Dexterity Matters

The individual's dexterity can impact how we use software. Perhaps we need ways to undo mistakes in various systems.

On formatting SQL code

How much SQL code formatting is too much?

SQL Server Metadata Functions: The Basics

To be able to make full use of the system catalog to find out more about a database, you need to be familiar with the metadata functions. They save a great deal of time and typing when querying the metadata. Once you get the hang of these functions, the system catalog suddenly seems simple to use, as Robert Sheldon demonstrates in this article.

Protecting sa

Today Steve Jones talks about the issues with the sa account, and how you might protect this on all your instances.

Why Every SQL Server Installation Should Be a Cluster

In this article, I’ll attempt to “convince” you that every SQL Server you put into production should be a SQL Server Failover Cluster Instance (FCI).

When AUTO_UPDATE_STATISTICS Doesn't Happen

When your SQL Server database is set to have its statistics automatically updated, you will probably conclude that, whenever the distribution statistics are out-of-date, they will be updated before the next query is executed against that index or table. Curiously, this isn't always the case. What actually happens is that the statistics only gets updated if needed by the query optimiser to determine an effective query plan.

Do Less

One way to make code run faster is to have less of it. Or ensure the code you have does less work.

Fixing Maintenance Plan Error code 0x534

This article shows you how to resolve SQL Server maintenance plan execution failure error

The One 'Security' Feature in Oracle You Probably Shouldn't Use

Oracle offers a number of security-related settings, but one could definitely create more harm than good. David Fitzjarrell looks at which parameter that is, and why.

Byte Me: Database Migra(ine)tion