Database Taming
Sometimes a database can seem to be as willful as a colt. Taming it requires an iron nerve, and unflinching eye contact. Occasionally though, you need to know when to jump the fence and regroup.
Production Scripts
Many of us have scripts that we run in SQL Agent jobs, but Steve wonders if we really treat them like production code.
How to Implement Dynamic Data Masking in Azure SQL Database and SQL Server
Anoop Kumar shows you the SQL Commands (T-SQL) to secure PII/PHI data using the SQL Server Dynamic Data Masking (DDM) feature and explores DDM's built in functions to mask all critical data elements. DDM restricts unauthorized users from accessing critical data with no changes in the application.
The COUNT Function in T-SQL
The COUNT function is among the most used functions in the T-SQL codes. Even though COUNT is easy to use, it should be used carefully because it could often not return the desired result. For the big tables, the counting of the rows could cause blocking as well as take some more time.
What to Read in 2018
Steve loves to read all sorts of books and is asking what books you'd read professionally or for fun in 2018.
Azure Cosmos DB Consistency Levels
The majority of traditional database management systems are responsible for making sure that any changes to their data are consistently reflected in the results of subsequent queries. Azure Cosmos DB extends the range of consistency options by providing support for bounded-staleness, session, and consistent prefix models.
Adaptive Query Processing – Interleaved Execution
Interleaved Execution allows SQL Server's query optimizer to get accurate cardinality estimates in places where it couldn't before.
Mobile Report Publisher – Dashboards Everywhere
The new feature, Mobile Reports, was added to SSRS in 2016. It provides the ability to create attractive and useful dashboards that can run on devices and most browsers. Robert Cain shows you how to get started building Mobile Reports with the Mobile Report Publisher.
Heaps, Deletes, and Optimistic Isolation Levels
Erik shows that heaps have even more drawbacks under optimistic concurrency.
Blogs
Moving On-Prem PostgreSQL to the Cloud: Picking the Right Path for Big Tables
Every PostgreSQL migration eventually hits the same fork in the road. The database is...
A Spread of Vacation
By Steve Jones
I’m off on vacation today. Which is a little weird as I just got...
How AgentDBA Identifies Backup Failures
By Arun Sirpal
Every DBA has a box like this. Sitting untouched for months. Nobody’s proud of...
Forums
From SQL Server On-Premises to Claude Desktop: How I built a Full MCP Pipeline
Comments posted to this topic are about the item From SQL Server On-Premises to...
Independence Day 2026
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Independence Day 2026
Independence Day 2026
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Independence Day 2026
Question of the Day
Independence Day 2026
In the original Independence Day movie (1996), what type of computer did Jeff Goldblum use to connect to the alien mainframe? Take a guess, don't look it up or ask AI.
See possible answers