Using Dynamic SQL
Today Steve notes that Dynamic SQL can be helpful, but it's a technique you should understand well before you start using it.
Using Azure SQL Data Sync to Replicate Data
Learn how to setup and use Azure SQL Data Sync to synchronize and replicate data from various locations including Azure SQL Database, cloud and on-premises databases.
Win a Pluralsight subscription with Redgate’s competition
Redgate is giving you the chance to win a three-month subscription to the technical skills platform Pluralsight and Redgate goodies with their latest competition. To enter, visit the Redgate Forums and answer the question ‘What’s your favorite SQL Monitor feature and why?’
Microsoft Azure ADF - Dynamic Pipelines
Azure Data Factory (ADF) is a cloud based data integration service that allows you to create data-driven workflows in the cloud for orchestrating and automating data movement and data transformation. Azure Data Factory does not store any data itself. but it allows you to create data-driven workflows to orchestrate the movement of data between supported […]
Viva
Microsoft is working on the future of work, and adapting to remote work. Steve isn't sure this will work, but they have at least one interesting technology idea he likes.
sqldf in R Example for SQL Server
R has a package called sqldf that allows developers to manipulate data inside a dataframe in the same way a SQL developer queries a SQL table which we will cover with examples in this article.
Common Table Expression Misunderstandings
I frequently use Common Table Expressions (CTEs) when I demo windowing functions and get questions about them. Windowing functions are limited to the SELECT and ORDER BY clause which means that you can’t filter or group on them directly. Using a CTE is one way to separate the logic of the query into multiple steps […]
Monitoring the Number of Connections
Monitoring your SQL Server is important. This article examines one of the metrics you might want to keep an eye on.
Stairway to SQL Server Extended Events Level 3: Working with the Extended Events UI
In the next installment of our stairway to Extended Events, we delve into the Live Data and Target Data Viewers.
What's a Lot of Money?
Handling a budget can be an interesting experience for many technical professionals. Today Steve wonders if you treat this differently than your budget at home.
Blogs
A New Word: los vidados
By Steve Jones
los vidados – n. the half-remembered acquaintances you knew years ago, who you might...
In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026
By Brian Kelley
I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class...
EightKB 2026
EightKB is back again for 2026! The biggest online SQL Server internals conference is...
Forums
query to track time spent on individual tasks in SSIS
Hi everyone I am looking at building a query to determine how much time...
SQL Server Transactional Replication from Always On Availability Groups to Azure SQL Database
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Transactional Replication from...
Hidden Heroes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Hidden Heroes
Question of the Day
Identities and Sequences I
When thinking of the Identity property for auto incrementing columns and sequences for the same action, which are explicitly linked to increment a number in a table when a new row is added?
See possible answers