Richard Mitchell and Steven Davidson describe how they used Red Gate's database schema-comparison tool, SQL Compare, to develop the latest version of red-gate.com… Read more
William Brewer investigates an unsung hero in SQL Server, extended properties, and shows how to use them to create self-documenting SQL Server databases.… Read more
Nigel Rivett demonstrates some core techniques for extracting SQL Server data into CSV files, focussing on a stored procedure approach that gives complete control of the format of the extracted data.… Read more
Learn how to get maximum performance out of the dataflow task with an extract from Kirk Haselden's popular book on Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Integration Services.… Read more
String searching and manipulation in SQL Server can be error-prone and tedious...unless you're armed with the techniques described in Robyn's string manipulation workbench...… Read more
Nigel Rivett demonstrates how to execute all SSIS packages in a given folder using either an SSIS control package, a stored procedure or a DOS batch file.… Read more
To celebrate the seventh anniversary of Robyn Page's classic workbench, Phil brings it right up to date. What starts as a gentle introduction to the use of dates in SQL Server ends up with some unusual tricks in creating calendars and calculating Mardi Gras. … Read more
Extensive coverage of the query-time behaviour of SQL Server Full-text search, demonstrating how searches are expanded by the parser before hitting the full-text index.… Read more
How do you keep your skills current? How will you prepare yourself for what you will be doing 5 years from now? In this article, part III of the series, I discuss books and the role they can play in keeping the developer up to date.… Read more
A seemingly never-ending battle in online database forums involves the question of whether or not database application development should involve the use of stored procedures.… Read more