Better Ways to Build a Database
The purpose of a database build is simple: prove that what you have in version control can successfully create a working database, and yet many teams struggle with unreliable and untested database build processes that slow down deployments and prevent the delivery of new functionality. Grant Fritchey explains how to achieve an automated and reliable database build that is only as complex as the database system it needs to create.
Do I Want to Design My Own Transaction Log?
The processing of the Transaction Log seems simple to reproduce, but be sure you consider all the possibilities.
On-Time, or Not
Today we have a guest editorial from Andy Warren that looks at the respect, understanding and compromise we might make with each other.
The New Men of IT
According to the New Men of IT, the industry changes so frequently that experience and qualifications quickly become obsolete and irrelevant. The argument won't wash with Phil Factor.
SQL Server Integration Services SSIS Package Configuration
As you develop, test and deploy SSIS packages, you need to specify different parameter values for things like database connection strings, file and folder paths, etc. without having to edit the individual SSIS packages to make these changes. Ray Barley looks at how you can accomplish this goal by taking advantage of the configuration capabilities that SSIS provides, in particular the SQL Server package configuration.
BYOD
In the future we may be required to bring our own devices to work. Does that make sense? Would you want to get an allowance and purchase your own laptop?
Queries to Monitor SQL Server Replication Backlog
When replicating data to other servers it is always a concern that the subscribers may be far behind. In this article, Tim Smith shares some queries to help monitor SQL Server replication row counts.
Blogs
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...
SQL Server Journey Part 2: Modern Era (2017 – 2026) – AI/Cloud First
By Vinay Thakur
Following up on my Part 1 baseline, the journey from 2017 onward changed how...
Forums
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...
An Unusual Identity
Comments posted to this topic are about the item An Unusual Identity
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