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Using Powershell to Generate Table-Creation Scripts

Robert Sheldon — 04 October 2008

For all of us who learn best by trying out examples, Bob Sheldon produces a PowerShell script file for SQL Server that can be used in either SQL Server 2005 or 2008, has error handling and prompts for user-input, is easily extended and, does something useful. He then explains how to run it and what each line does. Magic

Why This SQL Server DBA is Learning Powershell

Ron Dameron — 30 September 2008

Ron describes how he decided to study Powershell as a single scripting system to automate all the common repetitive server tasks. He concludes that time spent learning PowerShell is time well spent, and that it can help a great deal in understanding the .NET Framework

Using Covering Indexes to Improve Query Performance

Joe Webb — 29 September 2008

Designers of database systems will often assume that the use of a clustered index is always the best approach. However the nonclustered Covering index will usually provide the optimum performance of a query.

Brad's Sure DBA Checklist

Brad McGehee — 19 September 2008

Sometimes,all a DBA needs, to help with day-to-day work, is a checklist of best-practices and dos and don’ts. It provides a handy reminder. We asked Brad to provide one.

Database Design Workbench - Keys

Robyn Page and Phil Factor — 19 September 2008

Robyn Page and Phil Factor explore the innocent subject of Keys for their latest workbench. Everybody knows about keys. Oh yeah? Phil Factor ends up muting the immutable out of sheer devilry, and we learn how silly the British Secret Service were to tag James Bond with the code '007'

SQL Response: Choosing Our Words Carefully

Brian Harris — 17 September 2008

Historically, the profession of "technical author" emerged from the nascent aerospace and technology industries following the war, and brought with it a military-style rigidity of approach to standards and formality. But documenting (and putting words into) software in 2008 is very different from documenting the wiring of a cockpit in a fighter jet in 1952; perhaps we need to relax more… and be more like Google.

SQL Response: Does Everything Need a Name?

Brian Harris — 17 September 2008

Our overriding goal at Red Gate is to make our software more usable by "doing whatever works". That means to do whatever users are most likely to instinctively understand. As we analyse and consider every use of language in our applications, this sometimes leads me as a writer to ask the following question:

Faking Arrays in Transact SQL

Anith Sen — 16 September 2008

It is a simple routine that we all need to use occasionally; parsing a delimited list of strings in TSQL. In a perfect relational world, it isn't necessary, but real-world data often comes in a form that requires one of the surprising variety of routines that Anith Sen describes, along with sage advice about their use.

SQL Server 2008- SSIS Data Profiling task

Robert Sheldon — 10 September 2008

By using SQL Server 2008’s new Data Profiling task, you can do a lot to ensure that data being imported via SSIS is valid, and you can develop a system that can take the necessary steps to correct the commonest problems. Bob Sheldon shows you how to get started with it

Policy-Based Management

Brad McGehee — 26 August 2008

Every DBA knows the frustration of trying to manage tens of servers, each of which has a subtly different configuration. Policy-based management, now introduced in SQL Server 2008, could ease a lot of this pain. Brad McGehee explains....

Passing Variables to and from an SSIS task

Patrick Index — 20 August 2008

In which Patrick Index casts a jaundiced eye on SSIS, and decides that, for all its faults, it has a number of uses as an ETL tool. In the first of a series of articles 'from the trenches', Patrick describes how to pass variables to, and from, an SSIS task.

Ziggurats, Batman and the Town Crier

Brian Harris — 19 August 2008

We asked Brian for a description of the Help System for the software he's working on and ends up quoting Blake's poetry, discussing town criers, Ziggurats, security guards and the BRAD signal.

SQL Toolbelt 2008: Predominantly an Engineering Task

Richard Morris — 18 August 2008

The conversion of the Red-Gate tools to be compatible with SQL Server 2008 might not seem, on first impression, the most interesting or creative project ever undertaken by the company. However, the two people most involved in the project were adamant that it was a fascinating and rewarding experience. Why? We sent the indefatigable Richard Morris to find out.

Management Studio Improvements in SQL Server 2008

Brad McGehee — 14 August 2008

Not everybody who had to use Management Studio when it first appeared in SQL Server 2005 liked it. The paint was still wet and there was still scaffolding around. To give Microsoft its' credit, it has succeeded in transforming it into a much more useful product, in its SQL Server 2008 reincarnation

SQL Server 2008 SSIS Cribsheet

Robert Sheldon — 05 August 2008

SSIS has achieved several new and interesting features in SQL Server 2008. And who better to guide you through them and explain them but Robert Sheldon.

Concatenating Row Values in Transact-SQL

Anith Sen — 31 July 2008

It is an interesting problem in Transact SQL, for which there are a number of solutions and considerable debate. How do you go about producing a summary result in which a distinguishing column from each row in each particular category is listed in a 'aggregate' column? A simple, and intuitive way of displaying data is surprisingly difficult to achieve. Anith Sen gives a summary of different ways, and offers words of caution over the one you choose.

Investigating SQL Server 2008 Wait Events with XEVENTS

Mario Broodbakker — 24 July 2008

Some reasons for the slow-running of database applications aren't obvious. Occasionally, even the profiler won't tell you enough to remedy a problem, especially when a SQL Statement is being forced to wait. Now, in SQL Server 2008, come XEvents, which allow you to look at those wait events that are slowing your SQL Statements. Mario Broodbakker continues his series about SQL Server Wait Events SQL Server 2008 wait event based performance analysis using XEvents

JSON and other data serialization languages

William Brewer — 18 July 2008

The easiest way to speed up an Ajax application is to take out the 'X' and use JSON rather than XML. Of course, it isn't that simple, as William Brewer explains, but JSON, and YAML, are fascinating solutions to the old problem of transferring complex data between modules, services and applications, nonetheless.

DML Trigger Status Alerts

Randy Volters — 04 July 2008

When databases suddenly stop working, it can be for a number of different reasons. Human error plays a large part, of course, and the DBA needs to know what these various humans are up to. DDL triggers can help alert the DBA to unauthorized tampering with a production system, of course, but DDL triggers can't tell you everything. At some point, you will need to implement your own checks.

How to Track Down Deadlocks Using SQL Server 2005 Profiler

Brad McGehee — 20 June 2008

It is irritating, sometimes alarming, for the user to be confronted by the 'deadlock message' when a deadlock happens. It can be a tiresome business to prevent them from occurring in applications. Fortunately, the profiler can be used to help DBAs identify how deadlocking problems happen, and indicate the best way of minimising the likelihood of their reappearance.