How to fix SQL Server deadlocks with monitoring
Learn about deadlocks and how you might better troubleshoot the issues involved.
The 2015/2016 Simple-Talk Awards: Winners Announced
The 2015/16 Simple-Talk Awards have concluded, the votes have been counted and recounted, and the winners have now been announced.
Hunting in Packs
Waterfall is the practice most destructive to developer productivity? Nonsense, according to Phil Factor. Lack of basic team coordination skills comes much higher in the list.
The Data Dewey Decimal System
Steve Jones looks at the idea of cataloging our data sets in order to make it easier for
Getting Started with Temporal Table in SQL Server 2016 – Part 1
With the new temporal table feature, SQL Server 2016 internally manages two tables: a base table, which contains the latest data all the time, and a history table, which contains a history of all of the changes. Arshad Ali looks at the new feature, how it works, and how to either create a new table with this feature or enable it for an existing table.
Finding Special Characters within Character Strings
Special Characters can lead to many problems. Identifying and reporting on them can save a lot of headache down the road.
The Comeback of Migrations-Based Deployments
With database deployments, not all script-based processes are equal. Some use change scripts in a free-and-easy way, and some, which are normally called ‘migrations-based approaches’, have more discipline around them. In this article, Redgate Product Manager Elizabeth Ayer covers ‘migrations’, and shows some of the benefits that have come with new tooling which is specifically designed to assist the change script processes.
Naming Is Hard
Naming objects and variables in software can create contention in a team. While there are good conventions and standards, ultimately a team just needs to agree on something.
Exploring SQL Server 2016 Dynamic Data Masking – Part Two - Masking and Exporting Data in Existing Tables
Dynamic Data Masking allows you to obscure your confidential data column values at the database engine level for both new and existing SQL Server data. Being able to alter the definition of an existing column to add a masking rule makes it very simple to obscure your existing column values without even changing your application code.
Blogs
ISACA AI Material/Exam Prep Discount (May 18 – June 30, 2026)
By Brian Kelley
If you are considering any of the ISACA AI certs like the Advanced Artificial...
A Fabric solution can be very cost effective
By ChrisJenkins
Are you currently using Microsoft Fabric or considering migrating to it? If so, there...
Track SQL Server Configuration Changes Using the Error Log
By SQLPals
Track SQL Server Configuration Changes Using the Error Log If you...
Forums
SQL Server Showing Out of Space But Plenty of Drive Space
We have a SQL Server installed. We have a 500GB drive for the database....
Creating a JSON Document IV
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Creating a JSON Document IV
Restoring Azure Key Vault Keys and Validating SQL Server TDE Recovery: Level 7 of the Stairway to TDE
By VishnuGupthanSQLPowershellDBA
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Restoring Azure Key Vault Keys...
Question of the Day
Creating a JSON Document IV
I have this data in a table called dbo.NFLTeams
TeamID TeamName City YearEstablished ------ -------- ---- --------------- 1 Cowboys Dallas 1960 2 Eagles Philadelphia 1933 3 Packers Green Bay 1919 4 Chiefs Kansas City 1960 5 49ers San Francisco 1946 6 Broncos Denver 1960 7 Seahawks Seattle 1976 8 Patriots New England 1960If I run this code, how many rows are returned?
SELECT YearEstablished, json_objectagg(city : TeamName) FROM dbo.NFLTeams GROUP BY YearEstablished;See possible answers