Understanding Scans And Seeks
Whether a query uses Scan or Seek can have a big impact on the cost of excuting that query. This article examines when each is used and which is optimal.
Using Star Join and Few-Outer-Row Optimizations to Improve Data Warehousing Queries
In this white paper we discuss two of the new features in SQL Server 2008, Star Join and Few-Outer-Row optimizations. We test the performance of SQL Server 2008 on a set of complex data warehouse queries designed to highlight the effect of these two features and observed a significant performance gain over SQL Server 2005 (without these two features).
Finding Passwords
There was a vulnerability announced in the SQL Server password system last week, but Steve Jones doesn't see this as much of an issue. Read his thoughts and see if you agree.
Returning full error details from SQL Server Agent jobs
Tired of the truncated error history that is available for SQL Server Agent jobs in SSMS, here is a way to get deeper information - easily!
EVA Partition Alignment
Partition alignment is a well documented best practice, but does it have any benefit on an HP EVA?
Finding Passwords
There was a vulnerability announced in the SQL Server password system last week, but Steve Jones doesn't see this as much of an issue. Read his thoughts and see if you agree.
Finding Passwords
There was a vulnerability announced in the SQL Server password system last week, but Steve Jones doesn't see this as much of an issue. Read his thoughts and see if you agree.
Finding Passwords
There was a vulnerability announced in the SQL Server password system last week, but Steve Jones doesn't see this as much of an issue. Read his thoughts and see if you agree.
Transact-SQL Formatting Standards
How should SQL code be formatted? What sort of indentation should you use? Should keywords be in upper case? How should lists be lined up? SQL is one of those languages that will execute however you treat whitespace and capitalization. However, the way SQL is laid out will effect its readability and the time taken to review and understand it. Standardisation of code layout is an important issue, but what standard should you adopt? Rob avoids a direct answer, but tells you the sort of answers you'll need to decide upon when creating a strategy for formatting SQL code.
Enforcing Data Quality while using Surrogate Keys
Data quality is important in a database, but so many people fail to implement good referential integrity. New author Marvin Elder brings us an article that looks at surrogate keys for ensuring data quality.
Blogs
Funny Money: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
While wandering around the documentation looking for some Question of the Day topics, I...
Why Database AI Agents need Layers?
By Arun Sirpal
Third part in my Ai series with databases. When building AI solutions within the...
Un-Migrating From the Cloud: T-SQL Tuesday #199
By Steve Jones
This month we have a very interesting invitation from Koen Verbeeck. He has hosted...
Forums
Backup Availability Group
Please I am hoping for some feedback Specifications: Windows Server 2022 SQL Server 2022...
How Do the Experts Become Experts?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Do the Experts Become...
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments Level 4 – Preparing for Production Deployment
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments...
Question of the Day
Secure Communications
As of June 2026, what is the best version of TLS to use with SQL Server?
See possible answers