50 Years of Microsoft
Steve looks back at his history with Microsoft and asks what your memories are of using their products.
Retrieving Data Using the REST API in Data API Builder
I wrote a piece on getting started with the Data API Builder (DAB), which looked at how this product works and how to start using it. That was a basic look, but it gives data professionals an idea of how this might help them work more closely with front-end developers who are more comfortable with […]
Managed Instance Gotchas – Error Conditions
I was recently on a project to migrate a very transactional installation of SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance (MI). SQL Managed Instance is a good stepping stone between a full, on-prem SQL instance / Azure VM and an Azure SQL Database.
Stairway to ColumnStore Indexes Level 7: Optimizing Nonclustered Columnstore Indexes
In this level, we will focus on optimization techniques to apply while building the nonclustered columnstore index, which is available in all versions of SQL Server from 2012 up.
Using the CASE expression instead of dynamic SQL in SQL Server
I have a lot of SQL update queries where I need to make IF/ELSE types of decisions. In some cases, I am using a cursor but looping through thousands of rows for update takes a long time. I also use some dynamic SQL to handle some query parameter decision making. Is there a better alternative?
Load Data into Snowflake Using Python with Pandas
Loading data into Snowflake is a common need. Using Python and pandas is a common go-to solution for data professionals
The Subtle Differences Between COALESCE and ISNULL
See how ISNULL and COALESCE behave in different situations and ensure you know which one to pick when.
Upgrading Your OS
Windows 7 support is ending, but Microsoft doesn't have a good plan for home users. Steve notes that the OS upgrade treadmill ought to come to an end soon.
Blogs
In Memory of Andrew Clarke, AKA Phil Factor
By Steve Jones
One of the parts of getting older that really sucks is I seem to...
Leading Through the Noise: Harnessing Data in the Age of Digital Overload
By Chris Yates
The New Leadership Frontier In today’s digital landscape, leaders are no longer just visionaries....
A New Word: Anderance
By Steve Jones
anderance – n. the awareness that your partner perceives the relationship from a totally...
Forums
taking the rcsi dive
Hi, we put together an extract that runs every 15 minutes against what i...
Parameter Sensitive Plan Optimization in SQL Server 2022
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Parameter Sensitive Plan Optimization in...
Minimum Change Tracking Retention
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Minimum Change Tracking Retention
Question of the Day
Minimum Change Tracking Retention
If I am running this code:
ALTER DATABASE AdventureWorks2017 SET CHANGE_TRACKING = ON (CHANGE_RETENTION=xxx);What is the minimum amount of time I can set? See possible answers