How efficient is your covered index?
Observing an index seek utilizing a composite index within SQL execution plan might be more than meets the eye – you should look again.
Storing Passwords in a Secure Way in a SQL Server Database
Measures such as using special characters and numbers within a password are of little use to security if passwords are then stored in an insecure way. Sergey Gigoyan explains how to encrypt and store passwords in a SQL Server database.
Choosing Your Tasks
Today Steve Jones asks about your job and if you get to pick the things you work on or is most of your time assigned to tasks by someone else?
Data Mining Part 32:The Microsoft Data Mining Enemies
In this chapter, we will talk about the competition of Data Mining
Data Mining Part 32:The Microsoft Data Mining Enemies
In this chapter, we will talk about the competition of Data Mining
SQL and R
There is plenty that is novel and perhaps foreign to a new R user, but it's no reason to abandon your hard-earned SQL skills! In this article, Casimir Saternos explains that not only can you easily retrieve data from SQL Sources for analysis and visualisation in R, but you can also use SQL to create, clean, filter, query and otherwise manipulate datasets within R, using a wide choice of relational databases.
Version Control - Part 2 - Tracking Changes
Part 2 of Steve Jones' series on version control. This article examines how you can track the changes you have made in a development cycle.
Version Control - Part 3 - Migrating Objects to Production
Part 3 of Steve Jones' series on version control. This article examines how migrate your changes to your live systems.
Version Control - Part 4 - Rolling Back
Part 4 of Steve Jones' series on version control. This article examines how back out your changes from your live systems.
Version Control -Part 1- Dealing with Code
Part 1 of Steve Jones series on version control and SQL Server. This article examines how you can work with version control and SQL objects.
Blogs
Learn about Modern Microsoft Apps in San Diego
By Steve Jones
I wrote about learning today for the editorial: I Can’t Make You Learn. I...
How To Deploy Fabric SQL and Azure SQL Databases with Azure DevOps
By ReviewMyDB
Fabric has CI/CD built in, but if you've tried to use it for database...
A New Word: Attriage
By Steve Jones
attriage – n. the state of having lost all control over how you feel...
Forums
SSRS Reminded Me of the Time Microsoft Retired TMG
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SSRS Reminded Me of the...
Getting results from a Procedure to join to a query
I have a need to execute a stored procedure and return the results to...
Upgrade 2016 Standard to 2022 Express
Title pretty much says it all - can this be done? I've tried several...
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT II
In SQL Server 2025, I have a table (dbo.UserPermission) that contains this data:
UserID UserPermissions 15 23 37 4 NULLWhat is returned when I run this code:
select bit_count(UserPermissions) as PermissionCount from dbo.UserPermission where UserID = 4;See possible answers