Junk Drawer
Dale Newman created open source project called Junk Drawer. It's goal is to make the majority of Excel or text file importing a one step, no-brainer process without using the Import Wizard.
Fixing Cache Bloat Problems With Guide Plans and Forced Parameterization
Imagine it. You've been asked to fix a dire performance problem with a SQL Server database. You find a severe case of 'Cache Bloat' due to ad-hoc queries, but you can't fix the code itself. What should you do? Specify forced parameterization? Perhaps a better idea would be to use guide plans.
SQLSaturday #269: SQL South West, Exeter, UK
SQL South West user group are running their second SQL Saturday on March 21st and 22nd and have another spectacular schedule of technical content from SQL Server professionals from the UK, Europe and USA including SQL Server MVPs and Microsoft staff. All the session details and how to register for the full-day pre-con sessions or the free-to-attend Saturday:
DBA Dreams
Louis Davidson on the small dreams that DBAs can nurture, each day, to elevate the drudgery of a seemingly banal task into a celebration of purpose.
Downtime
Most of us are working to prevent downtime in our systems. However Netflix thinks a little forced downtime is good for the software developers and infrastructure people.
The SQL TABLE Type: Beyond Table-Valued Parameters
Follow along as this starter article on the SQL TABLE Type walks you through the various ways it can be used in T-SQL.
Avoid using NOLOCK on SQL Server UPDATE and DELETE statements
Occasionally I come across UPDATE and DELETE statements where the target SQL Server table is referenced with the NOLOCK hint. Does this hint help or hurt performance in this case?
SQL Saturday #269 - Exeter, UK
SQL Saturday is coming to Exeter on March 22, 2014. Join Red Gate's David Atkinson and the rest of the speakers at this free day of SQL Server training and networking, organized by SQL South West.
Geeky Entertainment
As a break from work, this week Steve Jones wants to know what you wish for. Are there comic book, science fiction, or technological thrillers you'd like to see made into movies?
Blogs
T-SQL Tuesday #198–Change Detection
By Steve Jones
This month we have a new host, Meagan Longoria, who graciously agreed to help...
Redgate and Rome
By Steve Jones
I’m at the UK Redgate office today, meeting with senior leaders in all areas...
Quick Tip: Check Most DTU Expensive Queries in Azure SQL Database
Optimizing Azure SQL Database performance often begins with identifying the most resource-intensive queries. Understanding...
Forums
Permissions Removal When Changing Object Schema
When the schema of an object is changed, SQL Server wipes out the previous...
SSRS Is Dead. Here Are Your Real Options
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SSRS Is Dead. Here Are...
The Distance Metric
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Distance Metric
Question of the Day
The Distance Metric
In the new VECTOR_DISTANCE() function in SQL Server 2025, the first parameter is the distance_metric. What is this?
See possible answers