Calculating and Verifying Check Digits in T-SQL
A lot of numbers that we use everyday such as Bank Card numbers, Identification numbers, and ISBN codes, have check digits. As part of the routine data cleansing of such codes we must check that the code is valid- but do we? Dwain Camps shows how it can be done in SQL in such a way that it could even be used in a constraint, and keep bad data out of the database.
Is Source Control Really That Boring?
The SSC team has put together a little quiz on database source control to go with Rob Richardson, Robert Sheldon, and Tony Davis' new book, SQL Server Source Control Basics. Do you daydream about source control... or daydream to avoid it?
SQL-only ETL using a bulk insert into a temporary table (SQL Spackle)
This article demonstrates a method of importing a data file directly into a temporary table and selectively inserting data from the temporary table into a SQL Server table, all in a single set of SQL commands.
Traits of a DBA - Part Two – The Personal Side of a DBA
A good DBA needs to have good technical skills but he also has to have good personal skills. In this article, Greg Larsen discusses the personal skills a DBA should have.
A IT Consultant for our Times
Phil Factor explains that being a consultant in the latest IT hot topic is a worthy role. Someone has to do it, and Phil explains why.
Data Mining: Part 12 DMX for Data Mining
In this lesson we will learn the basics of DMX and create some samples.
Data Mining: Part 12 DMX for Data Mining
In this lesson we will learn the basics of DMX and create some samples.
Blogs
Identity Columns Can’t Be Updated: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I’m not sure I knew identity column values could not be updated. I ran...
Rolling Back a Broken Release
By Steve Jones
We had an interesting discussion about deployments in databases and how you go forward...
A bespoke reporting solution doesn’t have to cost the earth
By ChrisJenkins
You could be tolerating limited reporting because there isn’t an off the shelf solution...
Forums
Can someone please explain what happens?
I have mentioned this several times over several years. Can someone please help me...
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT) returns null when nothing is found instead of 0
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT Component) AS Found FROM tblComponents WHERE(Component NOT LIKE '%[a-z]%') AND(LTRIM(RTRIM(Component)) = 'GM13622')...
Remotely Engineer Fabric Lakehouse objects: The Fabric Modern Data Platform
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Remotely Engineer Fabric Lakehouse objects:...
Question of the Day
Creating JSON III
In a SQL Server 2025 table, called Beer, I have this data:
BeerIDBeerName 1Becks 2Fat Tire 3Mac n Jacks 4Alaskan Amber 8KirinI run this code:
SELECT JSON_OBJECTAGG(
BeerID: BeerName )
FROM beer;
What are the results? See possible answers