Using BCP to export the contents of MAX datatypes to a file
Phil Factor presents a poetic stored procedure for storing any VARCHAR(MAX) to file.
CLR: Reflections on Reflection
Do you wish callers of your library could describe their types to you programmatically? Read a little about reflection in CLR Programming.
Microsoft Indexing Service HOW-TO
This article describes how to provide full text search using Microsoft Indexing Service in .NET applications.
Using Fuzzy Lookups for Record Linkage
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) includes two very interesting transforms, the Fuzzy Grouping and Fuzzy Lookup transformations. Brian Norberg discussed the former in another article and this time examines the Fuzzy Lookup Transformation.
Making SQL Server 2005 Integration Services Packages Portable
SSIS introduced a feature called "Package Configurations". Package configurations allow us to make SSIS packages portable and help us change SQL Server and file connectivity information dynamically.
Transaction Isolation and the New Snapshot Isolation Level
Concurrency and transaction isolation are a prickly subject, difficult to explain with any kind of clarity without boring the reader and leaving their poor brain in a complete muddle. Therefore, it is often ignored in the vain hope it won't affect us and we can forget all about it. Well you can't ignore it any more and with SQL Server 2005 there's a whole new isolation level added to the four that already exist.
Temporarily Changing an Unknown Password of the sa Account
You are asked for the sa password for a SQL Server in order to perform a software upgrade. You, the DBA, don't know the password and it's not documented. Rodney Landrum provides a way out of this dilemma, demonstrating two techniques for temporarily changing the password, and then returning it to its previous unknown value.
Encryption: Not the End-All Fix for Data Privacy
Many state data-breach laws exempt encrypted data from PR-nightmare public-notice requirements, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's an easy answer to the data privacy challenge. Here's the lowdown on loopholes, caveats and options to consider when applying encryption.
SQL Agent - A Job Scheduler Framework
In this article, I'll show you how to create a generic scheduler that runs on a Windows Service. The scheduler will be able to accept pluggable actions that we can develop later implementing a custom interface.
Background
Blogs
PowerShell Remoting for SQL DBAs: WinRM + SSH Guide (Updated 2026)
By SQLPals
PowerShell Remoting for SQL DBAs: WinRM + SSH Guide (Updated 2026) ...
The 2026 Redgate Summit in New York City
By Steve Jones
We’re coming back to New York, which is exciting for me. I love NYC....
Monitoring Fabric Mirroring for SQL 2025
I previously wrote about how the underlying technology for Fabric mirroring changed with SQL...
Forums
Why SQL Server Orphaned Users Cause Login Failures
SQL Server Orphaned Users often appear after restoring or migrating a database to another...
Seeding a Fabric Warehouse with dbt for Visual Studio Code: The Fabric Modern Data Platform
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Seeding a Fabric Warehouse with...
Seeding a Fabric Warehouse with dbt for Visual Studio Code: The Fabric Modern Data Platform
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Seeding a Fabric Warehouse with...
Question of the Day
Historical Data Tracking
If I want to track historical data values, which mechanism should I use?
See possible answers