It’s sometimes too easy to close SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) without saving your work. It’s also easy to get rid of tabs and scripts that you later wish you had back. SQL Prompt can help with both these problems. Take a look at the Options for SQL Prompt and you’ll find a set of Read more
One of the poor practices that I see so many people doing in code is using SELECT *. This is poor practice because it takes more time to complete for clients, it’s an unnecessary use of resources on the client, server and network, and it can fill the buffer cache with rarely-used data. For example, Read more
In Part 2 of his series, Alex Yates shows how to use a combination of post-deployment scripts to handle cases where a code object exists in multiple production instances, but in different states. Read more
Working in a large database can be difficult at times. While many of us might learn the meanings and definitions of most objects, it’s easy to forget the exact ways in which some objects work, or what the behavior is in certain calls. This is one place where having tools that assist you like SQL Read more
A good DBA will automate repetitive tasks, but sometimes you need to troubleshoot a problem ‘live’, with people standing over you, and the pressure on. This is something that can’t be automated. SQL Prompt snippets have helped me out in this sort of situation numerous times. Built-in SSMS query shortcuts SSMS provides a few shortcuts Read more
Alex Yates shows how to set up automated processes for SQL Server database source control, build and continuous integration using Redgate SQL Toolbelt, Subversion, and Jenkins Read more
To get the best results, you need to provide SQL Data Generator with some hints on how the data ought to look. Phil Factor nudges it towards realistic text data. Read more
How to monitor any SQL job that runs on the SQL Server Agent so that you're alerted quickly if SQL Agent goes offline, or if a job fails, or fails to start, or is running slow. Read more