Avoid use of the MONEY and SMALLMONEY datatypes (BP022)

Use of the MONEY and SMALLMONEY datatypes can lead to unintentional loss of precision, due to rounding errors, during calculations. It is generally far better to use the DECIMAL, a.k.a. NUMERIC, type. Read more

A strategy for implementing database source control

Much has been written on the strategic benefits of having a database under source control though many articles are clear on “why” but conspicuously vague on “how”. Dave Poole tries to fill in some of the gaps. Read more

Custom Metrics for Detecting Problems with Ad-hoc Queries

Overuse of ad-hoc queries by applications is a common source of SQL Server performance problems. The symptoms include high CPU and memory pressure. Phil Factor offers a simple custom metric to monitor the percentage of ad-hoc queries being executed on a database, and shows how SQL Monitor can detect when the problem is happening, and show you the queries that are affecting the server. Read more

Effective Database Testing with SQL Test and SQL Cover

Julia Hayward describes the basics of how SQL Test’s code coverage can help uncover the darker, untested paths in your database code. Read more

Approaches to masking email addresses

Chris Unwin explains the basic approaches to anonymizing email addresses, and shows how Data Masker can generate realistic email addresses, based on faked names, and even retain the correct distribution of email providers. Read more

Using SQL Monitor to Detect Problems on Databases that use Snapshot-based Transaction Isolation

Use of the read committed snapshot isolation level is often an effective way to alleviate blocking problems in SQL Server, without needing to rewrite the application. However, it can sometimes lead to tempdb contention. This article offers a small-scale solution (not suitable for use on large tables) to detect cases when tempdb contention is related to use of RCSI. Read more

When to use the SELECT…INTO statement (PE003)

SELECT…INTO is a useful shortcut for development work, especially for creating temporary tables. However, it no longer has a clear performance advantage and should be avoided in production code. It is better to use a CREATE TABLE statement, where you can specify constraints and datatypes in advance, making it less likely that inconsistencies will sneak into the data. Read more

Beyond Formatting: Improving SQL Code using SQL Prompt Actions

How to qualify object names, standardize the use of aliases, and make other instant changes that improve the quality and performance of your SQL code. Read more

Monitoring and Troubleshooting Deadlocks with Redgate Monitor

This article explains what SQL Server deadlocks are, why they occur, why they require immediate investigation, and the diagnostic data required to troubleshoot them. It then demonstrates an "Update Order" deadlock condition and shows how to find the cause quickly, in Redgate Monitor, using the Extended Events deadlock graph provided by the deadlock alert. Read more

Driving up database coding standards using SQL Prompt

A strategic view of how a development team can use SQL Prompt to establish and share coding standards, through code analysis rules, formatting styles and code snippets. Read more

Redgate Test Data Manager

Redgate Flyway

Redgate Monitor

Overview

Protect

Automate

Monitor

Product articles