When to use CHAR, VARCHAR, or VARCHAR(MAX)
It’s important to choose the right datatypes when designing a database. Greg Larsen explains the differences between CHAR, VARCHAR and VARCHAR(MAX).
Joining a Community
In the last week I've been actively trying to join the PostgreSQL community. It's been an interesting experience. I suspect it's going to stay interesting for a while. As part of what I'm doing, I saw this excellent video from Ryan Booz, talking about joining a new community. It got me to thinking. You have […]
Do You Still Use CHAR?
When designing a database, choosing good datatypes is important, but not necessarily all the time. Today Steve wonders if you still use fixed sting data types.
SQL Server Development Using Free Tools
You can make SQL Server database development faster and easier with a FREE toolkit!
Reporting on the Progress of a Flyway Database Development Project
This article demos a novel way to report on the progress of your Flyway development project. It provides both SQL and PowerShell versions of code that extracts information for each database version from the Flyway schema history table and then plots it in a Gantt chart.
Vertipaq optimization and its impact on columnstore compression
Vertipaq optimization is a critical component of the columnstore compression process. Edward Pollack explains how it works and what you need to know to manage it.
The Cloud as a Foundation
The innovations and possibilities of cloud computing are exciting to Steve.
Share your insights and help shape the Summit 2022 program
We want to hear from you! Tell us what's important to you by sharing your insights and preferences for PASS Data Community Summit 2022. Community feedback is at the heart of everything we do for Summit and your insights will help guide our planning for this year's conference, taking place online and in-person in Seattle, November 15 - 18, 2022.
Transformations by the Oracle Optimizer
To troubleshoot poorly performing SQL in Oracle, you must understand which transformations the optimizer has made. Jonathan Lewis demonstrates several possible optimizations for one query.
PostgreSQL in Azure using the Azure Data Studio Extension
Learn how to create a PostgreSQL database and work with it from Azure Data Studio.
Blogs
SQL Server Security: Always Encryption
By Vinay Thakur
As discussed introduction of Always Encryption blog and initial Encryption at rest as TDE...
SQL Server Security – TDE Encryption
By Vinay Thakur
Transparent Data Encryption(TDE): TDE was initially introduced in SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition; this...
A Las Vegas Break
By Steve Jones
Only a little break for me. I’m actually heading to Las Vegas today for ...
Forums
The day-to-day pressures of a DBA team, and how we can work smarter with automation and AI
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The day-to-day pressures of a...
This Week's AI Trust Problem Became Everyone’s Problem
Comments posted to this topic are about the item This Week's AI Trust Problem...
Migrate SSRS Reports to PowerBI Report Server in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Migrate SSRS Reports to PowerBI...
Question of the Day
Identities and Sequences III
When thinking of the Identity property for auto incrementing columns and sequences for the same action, which can be used with the BIGINT data type?
See possible answers