Articles

External Article

Storing and Retrieving the Initialization and Configuration Data for Applications

All developers hit the problem of how and where to store and set their configuration, profile, or initial data. A long time ago, it was generally decided that simple text files containing key/values were best, stored with the application. After all, you are relying on being able to entice busy people to get the permanent settings right for their requirements, folks who are generally not interested in your elegant computer science constructs. Not only that, but the settings must be parsed very quickly and efficiently, otherwise a process that uses the tool will slow to a crawl.

2024-10-04

External Article

Bad Data and Dirty Databases

Many years ago, my wife and I wrote an article for Datamation, a major trade publication at the time, under the title, “Don’t Warehouse Dirty Data!” It’s been referenced quite a few times over the decades but is nowhere to be found using Google these days. The point is, if you have written a report using data, you have no doubt felt the pain of dirty data and it is nothing new.

2024-09-27

Blogs

Learning Database Design and Power BI Performance

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I spend my days working on and managing SQL Server instances—working days at least,...

Free SQL Training: Dive into Databases This December!

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Want to learn SQL and get some real practice this December? Check out the...

Monday Monitor Tips: CIS Compliant

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A new feature added to Redgate Monitor Enterprise automatically. CIS compliance is something many...

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Testing whether TRY_CONVERT is losing precision

By Chrissy321

Hello All, I am using TRY_CONVERT to parse character data into a decimal column....

need help with assigning a value to a variable

By water490

Hi I am trying to assign the value of the  variable using the output...

Merry Christmas 2025

By Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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Question of the Day

The Reindeer Count

How many reindeer does Santa have pulling his sleigh? (according to the famous song) Hint, the answers are not base 10.

See possible answers