Find SQL Server Installation Date for all Instances with PowerShell
In this tip we look at a PowerShell script you can use to gather information about the installation date for all of your SQL Servers.
More Network Restrictions
The rise of attacks is something Steve thinks will trigger more network protection, something data professionals will need to work with.
Read Excel File in SQL Server with OPENROWSET or OPENDATASOURCE
In this tip we look at how to read an Excel file from within SQL Server using OpenRowSet and OpenDataSource along with the possible errors you may encounter and how to fix these issues.
Experiment First
One skill that's useful to develop is the ability to learn things on your own. Often with a little help, but not too much.
Find SQL Server Stored Procedure Create, Modified, Last Execution Date and Code
In this tip we look at different scripts you can use to find when a SQL Server stored procedure was created, modified, last executed and to also return the code for the stored procedure.
Fragmented or Centralized Data
Is it better to copy and distribute data or centralize it? Steve has a few thoughts today.
Using a Surrogate vs Natural Key
A common debate in table architecture is whether to use a natural or surrogate key. In this article, I discuss some of the advantages to each method.
Database Tools and Extensions for Visual Studio 2019
In this article, you will explore tools and extensions that can be used with Visual Studio 2019 to improve your database experience irrespective of what database you use.
A User-Defined Function returns more rows
The Problem Recently, while working with one of my clients, I came across a script in which I had to introduce a scalar User-Defined Function in the SELECT statement. The SELECT used to return around 750K records. However, after introducing the UDF, the row count significantly increased to 826K. There were no other changes made […]
Blogs
Learn about Modern Microsoft Apps in San Diego
By Steve Jones
I wrote about learning today for the editorial: I Can’t Make You Learn. I...
How To Deploy Fabric SQL and Azure SQL Databases with Azure DevOps
By ReviewMyDB
Fabric has CI/CD built in, but if you've tried to use it for database...
A New Word: Attriage
By Steve Jones
attriage – n. the state of having lost all control over how you feel...
Forums
Forward Deployed Engineers
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Forward Deployed Engineers
TRY_PARSE vs TRY_CONVERT in SQL Server: From Basics to Practical Usage
Comments posted to this topic are about the item TRY_PARSE vs TRY_CONVERT in SQL...
DBCC CHECKDB Limits II
Comments posted to this topic are about the item DBCC CHECKDB Limits II
Question of the Day
DBCC CHECKDB Limits II
I have a SQL Server 2025 database that I want to check for corruption every night. One of the things we do is disable indexes used for ETL loads during the weekend and re-enable them on Monday morning. If we run DBCC over the weekend, are our disabled indexes checked for consistency?
See possible answers