Getting Started with R Services in SQL Server 2016 – Part 1
SQL Server 2016 brings native support to advanced analytics in the database itself, using R Services. In this article, Arshad Ali explains what R is, what the on-premise advanced analytics options from Microsoft are, and shows how to get started using R Services with SQL Server 2016.
Azure DWH part 1:Common questions about Azure SQL Data Warehouse
This article compiles some common questions and answers about Azure SQL Data Warehouse.
Importing Excel Data into Power BI Desktop
In any commercial setting, Excel Spreadsheets remain the preferred way of collecting and analysing data, and it makes sense that it should be easy to get the data into PowerBI so it can be made more generally available for sharing and further analysis. As well as the data, we'd probably need the other analysis components such as the Power Pivot tables, Power View visualizations, Power Query queries. It is all possible, and Robert Sheldon demonstrates how.
SQL Server v.Next - Linux Installation Step by Step
An introduction to SQL Server for Red Hat Linux Administrators with a step by step installation.
Syntactic Sugar
Syntactic sugar doesn't necessarily help a platform, but makes it easier or more fun to work on.
Reading, Writing, and Creating SQL Server Extended Properties
There is a great gulf between wanting to document your database properly with extended properties and actually doing it. Extended Properties have many uses but they aren't easy to use. Phil Factor is on a mission to make it easier for ordinary mortals to use extended properties as intended, to aid the database development process.
Data Preservation
Today Steve Jones talks about the challenges of preserving data across long periods of time, decades perhaps.
Extended Events for Tracking Backup and Restore Progress
Microsoft has introduced new extended events in SQL server 2016 which will give us detailed information about restore and backup process.
Blogs
Who Are You Doing It For?
By Brian Kelley
But as I've matured over the years, I came to realize that I needed...
Presenting Twice in May 2026
By alevyinroc
I will be presenting my latest session, Documenting Your Work for Worry-Free Vacations, in-person...
Finding the Next Sequence Value: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I saw a question asking about the next sequence value and decided to try...
Forums
DB Design Methods
I've read a few posts regarding what we use to design DB models and...
Auto Update Statistics not triggering on filtered indexes
I've got a table with 186,703,969 rows, about 300GB of data. There are several...
What is the difference between SQL Server and SQL Database?
I created a SQL Database in Azure Portal but I've just noticed it also...
Question of the Day
An Unusual Identity
What values are returned when I run this code?
CREATE TABLE dbo.IdentityTest2
(
id NUMERIC(10,0) IDENTITY(10,10) PRIMARY KEY,
somevalue VARCHAR(20)
)
GO
INSERT dbo.IdentityTest2
(
somevalue
)
VALUES
( 'Steve')
, ('Bill')
GO
SELECT top 10
id
FROM dbo.IdentityTest2 See possible answers