When sp_HelpText is not so helpful!
A note of caution on the use of sp_helptext to script out objects.
SQLCLR in Practice: Creating a Better Way of Sending Email from SQL Server
SQLCLR is now considered a robust solution to the few niche requirements that can't be met by the built-in features of SQL Server. Amongst the legitimate reasons for avoiding SQLCLR, there is the fear of getting bogged down in code with special requirements that is difficult to debug. Darko takes a real example, extending the features of sp_send_dbmail, to demonstrate that there need be few terrors in SQLCLR.
Help from Cortana
Lots of work is going into making software more helpful. This week Steve Jones wonders what you want from these assistants.
Insert Stored Procedure Results Into New Table Without Using OPENQUERY
OPENQUERY arrives with a lot of baggage. Try this alternative technique to inserting stored procedure results into a new table.
The Best of Both Worlds: Using Excel and Power BI Together
Excel and Power BI work well together. This allows you to use the two tools together to provide for many types of business workflow and BI practices. You can publish an Excel file to Power BI to share with others, analyse a Power BI dataset in Excel or import either an Excel workbook or Excel data to Power BI. You can gain the workgroup power and business-orientation of Power BI without losing the ease and versatility of Excel. Saurabh shows how.
SQL Server 2016 SSIS Basics - Install SQL Server Data Tools
Step-by-step instructions for downloading and installing SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for SQL Server 2016.
The Avalanche of Cloud Computing
Today Steve Jones talks about the tipping point of cloud computing.
Purging Old Database Mail Items
Are you purging the old database mail items stored in msdb? In this tip, Greg Larsen shows you how to purge database mail.
Interviews: What is ACID?
While thinking about interviews, Steve Jones shares a story of a job situation he encountered.
Stairway to U-SQL Level 17: Executing U-SQL Jobs with PowerShell
Automate your Data Lake with PowerShell! Learn how PowerShell can be used to execute U-SQL scripts, as well as a few other little tricks.
Blogs
SQL Server sa Account Security: Rename, Disable & Best Practices
By SQLPals
SQL Server sa Account Security: Rename, Disable & Best Practices In...
Stanford Emerging Technology Review 2026 Report is out
By Brian Kelley
Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing are two areas of emerging technology that receive most...
How I Troubleshoot a Slow SQL Server Live
No two SQL Server environments are alike. A fix that resolves a performance issue...
Forums
Are You Working More Hours?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Are You Working More Hours?
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments Level 6 – Managing Changesets Over Time
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments...
A Limited Startup
Comments posted to this topic are about the item A Limited Startup
Question of the Day
A Limited Startup
I add this parameter to SQL Server 2025 in the Configuration Manager:
-mDynamicsWhat does this do? See possible answers