Stairway to U-SQL Level 21: Exporting Data with Azure Data Factory
Learn how you can move data from your Data Lake to Azure SQL Database with Azure Data Factory.
Fill In Missing Dates for SQL Server Query Output
In this tip we look at how to fill gaps in dates and times for SQL Server query output when no data exists for specific dates or times.
SQL Change Automation Scripting: Getting Data into a Target Database
Your strategy for loading a freshly built database with data will depend on how much you need. If just a few rows, then single-row INSERT statements will be fine, but for more than that you'll need to build insert the rows using native-format BCP. Fortunately, SQL Change Automation (SCA) can be used with either strategy, as Phil Factor demonstrates.
Scaling SSRS Support for SQL Azure with Containers
In this article, see one of the ways in which a container can be created and used for in SSRS as the source for reports.
Working with People
One of the more important things that we can do as a professional is learn to work we well with others.
Introduction to Running SQL Server 2019 on Kubernetes
The release of SQL Server 2019 further extends the ability to host SQL Server instances on Linux, including running Docker-based SQL Server images on Kubernetes clusters. This latest release further extends the multi-platform capabilities by allowing for Kubernetes-based deployments of SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, delivering increased level of resiliency. Read on to learn more about the basic characteristics of these deployments!
The ‘= NULL’ Mistake and other SQL NULL Heresies
The SQL Prompt Best Practice rule checks whether a comparison or expression includes a NULL literal ('NULL'), which in SQL Server, rather than result in an error, will simply always produce a NULL result. Phil Factor explains how to avoid this, and other SQL NULL-related calamities.
More MVPs Than Awards
Every year, July 1 is the Microsoft MVP Renewal date and quite a few people received good news that day. I was one of those renewed for another year, and I am honored that Microsoft chose me again. I also congratulate all the others that received the award for the first time as well as […]
Querying Temporal Tables
Temporal tables a.k.a Table Versioning was introduced in SQL Server 2016 and is an easy, convenient way to track changes to data. A good introduction to temporal tables can be found here. One of the key advantages of versioning tables is easy of querying – or getting a ‘single pane of glass’ look of how […]
Introduction to DevOps: The Application Delivery Pipeline
Some of the terms in the DevOps pipeline, such as CI and CD, can be confusing. In the second article of this series, Robert Sheldon explains these terms and how they fit in the DevOps pipeline. He also talks about some of the tools you might use.
Blogs
Advice I Like: Pyramid Schemes
By Steve Jones
If someone is trying to convince you it’s not a pyramid scheme, it’s a...
Using Prompt AI for a Travel Data Analysis
By Steve Jones
I was looking back at my year and decided to see if SQL Prompt...
FinOps for Kubernetes: Leveraging OpenCost, KubeGreen, and Kubecost for Cost Efficiency
In the era of cloud-native applications, Kubernetes has become the default standard platform for...
Forums
Database file shrink issue.
Hi experts, I have a 3+ TB database on a 2019 sql server which...
The North Star for the Year
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The North Star for the...
Multiple Escape Characters
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Escape Characters
Question of the Day
Multiple Escape Characters
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code (in a database with the appropriate collation):
SELECT UNISTR('%*3041%*308A%*304C%*3068 and good night', '%*') AS 'A Classic';
What is returned? See possible answers