Name Value Pairs Table Handling
While Name Value Pairs Tables are anathema to Relational Database professionals, it is sometimes useful to consider such a structure in a production application.
This article illustrates the use of User-defined Table Type to improve such handling.
The Importance of Clear Data Displays
An accident on a ship is being blamed on unclear data visualization.
SQL Code Smells
Some time ago, Phil Factor wrote his booklet 'SQL Code Smells', collecting together a whole range of SQL Coding practices that could be considered to indicate the need for a review of the code. It was published as 119 code smells, even though there were 120 of them at the time. Phil Factor has continued to collect them and the current state of the art is reflected in this article. There are now around 150 of these smells and SQL Code Guard is committed to cover as many as possible of them.
Additional Data Files and Proportional Fill
Additional files can be added to to a database to increase the storage. When more data is added to the files, Extended Events shows how SQL Server spreads data across multiple files.
Core T-SQL
Steve Jones thinks there is a list of core skills that any database developer or DBA needs. This week he asks you for a list of those things you think should be included.
SQL Server Tacklebox
Inside the SQL Server Tacklebox you'll find day-to-day tools and techniques to automate and standardize SQL Server installation, document and report on your servers, migrate data and manage data growth, troubleshoot performance issues, receive notifications of impending issues, secure access to your servers and fight off the data corruption monster.
Azure SQL Database Long-Term Backup Retention
Azure SQL Database provides a number of benefits that leverage resiliency and redundancy built into the underlying cloud infrastructure. In addition to Point-in-Time Restore as well as Geo-Restore and Active Geo-Replication, you have the option of implementing long-term backup retention of Azure SQL Database.
Good Practices for Software Development
We always want to follow the best, or at least good, practices for software development. However do you know what those are? Steve Jones notes there's at least one that isn't often followed.
Performance Tuning with SQL Server Dynamic Management Views
This is the book that will de-mystify the process of using Dynamic Management Views to collect the information you need to troubleshoot SQL Server problems. It will highlight the core techniques and "patterns" that you need to master, and will provide a core set of scripts that you can use and adapt for your own requirements.
Blogs
Car Update September 2026
By Steve Jones
Software is hard. While I love our Lucid Gravity, I realize that they are...
Microsoft Tools for Making Data AI-Ready
By James Serra
Making Data AI-Ready, Part 2 (This is the second article in a three-part series...
Local Models Using GPUs with Ollama
By Steve Jones
Can you use your GPUs when running a local model under Ollama? You can,...
Forums
Absolute and Relative References
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Absolute and Relative References
Moving Beyond the Reboot: Finding the Culprit Behind Memory Pressure
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Moving Beyond the Reboot: Finding...
Reserved Words I
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Reserved Words I