The Pace of Information
Is the rapid pace of information being fed to us a problem? Steve Jones has a few thoughts.
Index related DMVs and DMFs - sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats
Examining statistics of indexes is useful for optimizing the performance of queries. Statistics help us determine the usage and worth of indexes - one simple method is using the index-related dynamic management view; sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats
Passing table valued parameters in SQL Server 2008
I have always wanted to be able to pass table variables to stored procedures. If a variable is able to be declared, it should have the functionality to be passed as necessary. I was thrilled to learn that SQL Server 2008 offers this functionality. Here are instructions on how to pass table variables (and the data in them) into stored procedures and functions.
Working With SqlParameter in .NET
Interacting with SQL Server from .NET is a radical change from the old OLEDB/ODBC method. Raj Vasant brings us some easy ways to work with parameters passed in with the ADO SQLCommand.
Trustworthy Computing: Lessons Learned from Five Years of Building More Secure Software
This article discusses prioritizing code by age, using analysis tools and automation, looking at threats from multiple angles, and the importance of education
Update SQL Server Table Statistics for a Performance Kick
Find out how to update and tune table statistics in SQL Server to ensure data accuracy and boost performance. Learn auto and manual update commands.
Parallel Processing of Large Volume ETL Jobs
ETL processing, generally involves copying/moving, transforming, cleaning the records/transactions from one or multiple sources. Most of the batch processing or warehousing projects involve such data processing in millions on daily/weekly basis. Typically, there is a Staging area and production area. Records are cleaned, transformed, filtered and verified from staging to production area. This demands SQL Set theory based queries, parallel processing with multiple processors/CPU. The article focuses on need of SQL Set theory approach and parallel processing while processing large volume of ETL records using programming approach.
Importing Poorly Formatted Text Files using SSIS
Importing text files is a common task for DBA's and Developers, but what happens when the text file is not properly formatted?
SQL Puzzle 7
After a gap of sixteen months, Lionel Clarke, the creator of the only 3-D maze game to be written in TSQL, returns with a new SQL puzzle. It is very simple. You have to move as much of the data as you can from the source tables to the destination tables.
Blogs
Claude finds two cryptographic weaknesses (but the sky isn’t falling)
By Brian Kelley
If you haven't seen the announcement, Anthropic was able to utilize Claude (Mythos Preview)...
Generate Embeddings in SQL with Aurora and Bedrock
Most embedding pipelines on AWS have the same shape: a job reads rows out...
Resolving SQL Server Transaction Log Issues Efficiently
By Arun Sirpal
Transaction log issues are one of the quietest ways a healthy database turns into...
Forums
Symmetric Key Encryption
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The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why Your Login Auditing Strategy Might Be Hurting Your Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why...
Building Your Own Software
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Building Your Own Software
Question of the Day
Symmetric Key Encryption
If I run this statement in SQL Server 2025, how is the password encrypted?
CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY MySymmetricKey WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256, KEY_SOURCE = 'My secret key source passphrase', IDENTITY_VALUE = 'My secret identity value' ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'S&perS#cretP@ssword7'; GOSee possible answers