Recover Deleted TDE Key for Azure SQL Database
In this article we look at the steps to recover a deleted TDE key that is being used by Azure SQL Database for database encryption.
A data transformation problem in SQL and Scala: Dovetailing declarative solutions Part II
In this article, Shel Burkow uses the SQL execution plan from the previous article to write a program in Scala.
Finding Legal Data
Using data scraped from the web might be convenient, but is it legal. Perhaps more importantly, is it moral? Steve has a few thoughts.
Navigating Trees With CTE
Introduction This article shows how common table expressions (CTE) in SQL Server are naturally suited for navigating trees, such as finding its longest path, or diameter. Recall that a tree is an undirected graph where unique paths exist between any two nodes (i.e. vertices). Any node may be selected as its top node, with its […]
SQL Window Functions in SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL
In this article we look at using Window Functions in SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL to see the differences and similarities of the syntax.
Tell us about how you monitor your databases
The 2021 State of Database Monitoring survey is now open, and we want to know how you’re currently tackling your server, instance, and database monitoring. By taking part, you’ll contribute to the sole industry-wide report on database monitoring, and provide insights into how SQL Server professionals manage their estates and what challenges they face. Plus, you’ll receive an advanced copy of the report and entry to a prize draw to win a $500 Amazon voucher.
The Thriving Data Community
A while back I wrote an editorial about how I believed the data community would easily continue after the PASS organization was no more. I'm pleased as punch to be able to report that I was right. Not because I enjoy being right (I do, who doesn't), but because I care very much for the […]
Things We Are Missing
I read this great little blog post called "Trying to Notice What's Missing." It's not real long and it's worth your time. If you'd like a TLDR, the author points out how in-person meetings at conferences resulted in enhancements to open source software due to superior, in-person, communication. Strictly on a personal level, I miss […]
An Efficient Set-based Solution for Islands and Gaps
After reading a recent article on identifying islands and gaps in sequential numbers, one of our readers was inspired to develop a more efficient solution for fragmented data. New Author Goce Smilevski brings us his solution and supporting data to show how this can be done better.
Blogs
Who Are You Doing It For?
By Brian Kelley
But as I've matured over the years, I came to realize that I needed...
Presenting Twice in May 2026
By alevyinroc
I will be presenting my latest session, Documenting Your Work for Worry-Free Vacations, in-person...
Finding the Next Sequence Value: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I saw a question asking about the next sequence value and decided to try...
Forums
DB Design Methods
I've read a few posts regarding what we use to design DB models and...
Auto Update Statistics not triggering on filtered indexes
I've got a table with 186,703,969 rows, about 300GB of data. There are several...
What is the difference between SQL Server and SQL Database?
I created a SQL Database in Azure Portal but I've just noticed it also...
Question of the Day
An Unusual Identity
What values are returned when I run this code?
CREATE TABLE dbo.IdentityTest2
(
id NUMERIC(10,0) IDENTITY(10,10) PRIMARY KEY,
somevalue VARCHAR(20)
)
GO
INSERT dbo.IdentityTest2
(
somevalue
)
VALUES
( 'Steve')
, ('Bill')
GO
SELECT top 10
id
FROM dbo.IdentityTest2 See possible answers