Enforce Business Rules for All Your Data with Constraints
The only way to guarantee that your business rules are always enforced for all your data is by using constraints. Learn how to use them to enforce business rules in the database.
A Primer on Managing Data Bitemporally
In systems that require, for auditing purposes, advanced logging and reproducibility of reports between runs, a straightforward update, insert, or delete may be counter-productive. In such circumstances, a bitemporal model is necessary
SQL Server Auditing - Part 1
Our SQL Server Security expert, Brian Kelley, brings us the first part of a new series on auditing. Most of the auditing articles we've had are based on how you audit changes to data. Brian looks at auditing from the server itself, explaining the different levels of auditing built into SQL Server 2000.
Creative uses for COALESCE() in SQL Server
COALESCE() accepts a series of values and a value to use in the event that all items in the list are null; then, it returns the first not-null value. This tip describes two creative uses of the COALESCE() function in SQL Server.
Parallel Statistics Update
Full scan statistics update can be slow and expensive on a large system, and a single update statistics job for a whole database can easily exceed an overnight maintenance window. This article looks at jobs that could update statistics on the system in parallel.
SQL Server Replication Crib Sheet
Robyn Page delves into all the things you need to know, rather than want to know, about SQL Server replication.
The May Car Update (2007)
Steve Jones takes a look at the world of automobiles and specifically his new Prius hybrid.
Upload multiple XML files to an XML data type column
Learn how to upload multiple XML files to an SQL Server 2005 database XML data type column.
Best Practices for Date/Time Calculations in SQL Server
You can use arithmetic operators in date/time calculations in SQL Server, but sometimes the date/time functions provided by Microsoft are the better option. Follow a few scenarios that demonstrate when arithmetic operators are safe and when they are risky.
User Defined Data Types in SQL Server 2005
One other use of the new CLR integration in SQL Server 2005 is the ability to create user defined data types using managed code. Author Dinesh Priyankara brings us a first look at this capability with some code you can use.
Blogs
Monday Monitor Tips: Configuring Access to the MCP Server
By Steve Jones
I have been experimenting with MCP servers in a few ways, including the Redgate...
The GO Barrier: Why SSMS Multi-Server Query Waits for the Slowest Connection
By Zikato
I deployed a schema change to 30 servers using multi-server query and deploy-at-low-priority. Small...
10 Things I Hate About Fabric Deployment Pipelines— And Some Alternatives
Fabric deployment pipelines look like they solve CI/CD for Fabric content, especially for people...
Forums
A Challenge of Our Knowledge
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The memory toll of VARCHAR(MAX) in SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The memory toll of VARCHAR(MAX)...
Transaction Log Truncation
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Transaction Log Truncation
Question of the Day
Transaction Log Truncation
In SQL Server 2025, where can I find information about items that prevent or delay the transaction log truncation?
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