Take a Break with Pingu
It's not SQL Server related, but take a break and see how you do. The highest I've seen so far is 1602. If you beat it send a screen shot (small, please) to sjones@sqlservercentral.com
Worst Practice - Adding a Column Without Thinking!
Adding a column is one of the simpler tasks you'll ever do as a DBA, yet danger lurks! All too often we add columns without going through some type of check list to make sure we're safe. What could adding a column break? You might be surprised!
Review of ApexSQL Log
Brian has been busy lately helping us with content for our magazine (you have checked out www.sqlserverstandard.com haven't you?) but he's back this week with a great write up a new product that let's you read from the transaction log.
Review of Transact SQL Desk Reference
Looking for a good (or another) TSQL reference? This might be the one. Bruce took a good look at it and points out both the good and the bad.
Quest Releases TOAD for SQL - Freeware!
Quest Software has recently released TOAD for SQL Server, a freeware version of its highly popular Oracle tool - TOAD
Changing Databases Using XML
Need to apply changes to customer (or internal) databases in a calm, controlled manner? Dinish proposes an alterative to standard scripts that uses XML and a small VB app.
Contest!
We've run contests from time to time over the past couple years and had a lot of fun doing it. This time we're trying something new, partnering with Red Gate. Lots of good prizes on this one!
Review of Lumigent Log Explorer v4
Chris (one of our regulars!) installed Log Explorer and took it for a test drive. Written up in our standard review format this will give you a very quick overview of what the product does.
An Introduction to Database Models
Frank returns this week with a good non academic overview of the different types of database models and some of the features/problems that are native to each.
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services Performance Guide
Analysis Services is slowly gaining in popularity and many of you might get drawn into setting up a server or developing a system based on this technology. Microsoft has released a performance guide to help you take performance into consideration from the beginning.
Blogs
Programmatically Retrieving MLV Lineage and Refresh Times
Materialized lake views (MLVs) in Microsoft Fabric are an effective way to implement medallion...
Upgrading SQL Server Containers on the Laptop
By Steve Jones
I don’t have SQL Server installed on my laptop. In an effort to keep...
Question of the Day
Increase Deadlock Detection
How can I alter the deadlock detection interval to 2 seconds instead of 5 seconds on my SQL Server 2025 instance?
See possible answers