Easy or Hard
How should we build tools? Should they be easy to use? Or does it make sense to have some things hard to do so that only experienced used choose them. Steve Jones comments on usability and the implications of your choices.
Easy or Hard
How should we build tools? Should they be easy to use? Or does it make sense to have some things hard to do so that only experienced used choose them. Steve Jones comments on usability and the implications of your choices.
Converting Hexadecimal String Values to Alpha (ASCII) Strings
In an interesting exercise in data conversion, Stephen Lasham brings us a nice article on basic manipulations.
Seeing Double
SQL Server allows some interesting index behavior and there's been some debate over whether it makes sense or not. This Friday Steve Jones asks if you have a reason for this.
International Features in Microsoft SQL Server 2005
This white paper introduces Microsoft SQL Server developers to the international features of Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Topics covered include an explanation of Unicode, added support for supplementary characters in SQL Server 2005, the changes in collation in different versions of SQL Server, changes in data types, performance, updates on data providers, and new international support features in SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services and Integration Services.
TSQL Spam-killer
In which Phil takes a break from a tedious bit of routine coding to build a Spam Filter in SQL.
Retrieve XML data values with XQuery in SQL Server 2005
Use XQuery scripting language to retrieve specific XML data type values in SQL Server. Learn to script and use Value() and Query() to retrieve single and multiple XML values.
Seeing Double
SQL Server allows some interesting index behavior and there's been some debate over whether it makes sense or not. This Friday Steve Jones asks if you have a reason for this.
Blogs
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...
SQL Server Journey till 2025 (brief)
By Vinay Thakur
Quick Summary for Microsoft SQL Server till 2025, I am fortunate to be part...
Building Power BI Reports: Desktop vs Fabric
By James Serra
Why this comparison feels confusing If you’re a Power BI report author who’s just...
Forums
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...
Azure SQL Database | CREATE EVENT SESSION [Blocking_Capture] ON DATABASE
Hello, Is there a way in Azure SQL Database to change the 'Blocking Process...
Having a Little Fun at SQL Server Central
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Having a Little Fun at...
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