Disaster Recovery Reporting scripts
Joe Sack returns (is back?) with some scripts you can use to log information you may need when disaster strikes.
Testing for an Updated Column in a Trigger
The columns_updated function gives you the ability to easily test to see if specific columns were modified with less code than you might otherwise need to use. In this article Andy Warren demonstrates how to create a trigger that uses this function and points out some reasons why you may NOT want to use it!
Create Maintenance Job with a Click without using a Wizard
Don't like the blackbox approach of maintenance plans? Like the maintenance plans but need a tweak to suit your needs? New author Robin Back has put together a monster script to allow you to build your own quickly and easily.
Where Do I Want To Go Today? - Lossless Performance
Where should SQL Server go in the future? Steve Jones continues to explore his wish list for future versions of SQL Server. This article looks at some of the performance related enahncements he'd like to see.
SQL Server Security: Login Weaknesses
Brian writes regularly for us on sql security issues, this week he discusses the pros and cons of various authentication methods.
Script your Data in T-SQL format
SQL Scripter is a tool for SQL Server 7.0/2000 database administrators and developers to script data in a valid T-SQL format which can be executed in Query Analyzer. All types are supported (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE). It's free in the moment. (Not Reviewed)
Cluster That Index! Part Two
Chris discusses questions raised by his first article on clustered indexes. Few subjects more important to master than clustered indexes, this is good reading!
Red Earth Technologies releases Superior SQL Builder
Red Earth Technologies announces the release of Superior SQL Builder, a new SQL tool that visually builds complete SQL scripts, not just single queries. It employs a completely different method of developing SQL scripts. By taking advantage of new scripting technology, Superior SQL Builder can visually build complete SQL scripts within a single, integrated environment. This means that SQL scripts can be developed faster, while reducing syntax and logic errors. (Not Reviewed)
Where Do I Want To Go Today? - Real Time Defragging
Where should SQL Server go in the future? What enhancements are needed? Steve Jones continues to explore his wish list for future versions of SQL Server.
Log Navigator Final Beta Released
The final beta of Log Navigator has been released. This sql server auditing tool reads the MS SQL Server transaction log to track all data changes with no performance overhead or use of triggers. You can read database auditing trails from activity that took place even before the tool was installed. Powerful filters allow you to sort audit data by date, user, table and more. New features include LIVE LOG support and XML export. (Not Reviewed)
Blogs
Using Prompt AI for a Travel Data Analysis
By Steve Jones
I was looking back at my year and decided to see if SQL Prompt...
FinOps for Kubernetes: Leveraging OpenCost, KubeGreen, and Kubecost for Cost Efficiency
In the era of cloud-native applications, Kubernetes has become the default standard platform for...
2025 Wrapped for Steve
By Steve Jones
I’ve often done some analysis of my year in different ways. Last year I...
Forums
The North Star for the Year
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The North Star for the...
Multiple Escape Characters
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Escape Characters
reaching ftp thru winscp but erroring in ssis ftp task connection
Hi, below i show various results trying to reach our ftp site (a globalscape...
Question of the Day
Multiple Escape Characters
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code (in a database with the appropriate collation):
SELECT UNISTR('%*3041%*308A%*304C%*3068 and good night', '%*') AS 'A Classic';
What is returned? See possible answers