Mining Model Viewers - SQL School Video
In this video MVP Brian Knight explains how you can use the model viewers to see how the data mining task will process your data.
All the Aggregates you crave with Grouping Sets in SQL Server 2008
As reporting requirements increase, it seems that aggregate functionalities have thankfully risen to the occasion concurrently. To maintain its competitive edge as Staples Canada’s best vendor, BaldGorilla, where I’m currently consulting, has been able...
Creating packages in code - OLE-DB Source to Raw File Destination
This code sample programmatically creates a package with an OLE-DB Source and a Raw File Destination, and the resulting package exports data from SQL Server to a raw file. The finished package just has the one Data Flow Task shown below.
Where is the Surface Area Configuration tool in SQL Server 2008
I just installed a new instance of SQL Server 2008 and I can't find the Surface Area Configuration tool that I used to use in SQL Server 2005. How can I manage the Database Engine features in SQL Server 2008?
Guest editorial: Reasons to be Cheerful
The furore surrounding the recent release of MySQL 5.1 makes Tony Davis wonder if more than a few web 2.0 developers might be peering over the SQL Server Express fence and wondering if the grass doesn't look slightly greener over here.
SQL Function : Find ‘X’ Business Days in the Future
Many of us deal in date calculations and separating business days from calendar days is always a challenge. New author J Gravelle brings us a new article that talks about this subject as a way of ensuring SLAs are met.
Gaining the benefits of DMVs for SQL Server
Dynamic management views help monitor SQL Server health and tune performance. Learn how to use DMVs to retrieve critical data on the internal workings of SQL Server.
Ruthless Focus - A Different Type of Time Management Philosophy
If you could list all the reasons I work, the number one reason would be to support my family. My definition of support includes spending an appropriate amount of time with family, not just working to support it. I suspect most of you would agree with that as a goal.
SQL Server Version
I'm continually trying to track down what service packs are installed on various SQL Servers I support. I can never find the right support page on Microsoft's site. So here's an article with all the SQL Server version information I can track down. If you know of any older versions or can help me fill out any missing data, please post in the comments and I'll update the article.
Guest Editorial: Managing their expectations
In which Phil Factor's attention wanders whilst reading some software product announcements and imagines what would have happened if the current IT Bloggers had been in charge of the White Star Line at the time of RMS Titanic.
Blogs
2025 Wrapped for Steve
By Steve Jones
I’ve often done some analysis of my year in different ways. Last year I...
The Book of Redgate: Spread across the world
By Steve Jones
This was Redgate in 2010, spread across the globe. First the EU/US Here’s Asia...
Merry Christmas
By John
Today is Christmas and while I do not expect anybody to actual be reading...
Forums
SQL Server 2019 - Agent job PowerShell step issue
I have a couple of SQL Agent job steps which run PowerShell commands of...
Database security permissions save script
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Database security permissions save script
Database backup job steps
I have a SQL Agent job for backing up a set of Analysis Services...
Question of the Day
The Large Encoded Value
I want to use the new BASE64_ENCODE() function in SQL Server 2025, but return a string that isn't large type. What is the longest varbinary string I can pass in and still get a varchar(8000) returned?
See possible answers