A Fun Distraction
With the holiday season here, Steve Jones wonders what you'll do for fun away from work.
Managing Log Files Sizes the Easy Way
Learn an easy, rough, and ready way to manage log files in this piece.
Introduction to C# Scripting for SQL Server DBAs
Microsoft has introduced an interactive C# scripting technology inside the Visual Studio 2015 environment. In this post, Jeffrey Yao looks at how we can use this to perform SQL Server tasks.
Solving an SSIS Error – Cannot convert between Unicode and non-Unicode
When loading data with SSIS, sometimes there are various errors that may crop up. This article provides a solution when you get have a problem between Unicode and non-Unicode fields.
This is how to fail
Today we have a guest editorial from Tim Mitchell that talks about security and communications with your customers. Ultimately it pays to be open and honest.
Deploying schema changes to multiple databases using the SQL Compare command line
Feodor Georgiev explains how SQL Compare Pro makes it possible to automate the process of synchronizing a source and target database. By calling SQL Compare from a simple batch script, he shows how to make it work for a whole list of targets, one after another.
Listing Duplicate Values by Group
Without question, one of the most common tasks performed by Database Administrators (DBAs) is identifying and weeding out duplicate values in tables. Despite the inordinate number of queries written by other DBAs to locate duplicate values in their database tables, the real challenge is in locating a useable SQL statement to go by. Rob Gravelle presents a few solutions that will save you some time down the road.
The Hibernate ORM and SQL Server
Using an ORM with SQL Server introduces unique challenges. I have listed a few of my experiences, hoping it can help someone.
Retrieving SQL Server Query Execution Plans
Execution plans explain all you need to know about query performance, and how to fine-tune. Sure, you can see them in SSMS, but what if you need to drill into to the important details? What about using DMVs, Extended Events or SET statements to get at the execution plans? To get the best use of execution plans you need to be able to get right information from the right plan at the right time. Robert Sheldon explains how.
Blogs
Database AI Agents: The Read-Only Rule
By Arun Sirpal
Fourth in a series on Ai and databases. What Read-Only Advisory Actually Means A...
Creating a SQL Stored Procedure to Load a SCD2
By DataOnWheels
This is a blog that I am writing for future me and hopefully it’ll...
Funny Money: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
While wandering around the documentation looking for some Question of the Day topics, I...
Forums
Backup Availability Group
Please I am hoping for some feedback Specifications: Windows Server 2022 SQL Server 2022...
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...
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