Minimizing impact of widening an IDENTITY column – part 4
Aaron Bertrand continues his series on widening an IDENTITY column, showing how he would attack the problem directly.
Generate two-dimensional QR Code® bar codes in an SSRS report
QR (Quick Response) Code® is the Denso Wave, Inc. trademark for a type of two-dimensional bar code designed for the automotive industry in Japan. The QR Code system has become popular outside the automotive industry due to its speed and greater storage capacity compared to standard UPC bar codes.
NCAs and NDAs
When accepting an offer of employment, what do you do about NCAs and NDAs that you might be asked to sign? Steve Jones offers some advice. (This editorial was originally published on Mar 12, 2008. It is being re-run as Steve is on holiday.)
Towards a Single Management Stack
Phil Factor argues that with both SQL Server and PowerShell now running on Linux, the latter becomes increasingly important in achieving the goal of a single management stack for databases across all hosting environments.
The Exploratory Testing Chrome Plugin
If all your application testing is done by test experts, who know how to record images, do screen-capture, write issue-reports to TFS more appropriate and consistent format and so on, you probably don't need the 'Exploratory Testing' chrome plug-in. Otherwise, it is worth checking out Ambily KK's walkthrough.
Comprehensive Baseline Collector Solution (Updated)
There are no more excuses for not having baseline data. This article introduces a comprehensive Free Baseline Collector Solution
The Copy Cat Poll
This poll asks about copies, specifically those of your databases. How many do you keep around? How much extra storage does this cost? Steve Jones thinks that most organizations have quite a few copies, which can use a lot of resources.
Master Data Management (MDM) Using SQL Server
So many of the problems that organisations have with their IT applications are due to the struggle with data, in the absence of overall organization-wide control and supervision of data and its progress through the various parts of the organization. Master data management (MDM) offers a solution to the many data woes by controlling data change, It does it in an analogous way to Version Control, so that changes are cleansed, checked, tracked and audited, and any named version can be published to other services. Now Microsoft has an implementation as part of the data platform.
Get-SqlLogin and Remove-SqlLogin Are Here
Learn how to use the login commands included with SSMS2016 from PowerShell.
Time Off
Finding a balance between work and life away from work is hard, but one good way is with periodic vacations. Today Steve Jones notes that some people don't take their vacation, which he sees as a problem.
Blogs
Microsoft Fabric OneLake Shortcuts: When to Use Them and When Not To
By James Serra
An architecture scenario Imagine separate Sales, Finance, Shared Data, and Executive Analytics workspaces. Sales...
SQL Server Security Hardening Guide Using the DoD STIG Checklist
Security on your SQL Server is important. That doesn’t need any explaining. But where...
EightKB 2026: Registration is Open!
It’s that time of year again! EightKB is back on August 20th at 13:00...
Forums
Backing Up a DMK
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The Quiet Part
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BIT_COUNT in SQL Server
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Question of the Day
Backing Up a DMK
In SQL Server 2025, I have a database with a Database Masker Key (DMK). I want to back up this key and keep a copy offline. When do I have to open this key before running the backup?
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