The Art of Commenting
This week Steve talks about the ways in which comments are important in our code.
SQL Server Unit Testing in Visual Studio
Unit test stored procedures in Visual Studio using an existing database or new SQL scripts
The Time to Patch
Microsoft has spent years working on building a reliable and dependable patch process for their software. While some products have had more sporadic updates, SQL Server has moved to a fairly regular schedule. Not quite a predictable "Patch Tuesday" schedule, but you can count on a CU arriving every month or two for SQL Server. […]
SQL Server Best Practices for Data Quality
Accurate data is imperative for an organization to conduct cost effective decision making. Like everything else, change is constant for your data. There is a need to cleanse and validate data when received and on a regular basis. Unfortunately, cleansing and validating data is difficult with the native SQL Server toolset. How do we leverage the SQL Server tool set to achieve these goals?
Exporting Data with PowerShell
Recently I had the need to help someone download some data from SQL Server as a part of an automated process. In this case, the person wanted to use PowerShell (PoSh), since they were performing a few other actions with PoSh as well. This article is a short tutorial on exporting data from SQL Server […]
Building a Countdown Timer with PowerShell
Every DBA should have basic PowerShell skills. In this article, Greg Moore explains how to write a PowerShell script that can create a window for a countdown timer.
Using SQL Change Automation in SSMS to Track Static Data Changes
SQL Change Automation 4.1 now allows users to develop static data changes from SQL Server Management Studio.
SSIS Catalog Environments– Step 20 of the Stairway to Integration Services
In this next level of the Stairway to Integration Services, we look at the SSIS catalog environments and how they help you manage your package parameters.
Blogs
Monday Monitor Tips: Intelligent Alert Thresholds
By Steve Jones
At the recent Redgate Summit in Chicago, I demo’d (lightly) the ML based Alert...
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...
Forums
String_agg not working as needed
I'm trying to get this string_agg to put all the 'comments' into one result...
Vectors in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Vectors in SQL Server 2025
Odd Sequences
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Odd Sequences
Question of the Day
Odd Sequences
What values are returned from this code?
CREATE SEQUENCE NumericSequence
AS NUMERIC(5,1)
START WITH 1.0
INCREMENT BY 0.1;
GO
SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR NumericSequence
GO
SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR NumericSequence
GO See possible answers