Data Clarity
The ways in which we collect and use data aren't always apparent to our customers. Perhaps we should do better.
Handling error converting data type varchar to numeric in SQL Server
Error converting data type varchar to numeric may occur when trying to import data that looks like numbers, but doesn't act like a number. Read how to solve this issue.
Protecting Our Stream of Data
We can't protect against all hacks, but can we prove they weren't our fault?
SQL Server 2008 Migration to SQL Server 2017 Linux Containers using Database Cloning
Learn how you can get a SQL Server 2017 container working with Docker and Windocks.
Azure SQL Database Business Continuity Enhancements
Marcin Policht provides an overview of a number of new features that facilitate Azure SQL Database business continuity.
'Comedy Limited' with SQL Server
Phil Factor is not amused by SQL Server's handling of the comma-separated value (CSV) file format.
The Crimes of Chicago: Working with Data in MongoDB
NoSQL databases like MongoDB are gaining popularity, but using the right tools for the job at hand is most important. In this article, Phil Factor demonstrates how to work with a MongoDB database and how to use PowerShell with MongoDB so that the process can be automated.
Fun at Work
Today Steve asks about the fun times you might have had at work and captured in pictures.
Trust, or Verify – How FKs Can (or Cannot) Help Performance
Learn how trusted foreign keys (FK) can help or hurt performance.
Setting Up SQL Server: People Still Need Help
Erik points out a few things that SQL Server should offer to configure by default.
Blogs
Presenting with Visual Studio Code
A while back I wrote a quick post on setting up key mappings in...
Advice I Like: In 100 Years
By Steve Jones
In 100 years a lot of what we take to be true now will...
dataMinds Saturday 2026 – Slides
At Saturday the 21st of February I’m presenting an introduction to dimensional modelling at...
Forums
AllocationType as ROW_OVERFLOW_DATA
Hello, I inherited a number of tables with like 20-30 column using nvarchar(256) in...
is it true we cant debug c# scripts in ssis anymore under vs
Hi, i'm running vs2022. I'm trying out a c# script that i'd like to...
Question of the Day
Missing the Jaro Winkler Distance
I upgraded a SQL Server 2019 instance to SQL Server 2025. I wanted to test the fuzzy string search functions. I run this code:
SELECT JARO_WINKLER_DISTANCE('tim', 'tom')
I get this error message:Msg 195, Level 15, State 10, Line 1 'JARO_WINKLER_DISTANCE' is not a recognized built-in function name.What is wrong? See possible answers