Indexing Strategies
Ramesh writes about various indexing strategies that you might use to improve performance.
Using Bits to Store Data
David recently worked on a project where it turned out storing the answers to a survey using bitmapping was a good approach. He was good enough to write some of it down and share. As he notes bitmapping isn't used as often as it used to be, but it can still be a useful technique to have around.
Using xp_cmdshell
Haidong continues to point out ideas that might get you thinking about ways you can do more administration with less work. In this article he demonstrates a couple useful tasks you can do with xp_cmdshell.
Introduction to MDX
New Author! This is an introductory level look at MDX geared toward intermediate or higher SQL users. The rate of OLAP usage is lower than it should be - maybe this will be what gets you started using it. Or thinking about it at least!
Top 100 things you don't want the sysadmin to say
Hopefully you never hear any of these from your sysadmin...
Building SQL Server Central
Ever wonder how SQL Server Central.com was built? Ever wonder why the three founders made the decisions they did? Here's a look at some of the choices that were made early on with the discussion forums.
TSQL Virus or Bomb?
Joseph discusses some common and not so common security threats including the possibility of a TSQL virus and bombs planted from within the organization.
Yukon News
This article on CNET has some info about how Yukon affects the MS strategy in other areas.
Review of MySQL/PHP Database Applications
We haven't had a book review in a while and this one may not be of interest to all of you, but we decided to take a chance and post it anyway! As Andy notes in the review, odds are that you'll deal with one or both of these applications sooner or later, might be worth thinking about taking a look at what they can do. (Reviewed)
Automatically Gathering Server Information Part 2
The second part of Steve Jones's series on having SQL Server automatically report information to a DBA.
Blogs
Monday Monitor Tips: Intelligent Alert Thresholds
By Steve Jones
At the recent Redgate Summit in Chicago, I demo’d (lightly) the ML based Alert...
A New Word: los vidados
By Steve Jones
los vidados – n. the half-remembered acquaintances you knew years ago, who you might...
In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026
By Brian Kelley
I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class...
Forums
String_agg not working as needed
I'm trying to get this string_agg to put all the 'comments' into one result...
Vectors in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Vectors in SQL Server 2025
Odd Sequences
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Odd Sequences
Question of the Day
Odd Sequences
What values are returned from this code?
CREATE SEQUENCE NumericSequence
AS NUMERIC(5,1)
START WITH 1.0
INCREMENT BY 0.1;
GO
SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR NumericSequence
GO
SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR NumericSequence
GO See possible answers