Windowing Functions: Tell me when that changes
Windowing functions aren't just for analyzing numbers/dates. Using windows functions to analyze when a character field changes is a little know resource
SQL Server Bulk Insert Row Terminator Issues
We often need to import data into SQL Server from a file. Sometimes unwanted end of line characters are part of the source file and these can create issues when importing the data. One of the ways to avoid this issue is to use SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), but it doesn't always make sense to use SSIS for simple operations. Rahul Mehta explains that he uses BULK INSERT sometimes faces issues with Line Feeds and Carriage Returns. In this post, Rahul shows some examples and explains how to fix the issue.
Ding - The World’s Largest Mobile Top-up Network Streamlines QA with SQL Server Containers
In this case study, see how database containers can help improve a QA process.
Installing SQL Server vNext on an AWS EC2 RHEL Instance
The steps required to create an Amazon Web Services EC2 instance and install the latest SQL Server version on the EC2.
How to Find Queries Using an Index (and Queries Using Index Hints)
Sometimes you know a query is out there, but it’s hard to find the exact query. In this post, Kendra Little gives example code to find queries using a specific index, or using an index hint.
DevOps Isn't Perfect
Mistakes will still be made with a DevOps process, but the benefits outweigh the mistakes.
Enable Trace Flags in SQL Server
Learn how to enable trace flags to change the behavior of your SQL Server instance.
Deployment Automation for SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
SSIS was not originally designed with automated deployment in mind. However, any database that uses SSIS projects and their packages needs a way of scripting the deployment of them if the database is to be deployed rapidly, or via a build server. Nat Sundar shows a technique that can be extended to manage the scripted deployment of SSIS projects.
Adding Years, Months and Days
Adding Years, Months and Days to Years, Months and Days, with Bonus UK Public Holiday calculation.
Blogs
Funny Money: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
While wandering around the documentation looking for some Question of the Day topics, I...
Why Database AI Agents need Layers?
By Arun Sirpal
Third part in my Ai series with databases. When building AI solutions within the...
Un-Migrating From the Cloud: T-SQL Tuesday #199
By Steve Jones
This month we have a very interesting invitation from Koen Verbeeck. He has hosted...
Forums
How Do the Experts Become Experts?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Do the Experts Become...
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments Level 4 – Preparing for Production Deployment
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments...
Secure Communications
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Secure Communications
Question of the Day
Secure Communications
As of June 2026, what is the best version of TLS to use with SQL Server?
See possible answers