Concatenating Strings to NULL values
We recently ran into this situation of reports containing nothing but blank spaces. When investigated the reason was that the String...
Learn about SQL Server without leaving your desk
SQL Server Central, with Pragmatic Works, is offering a new option in learning: high-quality training at a fraction of the usual cost with work absence slashed to zero. Our classes are done online with the same type of quality instructor you would receive from our private classes but done at your own desk. Even though you're doing the class online, the instructor can still hear you while you ask questions and optionally see your screen. Because the class is done in half-day increments, you also still have time to do your job.
Managing Data Growth in SQL Server
'Help, my database ate my disk drives!'. Many DBAs spend most of their time dealing with variations of the problem of database processes consuming too much disk space. This happens because of errors such as incorrect configurations for recovery models, data growth for large objects and queries that overtax TempDB resources. Rodney describes, with some feeling, the errors that can lead to this sort of crisis for the working DBA, and their solution.
Rotating Keys
This Friday's poll deals with security. Steve Jones asks how often you might rotate those encryption keys to ensure that your systems are secure.
ROW_NUMBER(): An Efficient Alternative to Subqueries
The ROW_NUMBER function has drastically changed the way we can write a number of queries in T-SQL. New author Francis Rodrigues brings us a few places where this function can improve the efficiency of your code.
Brad's Sure DBA Checklist
Sometimes, all a DBA needs, to help with day-to-day work, is a checklist of best-practices and dos and don’ts. It provides a handy reminder. Brad has come up with a new update to his famous checklist...
Microsoft SQL Server vs. MySQL
Is Microsoft SQL Server superior to MySQL or not? What are the pros and cons of using SQL Server over MySQL? Is MySQL mature enough to compete with a big player like Microsoft and Oracle? Can we fairly compare both products?
Working with ADO.Net variables in SSIS scripts
I am always looking to improve the performance of my SSIS packages. I try to do as much work within...
Arrogance Has No Place in Security
Arrogance has no place in assessing threats and attempting to build security to mitigate them.
Automating SQL Server Health Check (SQL Server 2005)
This article explain how to automate SQL Database server health checks, exactly what an ideal DBA desires.
Blogs
Why I stopped using MCP for AI coding stuff
By HeyMo0sh
Something has shifted quietly in 2026. The developers I know/respect—the ones actually shipping, not...
AI: Blog a Day – Day 5: Notebooks, Hugging face models and Fine Tuning
By Vinay Thakur
Continuing from Day 4 where we learned Encoder, Decoder, and Attention Mechanism, today we...
AI: Blog a Day – Day 4: Transformers – Encoder, Decoder, and Attention
By Vinay Thakur
Continuing from Day 3 where we covered LLM models open/closed and their parameters, Today...
Forums
Dynamic Unpivot
I have a table I didn't design that has tons of repeating groups in...
Writing as an Art and a Job
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Writing as an Art and...
String Similarity II
Comments posted to this topic are about the item String Similarity II
Question of the Day
String Similarity II
What is the range for the result from the EDIT_DISTANCE_SIMILARITY() function in SQL Server 2025?
See possible answers