SQL Saturday Pensacola pics
The SQL Saturday Pensacola pics are up! Visit the SQL Saturday Facebook group at
Using authenticators with SQL Server encryption
Authenticators are additional data that gets encrypted along with the data to be stored in an encrypted manner. When it comes to decrypt the data, if the right authenticator isn't specified, SQL Server doesn't return the data in the decrypted form. Rather, a NULL value is returned, just as if the wrong key was used.
Who's At Fault
Who do you blame when software fails? Hopefully you don't hire a lawyer before you do. Steve Jones talks about liability and software.
Back to the Future
Steve Jones asks this Friday if there is anything you wish you might have done differently.
Back to the Future
Steve Jones asks this Friday if there is anything you wish you might have done differently.
Back to the Future
Steve Jones asks this Friday if there is anything you wish you might have done differently.
Retrieve List of Databases and their Properties using PowerShell
I would like to translate some of the Transact-SQL scripts that I use every day, starting with the simple ones like retrieving a list of databases and their properties for auditing purposes.
TRY/CATCH - The Great Way to Handle Exceptions in SQL 2005/8
The goal of this post is to explain how to handle errors thanks to a useful T-SQL functionality, available since SQL 2005 onwards, that developers are already used to – and similar to how exceptions are handled in the Visual Studio environment.
Using the FOR XML Clause to Return Query Results as XML
The FOR XML clause in SQL Server causes a lot of difficulty, mainly because it is rather poorly explained in Books-on-Line. We challenged Bob Sheldon to make it seem simple. Here is his sublime response.
Roll Your Own Fuzzy Match / Grouping (Jaro Winkler) - T-SQL
Roll Your Own Fuzzy Match / Grouping (Jaro Winkler) - T-SQL
Blogs
ISACA AI Material/Exam Prep Discount (May 18 – June 30, 2026)
By Brian Kelley
If you are considering any of the ISACA AI certs like the Advanced Artificial...
A Fabric solution can be very cost effective
By ChrisJenkins
Are you currently using Microsoft Fabric or considering migrating to it? If so, there...
Track SQL Server Configuration Changes Using the Error Log
By SQLPals
Track SQL Server Configuration Changes Using the Error Log If you...
Forums
Before Using AI with Business Data, Read This
Artificial intelligence tools are quickly becoming part of daily business operations, from document analysis...
Designing SQL Server ETL Pipelines That Don't Break at Scale
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Designing SQL Server ETL Pipelines...
Detecting Deadlocks Quickly
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Detecting Deadlocks Quickly
Question of the Day
Detecting Deadlocks Quickly
In the Database Engine, when a deadlock is detected, what does the detection interval shrink to (in time)?
See possible answers