Fast normalization of a denormalized data source, using surrogate IDs
A cursor-free way of normalizing data from a denormalized data source into a database which uses "surrogate" IDs.
Keeping up with Technology
Phil Factor believes that we have become so immersed in the idea that administrators or accountants can run technical enterprises, unaided, that we are in danger of forgetting the vital creative contribution of the technologist.
We'll go no more a' tibbling
Phil Factor points out the limitations and irritations of Hungarian Notation.
Top 10 Features of SQL 2008 R2
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 introduces a number of interesting new features for both DBAs and developers alike. Read on to learn our top 10 favorites.
Forgetful Databases
Chris Massey gives a speedy book review, discusses the erosion of data privacy in the so-called Digital Age, and considers the implications for DBAs of a possible solution.
Free Tools for the SQL Server DBA Part 2
After a very popular first article on tools for the DBA, David Bird is back with a list of some utilities you might find very handy for working with SQL Server.
Self-Service BI with PowerPivot for Excel 2010
Thiago kicks off a new series of articles, taking us through everything we need to know to use PowerPivot effectively. First off, he walks us through the prerequisites, and getting started with our first basic data set.
Sound Off with Soundex
In this article, learn how to use phonetic algorithms such as soundex to make looking up names faster, easier, and more reliable.
How Do You Handle the Stress of Being a DBA?
How do you deal with all the pressures, stress, and problems in being a DBA? Today we have a guest editorial from Brad McGehee that asks the question.
The power of batching Transactions
This article analyzes the performance gains of batching multiple DML statements into a single transaction. New author Manor Lev-Tov examines the effect of grouping statements together instead of running them all as separate transactions.
Blogs
Blog a Day – Day 1: History of AI
By Vinay Thakur
it has been a year since i have not written much on the blog...
A New Word: on tenderhooks
By Steve Jones
on tenderhooks – adj. feeling the primal satisfaction of being needed by someone, which...
Ramblings about data communities and your contributions, no excuses
By DataOnWheels
I have been active in the data community throughout my career. I have met...
Forums
Ola Hallengren Index Optimize Maintenance can we have data compression = page
I have a quick question on Ola Hallengren Index Optimize Maintenance . Do we...
how do i map the "current" object entry in for each to one variable
hi, in an ssis for each loop over an object variable called MyListVariable, i...
Simulating Mercury’s Orbital Motion Using Pure T-SQL (NASA 2025 Dataset)
SQL Server is typically viewed as a transactional or analytical database engine. However, it...
Question of the Day
String Similarity I
On SQL Server 2025, when I run this, what is returned?
SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE_SIMILARITY('SQL Server', 'MySQL') See possible answers