Fixing CREATE TABLE
Steve Jones has a problem with the inconsistency of the CREATE TABLE statement in SQL Server and has an idea on what to do.
Identify the Backup used to Restore the Database
This article will help us identify the backup which was used to restore the database. This may seem simple when the database backup is from the same server but the complications begin when the backup is not from the same server.
DBAs Checklist for Designing and Reviewing SQL Server System Architectures
In this tip, Sadequl Hussain will try to list a few areas DBAs need to cover when they are designing new systems or reviewing proposed solutions.
Caching
A SQL Server database can easily be seen as a bottleneck as all data must be retrieved from a single machine. However a caching strategy in your application and alleviate load and improve performance.
SQL Server Indexed Views: The Basics
Views are a valuable tool for the SQL Server Developer, because they hide complexity and allow for a readable style of SQL expression. They aren't there for reasons of performance, and so indexed views are designed to remedy this shortcoming. They're great in certain circumstances but they represent a trade-off, and they come with considerable 'small print'. Jes Borland explains.
Lawsuits and Data Breaches
Steve Jones notes that a data breach resulted in a lawsuit. How long before that's a common practice, and should we be preparing as data professionals.
San Jose, CA - SQL in the City Seminar - Deployment Stairway
The day before SQL Saturday Silicon Valley, SQL Server MVP Steve Jones will be hosting a free seminar in San Jose on March 14 2014. Join fellow database professionals to learn best practices and practical tips for SQL Server version control, continuous integration and deployment.
Using hash values in SSIS to determine when to insert or update rows
A common method to detect if a row has changed is to compare hashes. Integration Services itself doesn’t have a hash implementation, so in this tip I’ll show how you can implement a hash detection mechanism using a script component, as an alternative to the pure T-SQL solution.
A Quick Tour of sp_ExecuteSQL
sp_ExecuteSQL can be used to dynamically execute T-SQL code. Learn how to use it and how to add parameters to control what code is executed.
Auditing Matters
We might not be able to stop hacks, attacks, or issues with our databases, but knowing that they've occurred is important. Steve Jones notes that we might need auditing more than security.
Blogs
A New Word: los vidados
By Steve Jones
los vidados – n. the half-remembered acquaintances you knew years ago, who you might...
In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026
By Brian Kelley
I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class...
EightKB 2026
EightKB is back again for 2026! The biggest online SQL Server internals conference is...
Forums
query to track time spent on individual tasks in SSIS
Hi everyone I am looking at building a query to determine how much time...
SQL Server Transactional Replication from Always On Availability Groups to Azure SQL Database
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Transactional Replication from...
Hidden Heroes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Hidden Heroes
Question of the Day
Identities and Sequences I
When thinking of the Identity property for auto incrementing columns and sequences for the same action, which are explicitly linked to increment a number in a table when a new row is added?
See possible answers