SQL Prompt Tips #2 - Casing Options
A quick tip to help you set your object names to your preferred case in T-SQL code.
Stairway to Advanced T-SQL Level 8: Functions to Generate Date and Time values
When you build applications that store records in SQL Server you will most likely have to store date and time values as part of the data. To manage all the different date related tasks you might need to perform Microsoft has introduced a number of date functions. In this stairway I will be exploring those date and time functions.
Maintaining a grouped running MAX (or MIN)
If you're on SQL Server 2012 or greater, you definitely want to become familiar with all of the extensions to the windowing functions first introduced in SQL Server 2005 – they may give you some pretty serious performance boosts when revisiting code that is still running "the old way." Aaron Bertrand explains.
SQLXML Bulk Loader: The Sequel
SQLXML isn't exactly new technology, and parts of it aren't pretty, but if you need to heave vast quantities of XML data into a SQL Server database then you may come to appreciate the raw speed of which it's capable. Adam Aspin shows how to configure the SQL XML Bulk Loader tool for optimal data loading performance.
On Learning from Experience and Misfortune
Phil Factor on learning from mistakes. Preferably other people's.
Optimizing Your Query Plans with the SQL Server 2014 Cardinality Estimator
This paper provides an overview of the primary changes made to the cardinality estimator functionality by the Microsoft query processor team, covering how to enable and disable the new cardinality estimator behavior, and showing how to troubleshoot plan-quality regressions if and when they occur.
Webinar: Redgate Database Lifecycle Management (DLM) Demo
SSC's Steve Jones will show you how Redgate's DLM solution works to improve your database development and deployment processes. You'll see how to version control your databases from SSMS to track and understand changes, include your database in your Continuous Integration process to get quick feedback, automate your database deployment process to have safe, reliable, repeatable deployments, and more.
An Introduction to the SQLCMD Mode in SSMS (SQL Spackle)
Using SQLCMD Mode in SSMS is easy. This short piece will show you how to get started.
SQL Solutions Group Marks 5th Anniversary with SQL FreeCon
To mark five years in business helping companies across the United States with their SQL Server needs, SQL Solutions Group will host a day of free SQL training Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Seattle.
Blogs
Why Database AI Agents need Layers?
By Arun Sirpal
Third part in my Ai series with databases. When building AI solutions within the...
Un-Migrating From the Cloud: T-SQL Tuesday #199
By Steve Jones
This month we have a very interesting invitation from Koen Verbeeck. He has hosted...
T-SQL Tuesday #199: Back to the on-prem
It’s the second tuesday of the month, which means T-SQL Tuesday time! This month’s...
Forums
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...
Secure Communications
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Secure Communications
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