Managers
Steve Jones thinks that the attitudes of managers need to change if we want to be more productive in the future.
12 SQL Server XML Questions You Were Too Shy To Ask
Robert Sheldon answers 12 questions about XML, including situations you would want to use XML, and how to do basic tasks.
Context Is Everything - Check Your Settings
Check 96 server and database settings to make sure they match your expectations in your databases with this script.
Vocation or Career
Do you have a vocation or career? Steve Jones talks a bit about the difference today.
How column COLLATION can affect SQL Server query performance
Most DBAs, myself included, install SQL Server with the default server collation SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS and all of our table columns get created using this default setting. This tip will look at the performance impacts of querying data with this setting as it compares to querying columns with the collation set to SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CS_AS.
SQL Saturday #306: Redmond
On May 31, 2014 SQL Saturday is coming to Redmond, Washington. Come for a free day of SQL Server training and networking, the schedule currently features tracks on T-SQL, SSIS, Backup & Recovery and more. Register while space is available.
Better, Faster, and Cheaper
When building a system, you need to make choices. However, do you always need to make the choice of only two of the three "good, fast, or cheap" choices? Andy Warren has a few thoughts.
Index Utilization Trending
An important part of regular database maintenance is to monitor index usage and make adjustments as needed. How can we monitor, store, and trend this data effectively over time?
Lots of Security Concerns
This past week saw lots of security concerns, especially around data. Steve Jones has a few comments about the implications.
SQL Server Reporting Services Basics: Building SSRS Reports
Kathi Kellenberger describes the basics of SSRS before showing you how to build quick, simple reports.
Blogs
Rethinking Index Maintenance: Why avg_fragmentation_in_percent Is Outdated and What You Should Do Instead
By Tim Radney
As a SQL Server DBA with years of experience tuning production environments, I’ve seen...
Microsoft Build 2026 announcements
By James Serra
Once again there were a number of Microsoft Build announcements related to data and...
T-SQL Tuesday #199: Roundup
A good week ago I hosted the monthly T-SQL Tuesday blog party. I invited...
Forums
Changes, Happiness, and a Few Tears
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Changes, Happiness, and a Few...
BCP on Linux
Comments posted to this topic are about the item BCP on Linux
You Probably Don't Need a Vector Database
Comments posted to this topic are about the item You Probably Don't Need a...
Question of the Day
BCP on Linux
When running bcp on Linux, what is the field terminator?
See possible answers