Encrypting SQL Server: Using an Encryption Hierarchy to Protect Column Data

SQL Server Encryption is an essential part of what is required for protecting data. Column-level encryption can be a very...

13 December 2016 15 min read

Zafar Ali

Invisible Columns In Oracle Database 12C

In Oracle Database 12c, you can set a column in table as invisible either during CREATE TABLE or modifying existing...

12 December 2016 5 min read

Oracle

Aman Sharma in Oracle

Oracle Parent and Child Cursors: The Library Cache Sharing Model, Soft Parse Deep Dive, and Cursor Version Count Diagnostics

Oracle parent and child cursors explained - how the library cache shares SQL execution plans across identical statements while maintaining...

12 December 2016 11 min read

T-SQL Programming

Phil Factor in T-SQL Programming

Lists With, or Without, Ranges in both T-SQL and PowerShell

Whether you are working in a procedural language like PowerShell or in T-SQL, there is something slightly bothersome about having...

01 December 2016 19 min read

BI

Rahul Gupta in BI

Reconciling Data Across Systems Using a Reconciliation Hub

In many enterprises, where there are a number of separate systems engaged in processing data, there arises the daunting task...

01 December 2016 13 min read

Anju Garg

Re-registering Databases In A Cluster With srvctl: Problems and Solutions

Recently I wanted to create a policy managed database in my 12.1.0.2 flex cluster setup, but free servers are not...

30 November 2016 8 min read

Database Administration

Enrico van de Laar in Database Administration

Determining What Happens When You Force an Execution Plan via the Query Store

When you force a query plan via the Query Store, you will need to track what happens: Sometimes the request...

29 November 2016 12 min read

Database Administration

Robert Sheldon in Database Administration

Using Power BI Desktop to Visualize SQL Server Metadata

You can easily use PowerBI Desktop to show graphically how your database is growing, which tables are taking the most...

16 November 2016 18 min read

Database DevOps

Grant Fritchey in Database DevOps

SQL Server Database Provisioning

Database provisioning for development work isn't always easy. The better that development teams meet business demands for rapid delivery and...

04 November 2016 8 min read

T-SQL Programming

Phil Factor in T-SQL Programming

PowerShell and SQLite: Query, Transfer Data, and Store Results

Learn how to use SQLite with PowerShell and SQL Server: query SQLite databases via ADO.NET, transfer results to SQL Server...

03 November 2016 16 min read

T-SQL Programming

Joe Celko in T-SQL Programming

Triggers: Threat or Menace?

Triggers are generally over-used in SQL Server. They are only rarely necessary, can cause performance issues, and are tricky to...

27 October 2016 13 min read

BI

Robert Sheldon in BI

Importing Excel Data into Power BI Desktop

In any commercial setting, Excel Spreadsheets remain the preferred way of collecting and analysing data, and it makes sense that...

26 October 2016 13 min read

Database Administration

Robert Sheldon in Database Administration

Retrieving SQL Server Query Execution Plans

Execution plans explain all you need to know about query performance, and how to fine-tune. Sure, you can see them...

18 October 2016 26 min read

David Njoku

JSON For Absolute Beginners: Part 5 – Generating JSON in Oracle

In this fifth article in our series on JSON and the Oracle database we’ll be pulling the curtains back on...

11 October 2016 7 min read

Database Administration

Phil Factor in Database Administration

Exporting SQL Server Query Results and Configuration as YAML with PowerShell and SMO

Exporting SQL Server query results and configuration data as YAML using PowerShell and SQL Server Management Objects (SMO). Handling XML...

06 October 2016 21 min read

T-SQL Programming

Grant Fritchey in T-SQL Programming

Who the Devil Wrote This SQL Code?

The way that you format T-SQL code can affect the productivity of the people who have to subsequently maintain your...

05 October 2016 12 min read

T-SQL Programming

Edward Elliott in T-SQL Programming

Which Edition of SQL Server is Best for Development Work?

You might think, as a developer, that nothing but the best is good enough as a development database. You might...

04 October 2016 15 min read

Jonathan Lewis

Hacking Indexes

Indexes are expensive to maintain so we want to get the greatest benefit we can from them and make sure...

03 October 2016 14 min read

David Njoku

JSON For Absolute Beginners: Part 4 – Retrieving JSON in Oracle

There’s a possibility you’ve parachuted into this series on JSON and Oracle at this point. If you are already familiar...

03 October 2016 11 min read

Anju Garg

Migrate Oracle Database To ASM Using ASMCMD

Introduction Oracle Database 10g Release 1 introduced Automatic Storage Management (ASM), a new framework for managing Oracle database files. ASM...

29 September 2016 9 min read