Robert Sheldon

Robert is a freelance technology writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He’s worked as a technical consultant and has written hundreds of articles about technology for both print and online publications, with topics ranging from predictive analytics to 5D storage to the dark web. He’s also contributed to over a dozen books on technology, developed courseware for Microsoft’s training program, and served as a developmental editor on Microsoft certification exams. When not writing about technology, he’s working on a novel or venturing out into the spectacular Northwest woods.

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01 January 2015
01 January 2015

Questions About Pivoting Data in SQL Server You Were Too Shy to Ask

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Of all the basic SQL operations, the pivot seems to cause the most problems. We can tell from the way that old articles on Simple-Talk on the topic continue to be read. It turns out that there are several questions that come to mind while learning about pivoting, but which are seldom asked on forums. Once more, Robert Sheldon attempts to answer these unspoken questions.… Read more
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04 December 2014
04 December 2014

Questions About T-SQL Transaction Isolation Levels You Were Too Shy to Ask

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Every time you access a relational database to make a query, you have an important decision to make: What is the appropriate isolation level for your query? If you get this wrong, the consequences can be serious. Deadlocks, Dirty reads, Non-repeatable reads, or poor performance. We're in luck, because Robert Sheldon once more answers those questions that are awkward to ask in public.… Read more
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19 November 2014
19 November 2014

Data as a Service: The Next "As a Service" Wave?

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There was a time that data seemed part of the application that maintained and used it. Now, there is increasing demand to deliver data through platform-agnostic open-standard APIs so it can be consumed in a variety of ways, whether refined, aggregated, or combined with additional information. Are we heading towards a shared understanding of applications as data-providers, feeding other services such as BI, or even in the right circumstances, publishing it?… Read more
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05 November 2014
05 November 2014

Questions About Using TSQL to Import Excel Data You Were Too Shy to Ask

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It is easy to import Excel data into database tables via TSQL, using OLEDB, either by the OPENROWSET function or linking to the spreadsheet as a server. The problem is that there are certain things that aren't obvious that you need to know about, and you feel awkward about asking such simple questions. … Read more
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06 October 2014
06 October 2014

Questions about Primary and Foreign Keys You Were Too Shy to Ask

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It is strange that one can ask simple questions about extended events or Hekaton at professional events and conferences without feeling embarrassed, yet nobody likes to ask vital questions about SQL Server primary keys and foreign keys. Once more, Rob Sheldon is 'drawn to one side' to answer those questions about keys that one is too shy to ask.… Read more
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23 September 2014
23 September 2014

Deleting Files in the Cloud

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The public perception is that, when something is deleted, it no longer exists. IT in general prefers the fuzzier idea of the trashcan, where the deleted compromising documents can blow around a digital landfill site for years. The Cloud takes this further, and so the data you serve up to the cloud can be stored out there indefinitely, no matter how hard to try to delete it. Rob Sheldon investigates, and finds the cloud a worryingly public place.… Read more
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11 September 2014
11 September 2014

Importing Excel Data into SQL Server Via SSIS: Questions You Were Too Shy to Ask

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The job of retrieving data from Excel, and importing it into SQL Server hasn't the same appeal or glamour as, for example, performing heroics with ill-performing queries. This could be why one hesitates before asking questions about how to do it. Rob Sheldon calms your private doubts and fears by answering those embarrassing questions.… Read more
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22 April 2014
22 April 2014

SQL Server XML Questions You Were Too Shy To Ask

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Sometimes, XML seems a bewildering convention that offers solutions to problems that the average database user doesn't have. To make things worse, XML experts generally lack the wherewithal to provide simple answers to even the simplest questions. Rob Sheldon, in contrast, can answer even those questions we somehow feel silly asking in public, and think twice about doing so.… Read more
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25 March 2014
25 March 2014

14 SQL Server Indexing Questions You Were Too Shy To Ask

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One of the first things one needs to understand well about SQL Server is indexes, but somehow many of the basic questions don't often get asked or answered much on forums. Rob Sheldon answers some of these shy-making questions about SQL Server Indexes and indexing: the ones we somehow feel silly asking in public, and think twice about doing so.… Read more
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25 February 2014
25 February 2014

Seven SQL Server Under-Used Utilities

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There are more than ten useful command-line applications that are either associated with, or are distributed with, SQL Server. Some, like BCP are used often, whereas others like LogDumper, almost never. However, they all have their uses and several become important as part of script-based automation of tasks. It is definitely worth knowing what is lurking in your tools\binn directory.… Read more
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02 January 2014
02 January 2014

The SQL Server Sqliosim Utility

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The sqliosim utility is provided with SQL Server to test the I/O stability and 'correctness' of a server. It doesn't measure performance but simulates the read, write, checkpoint, backup, sort, and read-ahead activities of a typical SQL Server instance under load. It is generally used before installing SQL Server in order to ensure that new hardware can handle your expected loads. Bob Sheldon explains.… Read more
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