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
The Book of Redgate: Mistakes
By Steve Jones
This is kind of a funny page to look at. The next page has...
ADF Pipeline Debugging Fails with BadRequest – The Sequel
A while ago I blogged about a use case where a pipeline fails during...
Why I stopped using MCP for AI coding stuff
By HeyMo0sh
Something has shifted quietly in 2026. The developers I know/respect—the ones actually shipping, not...
Forums
Dynamic Unpivot
I have a table I didn't design that has tons of repeating groups in...
Writing as an Art and a Job
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Writing as an Art and...
String Similarity II
Comments posted to this topic are about the item String Similarity II
Question of the Day
String Similarity II
What is the range for the result from the EDIT_DISTANCE_SIMILARITY() function in SQL Server 2025?
See possible answers