The Responsibility for Bugs
Today Steve wonders who should be responsible for software bugs, something of which we have no shortage of in our industry.
Import Data from PDF to SQL Server
In this article we look at how we can use R and SQL Server to import lottery numbers from a PDF document into a SQL Server table.
Masking Data in Practice
Phil Factor takes a strategic look at common SQL data masking techniques, and the challenges inherent in masking certain types of sensitive and personal data, while ensuring that it still looks like the real data, and retains its referential integrity, and distribution characteristics.
Easy Data Access Plus Security
As I type this, I've got my right leg propped up on a stool. That's because if I sit for any length of time with the knee bent, I have a great deal of pain on standing. Seems there's something horribly wrong with my knee. I still don't know what yet. I've had an MRI […]
How to Decipher @@Options
This article will show how you can read the @@OPTIONS variable and determine your settings.
Picking a Goal for 2021
If you have set any new goals for your career this year, Steve is asking you to let him know.
SQL Server Error Log
The SQL Server error log is a great source of information for DBAs for monitoring errors and the operation of the server. In this article, Greg Larsen explains the details and how to configure the SQL Server error log.
The Joy of Realistic Generated Fake Database Data
Have you ever had to demonstrate a database-driven application, and longed to have the real data to do so? To do what, precisely? Well, so you can then scroll through the customers who have used the system, demonstrate the accounting and audit, browse through the products, maybe even demo the customer tracking system with comments, complaints and so on. All this is possible, using realistic, fake data.
PostgreSQL DML Statements
DML, or Data Manipulation Language, statements are used to manipulate the data present in a database. The most important DML statements are INSERT, UPDATE & DELETE. This tutorial covers the various PostgreSQL DML statements and how we can use them with SQL shell as well as pgAdmin. Assuming you are familiar with table creation in PostgreSQL, […]
The Best Way to Protect Sensitive Data
Steve has a thought on the best way to protect sensitive data.
Blogs
Questions and Answers from Running a Local LLM
By Steve Jones
I had a few random questions from my Running a Local LLM on Your...
Overview of Claude AI Models: Which One to Choose?
By Arun Sirpal
For those entering the AI space whether professionally or personally I wanted to give...
Houston AI-Lytics 2026–Powerpoint Slides
By Steve Jones
Thanks to everyone for attending my session on running a Local LLM. If you...
Forums
SSIS package failing intermittently on last Excel Component
Good Afternoon, I have a Job which "fires" off an SSIS package (that is...
T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: JSON_ARRAYAGG
Comments posted to this topic are about the item T-SQL in SQL Server 2025:...
Spring Connections and Learning at PASS On Tour
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Spring Connections and Learning at...
Question of the Day
Multiple Sequence Values
How do I easily get the next 12 sequence values from a sequence object?
See possible answers