The State of the Cloud
The state of cloud computing is confusing and unstable. Steve Jones has a few thoughts about the good and bad things in this industry.
Introduction to SQL Server Filtered Indexes
SQL Server filtered indexes can save space and improve performance if they are used properly. Under what circumstances can they be used? When are they most effective, and what sort of performance gain or space-saving is likely? How does a filtered index affect the choice of execution plan? Seth Delconte explores these questions with practical experiments.
Dynamic ETL with SSIS
Learn how to dynamically load data from ETL load files using SSIS as a shell. The code downloads files from FTP, parses them and loads them into the database.
The Security of You
There is a lot of data out there that is specific to an individual, none more important perhaps than biometric data. Steve Jones writes a bit about the security implications involved in working with this data. (This editorial was originally published on Nov 10, 2008. It is being re-run as Steve is at SQL Bits.)
Monitor SQL Instance Balance across Windows Cluster Nodes Using PowerShell
This tip will demonstrate how to monitor SQL Failover Cluster Instances if they become unbalanced using Windows PowerShell.
Managing Your IT Data
A new application manages data from your IT machines and software, but doesn't use a database. Steve Jones talks a little about this. (This editorial was originally published on Jan 20, 2009. It is being re-run as Steve is at SQL Bits.)
Developing a Report Definition Customization Extension for Multi-Language Reports
When you need to present the same SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) report in eight or more different languages, or in different formats for different recipients, and the boss demands last-minute changes, it suddenly makes sense to use the Report Definition Customisation Extension (RDCE) .NET class library to create the final reports automatically. But how?
SQL Saturday #212 - Redmond
Join us for a free day of SQL Server training and networking in Redmond, WA
If you're confident about a change in your DB, triple check
Even planning allows for failure, sometimes you can't see everything else where you're standing.
Part 1: How to solve the transactional issues of isolation levels
Transaction Isolation levels are described in terms of which concurrency side-effects, such as dirty reads or phantom reads, are allowed.
Blogs
Learn Better: Pause to Review More
By Brian Kelley
If you want to learn better, pause more in your learning to intentionally review.
Azure SQL Managed Instance Next-Gen: Bring on the IOPS
By John
If you’ve used Azure SQL Managed Instance General Purpose, you know the drill: to...
SQL, MDX, DAX – the languages of data
By DataOnWheels
Ramblings of a retired data architect Let me start by saying that I have...
Forums
Two foreign keys to the same table. Can't cascade deletes.
Not sure if this is really a relational theory question but it seems about...
Connecting Power BI to SSAS and effective user not working
Hi everyone, Below is a consolidated summary of what we validated Architecture & data...
High Availability setup - has anyone seen this method?
Hi all, I recently moved to a new employer who have their HA setup...
Question of the Day
Encoding URLs
I have this data in a SQL Server 2025 table:
CREATE TABLE Response ( ResponseID INT NOT NULL CONSTRAINT ResponsePK PRIMARY KEY , ResponseVal VARBINARY(5000) ) GOIf I want to get a value from this table that I can add to a URL in a browser, which of these code items produces a result I can use? See possible answers