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Installing SQL Backup on Multiple Servers using SQL Multi Script

by Jason Cook | 06 June 2008 |

3 comments |

Jason Cook shows you how you can use SQL Multi Script to install or upgrade your SQL Backup server components across the network in one go, rather than installing the components manually for each server. Read more...

A Prompt Use for XSLT

by John Spears | 02 June 2008 |

1 comment |

John Spears, of the SQL Prompt team at Red-Gate, Shows us how easy it is to use XSLT to transform an XML file such as the SQL Prompt snippets, to print it out, or share snippets across a development team. Read more...

SSIS Package Componentization

by David Leibowitz | 29 April 2008 |

10 comments |

In this article, David Leibowitz describes methods for scalable SQL Server 2005 Integration Services package creation. If you’re no stranger to OOP, then the methods described will fit nicely in your enterprise ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) toolkit. Read more...

Using SQL Data Generator with your Unit Tests

by Ben Hall | 15 April 2008 |

Ben Hall, one of the team who wrote SQL Data Generator, has gone on to develop ways of using it to provide test data for a wide variety of Unit Testing requirements. Whether you use NUnit, XUnit, MbUnit or MSTest, you can now lay your hands on as much data as you need. Read more...

Towards a Better Beta

by David Connell | 31 March 2008 |

5 comments |

David Connell describes how the team that developed Red-Gate's SQL Data Generator tool came to realise that database developers and DBAs already knew what they wanted for their test data. The team wanted to use the Beta version of the program to get a clear message... Read more...

The Database From Hell

by Arthur Fuller | 19 February 2008 |

18 comments |

In which Arthur Fuller comes to the aid of a friend who is doing his best to administer The Database From Hell, and manages to set up a reasonable test database with which to solve some of the headaches that only a 65 million row, 600 column, table can cause. Read more...

SQLTAC A workhorse for database chores

by William Brewer | 03 February 2008 |

2 comments |

In which William Brewer, our software reviewer, goes through the spectrum of emotions whilst using SQLTAC until deciding that, quirks and all, it is very useful. He ends up feeling that the world of Software Tools will be enriched by this maverick offering, one... Read more...

Audit Crosschecks

by William Brewer | 24 January 2008 |

In this short article, the second of a 2-part series, William suggests a solution, using SQL Data Compare 6.1, for providing an independent cross-check of database transactions to determine whether they have been retrospectively altered. Read more...

SQL Data Generator: A Case Study

by Steven Sanderson | 07 January 2008 |

3 comments |

Steve Sanderson wonders why he no longer fliches at the thought of the laborious task of stocking his test databases with lashings of convincing test data. Its because he's managed to get a preview copy of the Beta SQL Data Generator. Read more...

The SQLCMD workbench

by Robyn Page and Phil Factor | 07 January 2008 |

21 comments |

Robyn and Phil feel strongly that there are two striking features in SSMS that extends its usefulness dramatically. The first is the Template, and the second is the powerful functionality hidden by those strange words 'SQLCMD Mode'. Here they try to demonstrate how... Read more...

SQL Refactor and the Table Splitting Headache

by András Belokosztolszki | 31 August 2007 |

3 comments |

SQL Refactor is well-known as a way of formatting, and beautifying, SQL Code from within SSMS, but few users seem to be aware of the Table-Splitting wizard. This wizard is explained by another, András Belokosztolszki. Read more...

Discovering Security Uses for SQL Compare

by András Belokosztolszki | 06 August 2007 |

2 comments |

Much of the security of SQL Server is implemented as part of the database schema. This provides some bonus uses for SQL Compare. Andras, the architect of SQL Compare v 4, 5, and 6, tells how. Read more...

Custom reports in Management Studio, using the Performance Dashboard

by Greg Larsen | 18 July 2007 |

27 comments |

If you are using SSMS and SQL Server 2005 sp2 You've probably tried out the database reports that are available in the Performance Dashboard, and decided how useful they are, but did you know that you can create your own dashboard reports? Read more...

Using SQL Backup

by William Brewer | 20 June 2007 |

10 comments |

William Brewer describes the role of SQL Backup in an enterprise SQL Server maintenance plan. Read more...

The Simple-Talk SQL Prettifier

by Phil Factor | 22 May 2007 |

26 comments |

Tired of struggling through dull, monchrome SQL, C# and VB code in website blogs and forums? Then check out the all-new Simple-Talk code prettifier! Read more...

Database Documentation Using SQL Doc

by Robert Chipperfield | 26 January 2007 |

3 comments |

Robert Chipperfield is a member of the development team at Red Gate Software. In this article he describes the key features of Red Gate's new database documentation tool, SQL Doc, and provides insight into the development process and some of the design philosophies... Read more...

The Ultimate Excuse Database

by Phil Factor | 15 January 2007 |

3 comments |

Is your IT project in trouble? Do you need to create a smokescreen so that no-one can pin the blame on you? No problem! Marvel at Phil Factor's versatile use of T-SQL functions in creating the "ultimate excuse database" and then start generating your excuses... Read more...

A Database Development Model Using SQL Compare

by Richard Mitchell | 19 December 2006 |

3 comments |

Richard Mitchell and Steven Davidson describe how they used Red Gate's database schema-comparison tool, SQL Compare, to develop the latest version of red-gate.com Read more...

Towards the Self-Documenting SQL Server Database

by William Brewer | 01 December 2006 |

7 comments |

William Brewer investigates an unsung hero in SQL Server, extended properties, and shows how to use them to create self-documenting SQL Server databases. Read more...

Faster Database Development with SQL Refactor

by András Belokosztolszki | 07 November 2006 |

20 comments |

Insights into SQL Refactor, a groundbreaking refactoring tool for SQL Server databases, from its architect and lead developer, András Belokosztolszki. Read more...

SQL Bundle 5: the developer's perspective

by Tony Davis | 17 May 2006 |

2 comments |

Last month saw the release of the SQL Bundle 5. Here, some key members of the Red Gate development team offer insight into some of the major new features, and the technical challenges they faced in implementing them. Read more...

SQL database control and deployment

by Default Administrator | 16 August 2005 |

SQL Bundle Developer Edition helps building company customize installation and upgrades of key SQL databases. Read more...

Attack of the predatory sales force

by Simon Galbraith | 15 July 2005 |

Low-cost software is almost always a better solution, but if you must purchase the high-cost stuff, don’t get caught with blood in the water. Read more...

Trends in the SQL Server market

by Simon Galbraith | 17 May 2005 |

9 comments |

Brad McGehee interviews Red Gate’s marketing director about his thoughts and views on major trends in the SQL Server market. Read more...

Return on investment

by Phil Basham | 13 April 2004 |

2 comments |

How to justify the purchase of a new software development tool. You might believe the benefits are obvious, but others can easily view such a purchase as little short of indulgence. Read more...

Take emotion out of software purchasing decisions

by Simon Galbraith | 13 October 2003 | Not rated yet

Do you find indecision each time a purchase decision needs to be made, a requirements analysis can help you provide your boss with information to choose the right software development product. Read more...

An automated solution for migrating database structures

by Simon Galbraith | 11 April 2003 |

Migrating database changes from the development database to the testing, staging, and live databases poses plenty of challenges. Learn why using an automated tool is the best way to deal with these challenges. Read more...