When a SQL file will not open in SSMS
What happens when double clicking a .SQL file doesn't open the file in SSMS? This article provides the solution to fixing that annoying SSMS issue.
Adding Column to a SQL Server Table
This article examines the difference between adding a nullable column to a table or a column with a default value.
Less Pay, More Convenience
Steve Jones talks telecommuting today as a recent survey shows that a third of IT professionals would take less pay to work away from the office.
Performance Troubleshooting with Windows Resource Monitor - Part 2
In the second part of the Resource Monitor series we conclude with a look using the Memory tab and Disk tab to diagnose performance issues.
Cam-Graph
A new project from Microsoft Research has Steve Jones interested. It deals with large data sets to perform graphical modeling. The storage mechanism has Steve Jones interested.
How to Setup Report Parameters to Default Based On User Credentials
This article explains how to setup Reporting Services (SSRS) parameters default values using user credentials.
Life is Short
Life is short, and Steve Jones reminds us to live for today, even as we invest in ourselves for the future.
Backup and Restore of an Analysis Services Database
One of the most important responsibilities of a database administrator is to make sure that all the databases are backed up across environments managed by them. In my earlier article titled Importance of Database Backups and Recovery Plan I discussed the importance of a good database backup and recovery plan for all the user and system databases. In this article we will take a look at the steps which a database administrator needs to follow to backup and restore an analysis services database.
SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 Customer Technology Preview Available
You can help test the first service pack for SQL Server 2008 R2 and ensure the highest quality possible for its release.
Happy Easter 2011
It's Good Friday and the Easter holiday weekend with a number of countries having a bank holiday. Steve Jones is on vacation and providing us with a blooper reel for today.
Blogs
Narrow Task Decomposition in AI Pipeline Agents
A nightly load into sales_fact fails. Ask an orchestrating agent to break down the...
Car Update: August 2026
By Steve Jones
It’s been some time since I provided a car update, so I decided to...
Microsoft Fabric OneLake Shortcuts: When to Use Them and When Not To
By James Serra
An architecture scenario Imagine separate Sales, Finance, Shared Data, and Executive Analytics workspaces. Sales...
Forums
Managing Incidents and Fighting Fires
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Backing Up a DMK
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The Quiet Part
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Question of the Day
Backing Up a DMK
In SQL Server 2025, I have a database with a Database Masker Key (DMK). I want to back up this key and keep a copy offline. When do I have to open this key before running the backup?
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