A simple use case for Columnstore Indexes in SQL Server
In this article we look at different use cases for columnstore indexes like when performing SQL Server count * queries.
Data Categorization for AdventureWorks using SQL Data Catalog
Josh Smith shows how to use SQL Data Catalog to perform a 'first cut' data classification for one your SQL Server databases, identifying all columns that are likely to hold personal or otherwise sensitive data.
How to remove quote marks using SSIS and a little C#
Introduction If you import flat files and use double quotes as your Flat File Text Qualifiers, then it’s likely that you’ve encountered problems when importing data where speech marks have been entered manually. This is a common occurrence in free text fields, such as Name. e.g. Smith, James “Jim” Attempting to import a file with a […]
Why I’m Learning Git via the Command Line Interface
Today Kendra discusses the advantages of using a command line interface for Git.
How to Complain Bitterly using SQL Data Generator
How to use reverse regex expressions in SQL Data Generator to fill a text column in SQL Server with fake, but very realistic complaints.
Introduction to Gaps and Islands Analysis
T-SQL window functions simplify solving many complex queries. In this article, Edward Pollack demonstrates how the functions can be used to find gaps and islands in a dataset.
Let's Fix a Password Problem
Grant discusses the need for password managers to help prevent security issues between different accounts.
Provisioning ADF - Level 2 of the Stairway to Azure Data Factory
In this next level of the Stairway to Azure Data Factory, learn how to build your first ADF environment.
Monitoring your Servers and Databases with New Relic Infrastructure and SQL Monitor
New Relic Infrastructure is a capable server monitoring tool but adding Integrations provides only 'bare bones' monitoring for SQL Server. Grant Fritchey argues that to "instrument" a complex system such as SQL Server, effectively, you also need a tool that is built specifically for this purpose.
The 2020 Data Professional Salary Survey Results Are In.
We asked what you make, and 1,734 of you in 63 countries answered. Altogether, you made $170,753,936 this year. Damn, y’all are bringing home the bacon!
Blogs
Advice I Like: Respect
By Steve Jones
“Don’t aim to have others like you; aim to have them respect you.” –...
Blue Sky Programming – The Optimism Trap
Many years ago, before I joined Oracle, I was working on a major modernisation...
Setting Up a Mac for Data Engineering and AI Work
If you work with data pipelines, SQL, notebooks, or machine learning models, a Mac...
Forums
SQL Art, Part 4: Happy 4th of July — A British DBA's Guide to Celebrating a War We Don't Talk About
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art, Part 4: Happy...
Is Fabric a Reliable Service or a Ripped Resource?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Is Fabric a Reliable Service...
locking down agent for new user on our dev machine
hi , a new user wants to be able to add sql agent jobs...
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT I
In SQL Server 2025, I have a table (dbo.UserPermission) that contains this data:
UserID UserPermissions 15 23 37What is returned when I run this code:
select bit_count(UserPermissions) as PermissionCount from dbo.UserPermission where UserID = 3;See possible answers