A Practical Guide to Refactoring Production Databases with Redgate Data Modeler

Refactoring a production database is rarely just a schema cleanup exercise. Once a system is live, even sensible improvements can have consequences for existing data and for the applications, reports, and integrations that depend on the current design. This article shows how Redgate Data Modeler can help teams redesign more safely by making those changes visible, documented, and easier to plan. Read more

The SQL Server database development cycle assisted by SQL Toolbelt Essentials/

The Essential Tools for Standardizing SQL Server Database Development

To achieve rapid delivery of database functionality, database development must both support craftsmanship and incorporate the ideas of standardization and automation that allow for 'mass production'. This article explains how to achieve this 'balance' using the specialist database development tools in SQL Toolbelt Essentials. These tools allow database experts to work quickly and accurately, with structured and repeatable processes to ensure all required checks and coding standards are applied before delivery. Read more

SQL Prompt Safety Net Features for SSMS: Tab Coloring

The Tab Coloring component of SQL Prompt’s SSMS Tab management could save you from accidentally doing something apocalyptic on a production server, ever again. Read more

Searching for Objects in SQL Server Databases

How to get the most out of SQL Search, a free database search tool for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Visual Studio that will locate database objects based on their names, columns, or text. Read more

Testing SQL Server Databases Using SQL Test

During database development, as well as writing SQL, you must also write the tests that prove your SQL code meets all the requirements. The article will help you get started with database testing for your SQL Server databases, by creating and running unit tests against them, as well as static code analysis tests. Read more

Finding Dependencies in SQL Server Databases using SQL Dependency Tracker

Before you alter a database object, you need to understand what other objects will be affected. This article shows how to generate a simple dependency diagram that reveals both those objects that reference the target object, and those referenced by it, and includes foreign key references, column references and all the other details you need. Read more

Documenting a SQL Server Data Catalog in HTML and Git Markdown

Dave Poole explains the need for high quality database documentation and then demonstrates how to document the SQL Server database for a data catalog, in both HTML and Git Markdown, using SQL Doc, SQL Data Catalog, PowerShell, and a few helper scripts to ensure consistency and correctness. Read more

Gathering SQL Server Performance Counters for Multiple Servers

SQL Multi Script can easily be persuaded to run queries at the server level rather than the database level. It is also able to combine results from many databases even if the results aren't identical but have some different columns. Phil Factor demonstrates how this works, when collecting a set of performance counters from all databases on a distribution list of servers. Read more

Unboxing SQL Toolbelt Essentials: What is SQL Multi Script for?

SQL Multi Script does one thing and does it well: it will run whatever script or scripts you select, on a list of databases, and collate all the results neatly. However, it has a surprising number of uses. Phil Factor explains how it works and then uses it to search 100 databases, for occurrences of a string, in about 7 seconds. Read more