQL_TEXT to get the...
Forums
From SQL Server On-Premises to Claude Desktop: How I built a Full MCP Pipeline
Comments posted to this topic are about the item From SQL Server On-Premises to...
Independence Day 2026
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Independence Day 2026
Independence Day 2026
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Independence Day 2026
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