A Possible Alternative to SQL UNPIVOT
Understand how to use the SQL UNPIVOT statement and then an equivalent using XML and XPath Querying in SQL Server.
The Development Lab
This week Steve Jones looks at hardware and the ways in which you might assemble a set of computers for building software.
Writing the Correct Query is Important
Making simple mistakes in queries can have far reaching consequences.
Free Webinar – Database DevOps Demo
Learn how to extend DevOps practices to SQL Server databases in our free demo webinar on January 17th. Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Steve Jones will demonstrate how Redgate’s database automation tools plug into Git, Jenkins & Octopus Deploy. Learn how to branch and merge with SQL Source Control then automate the build and deployment of changes with DLM Automation. Register now.
Using Power BI Desktop to Visualize SQL Server Metadata
You can easily use PowerBI Desktop to show graphically how your database is growing, which tables are taking the most space, how various parts of SQL Server is consuming memory, its use of indexes and so on. Sure, you can create graphs in SSMS, but with PowerBI, you can create reports that you can then publish to others, and which allow drill-down. It is a great way to get familiar with PowerBI Desktop as well. Rob Sheldon shows how simple it is to do.
Scrubbing Personally Identifiable Information
Managing personally identifiable information when moving databases to unsecure environment can be challenging. With this flexible and extendable solution for scrubbing it, you can save yourself some time and effort.
Configure SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Group on a Multi-Subnet Cluster
A “multi-subnet” environment is defined when the OS cluster used as the backbone for AlwaysOn has server nodes that are located in multiple/different subnets. Deploying SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Groups requires a Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) cluster and each availability replica of a given availability group must reside on a different node of the same WSFC cluster. This post from Manvendra Singh will help you in configuring an HA and DR solution for SQL Server AlwaysOn in multi-subnet networks.
Backing Up SQL Server Databases is Easier in PowerShell than T-SQL
Learn how easy the new SQLServer module makes backups of SQL Server databases.
Backup Data Security
We need better security for our data, especially for our choices in managing data.
Identifying Last Night’s SQL Agent Job Failures
Finding the nightly job failures is just one of a DBA's morning rituals. It is fairly easy to scan all the email with a number of creative search criteria, but what if you would like a more automated approach? Read on to learn how to find and report all job failures using a script.
Blogs
A New Word: on tenderhooks
By Steve Jones
on tenderhooks – adj. feeling the primal satisfaction of being needed by someone, which...
Ramblings about data communities and your contributions, no excuses
By DataOnWheels
I have been active in the data community throughout my career. I have met...
SQL Server Journey till 2025 (brief)
By Vinay Thakur
Quick Summary for Microsoft SQL Server till 2025, I am fortunate to be part...
Forums
Ola Hallengren Index Optimize Maintenance can we have data compression = page
I have a quick question on Ola Hallengren Index Optimize Maintenance . Do we...
how do i map the "current" object entry in for each to one variable
hi, in an ssis for each loop over an object variable called MyListVariable, i...
Simulating Mercury’s Orbital Motion Using Pure T-SQL (NASA 2025 Dataset)
SQL Server is typically viewed as a transactional or analytical database engine. However, it...
Question of the Day
String Similarity I
On SQL Server 2025, when I run this, what is returned?
SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE_SIMILARITY('SQL Server', 'MySQL') See possible answers