Using Ranking Functions to Deduplicate Data
This article from Andrew Riley will show you how you can use the RANK and ROW_NUMBER Ranking Functions to deduplicate data in SQL Server 2005
Dynamic Data Driven Variable Hierarchical Structures in SQL
This article describes data driven variable structure generation in SQL. The controlling data can be located higher up on the hierarchical pathway or can be located further down on the pathway producing a look-ahead operation. Multiple pathways can independently produce dynamic data driven structures and these dynamic structures can be nested allowing a very flexible and powerful dynamic automatic data structure generation capability. These different controls of structure generation can be combined.
Instant File Initialization Speeds SQL Server
Sometimes, its just the smallest of details that can make all the difference. For example, on my test system (see...
Issues with running DBCC SHRINKFILE on your data files
Why would database performance remain low and fragmentation high event though the entire database has been defragmented every night? In this tip we cover how SHRINKFILE works and some of the issues it might create.
Data Distribution - Part 1
The start of a new series from Leo Peysakhovich that looks at some of the issues with moving data around between systems and ensuring that it is in sync between them.
Software Vendor Security
This week Steve Jones finds some issues with the security of third party vendor software.
Thinking Time
It's important to have time to think, but quite often we don't find the time. Steve Jones comments on how he's learned just how valuable this can be.
TSQL Challenge 35 - Find the total number of 'Full Attendees' in 24HOP
This challenge has a (fake) reference to the 24 Hours of PASS event and your task is to count the number of attendees who watched the complete presentation of each speaker.
SQL Server CRUD-Generation from System Views
If you are not keen on repetitive typing, you can still rapidly produce production-quality documented code by planning ahead and using Extended properties, and system views. Phil Factor explains, with some Scary SQL
Missing Indexes in SQL Server 2005
Determining which columns to index in a table used to be a very time consuming process that was as much art as science. New author Ranga Narasimhan brings us an article that shows how SQL Server 2005 makes this much easier.
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...
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Managing Incidents and Fighting Fires
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Backing Up a DMK
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Backing Up a DMK
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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