Aggregate Data for the Last Day of the Month
On some occasions you will need to aggregate Data for the Last Day of the Month. This article explains how.
SQL Server and Undocumented Extended Procedures
Smart DBAs automate tasks whenever possible. In this article, Greg Moore shows the need to use caution when using undocumented procedures for automating tasks, and that PowerShell may have what you need instead.
Check Your Backup Compliance Against a Data Management Provider
As a database administrator, it's your responsibility to ensure the customer data won't get lost in case of a disaster, so you either provide your own backup strategy, use a third-party script, or hire a data management provider. With the first two options, you have full control over your environment so you can know exactly […]
Next Person Up
Steve wonders today about the need to compete in our jobs, especially with employers that view us as resources.
How to Track Performance of Queries That Use RECOMPILE Hints
Say we have a stored procedure that has two queries in it, the first query will always get the same plan, but the second query will get different plans and return different numbers of rows depending on which reputation we pass in.
Cursors Without Performance Penalties
Imagine how coding might take place if cursors were as efficient as complex SELECT statements.
SQL v.Next Gets Native Python in SQL Server
The next version of SQL Server is in early preview and there is a new feature that is going to be very useful for large enterprises that want to run Big Data Clusters and perform additional data science tasks. Instead of embedding Python code in a string and submitting it to the Launchpad engine, we […]
“Working” From Home? Watch A Bunch of Free SQL Server Videos on YouTube.
You’re new at this working from home thing, and you’re trying to put Game of Thrones up on a second monitor while you work? Listen, that’s not gonna play out well. You’re gonna get distracted and you’re not gonna get any work done. Instead, if you’re gonna have something in the background, learn about SQL Server.
Never Create Columns with ANSI_PADDING set to OFF
There is no good reason for having ANSI_PADDING set to OFF when you create tables in SQL Server. It was provided purely for legacy databases that had code that assumed the old CHAR behavior for dealing with padding, and its use has now been deprecated.
Graphical analysis of SSRS report usage with Grafana
Learn how Grafana can help you quickly set up dashboards to analyze the usage data of your SSRS reports.
Blogs
Programmatic Tool Calling with the Claude SDK
Programmatic Tool Calling with the Claude SDK Every morning somebody on the team runs the...
A New Word: Mauerbauertraurigkeit
By Steve Jones
mauerbauertraurigkeit – n. inexplicable urge to push people away, even close friends whose company...
Methodology for dealing with bad data in production
By Brian Kelley
Pinal Dave wrote up his methodology for what to do when you discover bad...
Forums
Why SQL Server Database Attach fails and how to repair it
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Why SQL Server Database Attach...
Fixing P1 Queries
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Fixing P1 Queries
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT() IV
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code:
select bit_count('A')
What is returned? See possible answers