Check your default constraints
Default constraints can lead to assumptions about the values in a column. Combine a check constraint to avoid slip ups.
We Need Data Privacy Consistency
Steve talks about the disparate regulations we face for data privacy and protection.
Examples and Function for Using SQL Server LIKE Operator and Wildcard Characters
In this tip we look at different examples of how to use the LIKE operator to get the correct results when strings contain wildcard characters. We will also look a function to make this easier to do.
How Do You Setup Your Instances?
This week Steve wonders if you have a process for setting up your new instances.
Single-Column-Key Missing Index Recommendations are Usually Wrong.
When Clippy suggests an index with only one key, look closer.
How to Linux for SQL Server DBAs — Part 1
As running SQL Server on Linux becomes more common, DBAs must learn and become comfortable with the Linux OS. In this article, Kellyn Pot'Vin-Gorman demonstrates how to create a SQL Server instance running in Linux via a Docker container.
We Don't Have Perfect Information
Trying to pick the perfect schedule at a conference is fraught with issues.
Deep dive into Python scripts execution in SQL Server
This article looks at how Microsoft implemented the Python language support into SQL Server and how it can be used.
Blogs
How AgentDBA Identifies Backup Failures
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Every DBA has a box like this. Sitting untouched for months. Nobody’s proud of...
AI Helps Me with My Sloppiness
By Steve Jones
I type fairly well. Well, I type fast, but I do wear out a...
WITH clause gets a 26ai boost!
By way of background, a while back I did video called “My New Favourite...
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...
How We Handled a Vendor Retry That Loaded Twice in Snowflake
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How We Handled a Vendor...
Cognitive Coverage
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Cognitive Coverage
Question of the Day
Getting the Average
I have this data in the dbo.Commission table in a SQL Server 2022 database.
salesperson commission Brian 12 Brian 16 Andy 7 Andy 14 Andy 21 Steve 20 Steve NULLAll the data is a varchar, and I decide to run this query to get the totals for each salesperson.
SELECT SalesPerson
, AVG(TRY_PARSE(Commission AS int)) AS TotalCommission
FROM commission
GROUP BY SalesPerson
GO
What average commission is calculated for Steve? See possible answers