How to track database file growth over a period of time?
This stored procedure shows you the growth patterns of your SQL Server database files and enables you to plan ahead for your future storage needs!
Technical Chat: Inside with Jim Gray--The Search for Petabyte Storage
Please join Jim Gray, Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft Research, for this Q&A Session. Jim, the father of Structured Query Language, has been looking at LARGE databases like Google, Hotmail, BarBar, CERN, EOS/DIS, Internet Archive, and others that are either at a Petabyte or will grow to a petabyte scale in the next year or so.
Dynamic SQL vs. Static SQL Part 1 - Security
Sooner or later everyone who works with SQL Server hears that it is better to avoid dynamic SQL at all cost. Dynamic SQL will force you to give out more permissions than static SQL. This article by Robert Marda shows you some of the security issues with dynamic SQL.
Optimizing Stored Procedures To Avoid Recompiles
One of the most overlooked areas in optimizing SQL Server and Transact-SQL is the recompilations of stored procedures. A database getting thousands of recompiles an hour will suffer in performance and show short term blocking that will affect the database users. This article by Randy Dyess shows you some of the ways you can avoid stored procedure recompiles.
Review of Debugging the Development Process
Andy read this book recently and gave it a great review. Even though it's not a SQL book! Seriously, take a look at the review. It's a good book that is fun to read.
Is 0% Downtime Possible?
Steve Jones examines the possible notion that a system can achieve 0% downtime. Read on to see if he thinks it's possible.
AdeptSQL Workshop released
Adept SQL Tools has released AdeptSQL Workshop, an IDE for SQL-based database schema creation and management. Includes fast drag'n'drop SQL decompiler, editor, preprocessor, SQL analyzer and difference engine, "revision history" scripts with a separate player utility for remote db deployment, integration with MS Visual SourceSafe. Pricing starts at $130,
$199 with VSS support.
Compare SQL Server Databases with sp_CompareDB
Use this free stored procedure to compare two different SQL Server databases in order to discover how they differ. Sp_CompareDB can compare both table structures and the data stored in them. Also learn how the stored procedure was written.
Exploring Deadlocks
In this article by Robert Marda, he shows you how to detect and correct deadlocks.
SQL Server Security Part 3
In the final article in the series, Chris Kempster covers some of the more advanced methods to securing your SQL Server.
Blogs
Learn Better: Pause to Review More
By Brian Kelley
If you want to learn better, pause more in your learning to intentionally review.
Azure SQL Managed Instance Next-Gen: Bring on the IOPS
By John
If you’ve used Azure SQL Managed Instance General Purpose, you know the drill: to...
SQL, MDX, DAX – the languages of data
By DataOnWheels
Ramblings of a retired data architect Let me start by saying that I have...
Forums
Two foreign keys to the same table. Can't cascade deletes.
Not sure if this is really a relational theory question but it seems about...
Connecting Power BI to SSAS and effective user not working
Hi everyone, Below is a consolidated summary of what we validated Architecture & data...
High Availability setup - has anyone seen this method?
Hi all, I recently moved to a new employer who have their HA setup...
Question of the Day
Encoding URLs
I have this data in a SQL Server 2025 table:
CREATE TABLE Response ( ResponseID INT NOT NULL CONSTRAINT ResponsePK PRIMARY KEY , ResponseVal VARBINARY(5000) ) GOIf I want to get a value from this table that I can add to a URL in a browser, which of these code items produces a result I can use? See possible answers