SSIS Alpha Splits using the CODEPOINT() Function
A relatively common requirement in ETL processing is to break records into disparate outputs based on an alphabetical split on...
Covering Index using Included Columns
This article from Josef Richberg details the benefits of included columns for use in creating a covering index to improve performance.
Configure Windows Firewall to Work with SQL Server
Windows Firewall is an OS level software firewall. It can be a crucial part of OS level security if you are not using other firewall hardware or software. Since I do not have another firewall I have a need to enable Windows Firewall for my SQL Server database server. In this article I go through the process of configuring Windows Firewall for different scenarios along with the associated considerations.
Key Discovery III
In Part I and Part II of the series, I discussed documenting and discovering Primary Keys and Clustered Indexes. In...
Newsletter Changes for Yahoo Mail
We have recently made a few changes in our newsletter sending process and been working with Yahoo to ensure delivery. If you are just receiving this newsletter to a Yahoo account, welcome.
The Best Laptop
Steve Jones recently went on a search for a new laptop, looking for the "best" one for him. But what it the best? And is it worth pursuing?
Time Bomb Coding
Do your system contain a time bomb in the code? David Poole looks at some potential situations where you might be experiencing performance issues and delves into why.
Find Efficiencies or Add Horsepower?
In our world sometimes it’s worth the time and effort for in depth tuning to get the machine to run...
Using Analysis Services Processing Task & Analysis Services Execute DDL Task in SSIS
Learn how the Analysis Services Processing Task can be used to process analysis services objects such as cubes, dimensions and mining models.
An Administrative Security Hole?
Is it a problem for SQL Server to have a backdoor that lets a Windows Administrator connect as a sysadmin? Steve Jones thinks so and gives a reason why this might be a problem.
Blogs
PlanTrace Now Supports PostgreSQL
PlanTrace Now Supports PostgreSQL The same plan analysis you know from...
A New Word: the Kinder Surprise
By Steve Jones
the kinder surprise – . the point in your early adolescence when you realize...
Crash-Consistent Snapshot Cloning - Hyper-V Edition
If you’ve been following my T-SQL Snapshot Backup series, most of what I’ve covered...
Forums
SSRS Is Dead. Here Are Your Real Options
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SSRS Is Dead. Here Are...
The Distance Metric
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Distance Metric
The New Wave of Security Threats
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The New Wave of Security...
Question of the Day
The Distance Metric
In the new VECTOR_DISTANCE() function in SQL Server 2025, the first parameter is the distance_metric. What is this?
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