Stairways

To keep up to date with all the technologies in SQL Server, the DBA or developer who wants to stay ahead is faced with the struggle of constant learning. How do you keep up while avoiding information overload, unnecessary detours and dead-ends?

The SQL Server Stairways is our solution to this problem. Designed to smooth out even the steepest learning curve, each Stairway is a SQL tutorial series focused on a single topic and is arranged into no more than a dozen easily-navigable tutorials that we call 'steps'. Each step is the length of a typical magazine tutorial, and emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, with just enough background theory to help you understand the topic at a deeper level.

Using straightforward language and avoiding jargon and marketing babble, each Stairway tutorial series is designed to take you from zero knowledge of a particular SQL Server topic to a level of practical understanding that will allow you to start using that feature in a production environment. The learning gradient is steady and manageable, but also brisk. You won't be wasting time.

Happy climbing!

Stairway to Transaction Log Management

Stairway to Transaction Log Management in SQL Server

When things are going well, there is no need to be particularly conscious of what the transaction log does or how it works. You just need to be confident that every database has the correct backup regime in place. When things go wrong, an understanding of the transaction log is important for taking corrective action, particularly when a point-in-time restore of a database is required, urgently! Tony Davis gives just the right level of detail that every DBA should know.

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2011-05-19

5,493 reads

Stairway to MDX

Stairway to MDX

Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) is a standard query language, derived from SQL but geared specifically for OLAP databases. It also includes a calculation language, with syntax similar to spreadsheet formulas. It is an important skill for PowerPivot. Bill's new series for MDX starts right at the very beginning and takes us through all the basic functions of MDX, with plenty of practical examples.

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2011-02-04

7,355 reads

Stairway to SQL Server Indexes

Stairway to SQL Server Indexes

Indexes are fundamental to database design, and tell the developer using the database a great deal about the intentions of the designer. Unfortunately indexes are too often added as an afterthought when performance issues appear. Here at last is a simple series of articles that should bring any database professional rapidly "up to speed" with them.

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2005-04-11

16,823 reads

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Question of the Day

The Updated Columns List

I have this table in SQL Server 2022:

CREATE TABLE CustomerLarge
  (CustomerID               INT NOT NULL IDENTITY(1, 1) CONSTRAINT CustomerLargePK PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED
 , CustomerName             VARCHAR(20)
 , CustomerContactFirstName VARCHAR(40)
 , CustomerContactLastName  VARCHAR(40)
 , Address                  VARCHAR(20)
 , Address2                 VARCHAR(20)
 , City                     VARCHAR(20)
 , CountryCode              CHAR(3)
 , Postal                   VARCHAR(20)
)
GO
If I check the columns_updated() function return in a trigger, what is the data returned?

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