Importing Text-based data: Workbench
Robyn and Phil return with some fresh ideas about how to import text files into SQL Server, without resorting to DTS or SSIS scripting. They go on to show how much can be done in TSQL
SQL Saturday 2007 - Free Orlando SQL Server Event in November
The Orlando PASS Chapter is hosting a free SQL Server event on November 10th, 2007. They have 30 technical sessions scheduled and more than 270 people have registered to attend! I know a few of the people organizing this and it should be a GREAT event!
String Functions: The .Properties Function, Part II
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson continues his hands-on introduction to the .Properties function. In this article, we examine the use of the TYPED flag within the .Properties function to deliver a strongly typed value using .Properties.
Linking Access to SQL Server
For quick and dirty work, sometimes Access is the best way to work with SQL Server. Andy Warren brings a basic tutorial on how you can link Access to your SQL Server tables to easily and quickly manipulate data.
A Brief History of Programming, Part 1
In part 1 of his series on the history of programming, David Chisnall takes a look at some of the developments of the last few decades that have created the current crop of languages and discusses where they came from.
Using the kill to cure
Code profiling tools can help cure most performance problems, but sometimes the problem is so severe that you'll first need to know how to wield computing's least understood tool, the debugger, before diving in with the Profiler. Brian Donahue, Crash Scene Investigator, is on hand to explain why.
Reverse Engineering Alias Data Types in SQL Server 2000 - Part IV
In this article we are going to see how to change an ADT that is linked to columns with Unique Constraint(s) or Check Constraint(s).
Unstructured Data
I remember when Windows 3.1 started to gain widespread deployment in businesses. With all it's WYSIWYG features and multiple applications running at the same time, many people felt we'd get to a paperless office. Over a decade later I rarely see an office that doesn't have a copy machine and at least one printer. We've gotten better at shuffling bits, but we haven't gotten rid of paper.
Mirrored backup and restore commands in SQL Server 2005
Mirrored backup commands in SQL Server 2005 work with media sets to minimize data loss. They can also restore a mirrored backup from a different media family.
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
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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