SQL Bits and Community Superheroes
Chris Testa-O'Neil on the origins of SQL Bits and the joys of community events.
The Quickest Guide to Getting Started with PowerPivot
If you are still on the edge about PowerPivot and have not given it a shot, this article will get you started with ample of screen shots and a step-by-step guide.
Questions About T-SQL Control-of-Flow Language You Were Too Shy to Ask
Surely, we all know how T-SQL Control-of-flow language works? In fact it is surprisingly easy to get caught out. What, for example, do the BREAK, RETURN and CONTINUE keywords do in their various contexts? Robert Sheldon has the answers to this and other questions.
Data Mining Part 24: SQL Profiler and Data Mining
In this chapter we will detect the Data Mining activity using SQL Server Profiler.
Data Mining Part 24: SQL Profiler and Data Mining
In this chapter we will detect the Data Mining activity using SQL Server Profiler.
Programming Rules and 'Best Practices' Can't Replace Professional Judgement
In which Phil Factor casts doubts on 'programming policies'. For certain, any IT team development requires plenty of methods of working that maximise productivity, but coding standards and ‘best practices’ have to be treated with caution. Programming rules can’t replace professional judgement
Advice for Learning T-SQL SELECT Statement Step By Step
In this tip, Dallas Snider shares his experience with how someone can start learning T-SQL from the beginning with no prior knowledge.
Inception
Inspired by the movie with the same name, Steve Jones has a Friday poll about inspiration and ideas.
Release Testing Is Risk Management Theatre
The adoption of Continuous Delivery often leads to the discovery of suboptimal practices within an organisation, and the Release Testing antipattern is a common example. Steve Smith explores the questions: what is Release Testing, and why is it an example of Risk Management Theatre?
SQL Saturday #374 - Vienna, Austria
SQL Saturday is a full-day technical conference and training event with international speakers. With over 20 sessions on SQL Server and a separate pre-con, the event is aimed at all those interested in SQL Server - from pros to beginners. This event will be on February 28, 2015, so register while space is available.
Blogs
Narrow Task Decomposition in AI Pipeline Agents
A nightly load into sales_fact fails. Ask an orchestrating agent to break down the...
Car Update: August 2026
By Steve Jones
It’s been some time since I provided a car update, so I decided to...
Microsoft Fabric OneLake Shortcuts: When to Use Them and When Not To
By James Serra
An architecture scenario Imagine separate Sales, Finance, Shared Data, and Executive Analytics workspaces. Sales...
Forums
Managing Incidents and Fighting Fires
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Managing Incidents and Fighting Fires
Backing Up a DMK
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Backing Up a DMK
The Quiet Part
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Quiet Part
Question of the Day
Backing Up a DMK
In SQL Server 2025, I have a database with a Database Masker Key (DMK). I want to back up this key and keep a copy offline. When do I have to open this key before running the backup?
See possible answers