With SQL Server 2019 on the way, it’s time to begin learning about all the new features. In this article, Dennes Torres demonstrates how to use the new SHORTEST_PATH function that is part of the Graph Database feature. … Read more
Kathi Kellenberger continues her series on SSRS. In this article you learn how to use parameters that let your report users control how the reports are filtered.… Read more
Attributes in Unity allow you to add features like strings and menu items to objects. In this article, Lance Talbert shows you how to add attributes that can then be tested while in editing mode. … Read more
Data sources and datasets are critical components of an SSRS report, but many people new to SSRS struggle to understand them. In this article, Kathi Kellenberger shows you how to create these components and explains when they should be shared vs. embedded. … Read more
Importing data from one system to another is a common task for database professionals. It’s possible to spend a lot of time figuring out what the schema should be for the target table. In this article, Rodney Landrum demonstrates an interesting solution to automatically figure out the data types and un-nest delimited data.… Read more
The JSON documents that are part of Cosmos DB document collections can be complex with arrays and nesting. In this article, Adam Aspin shows you how to query them with SQL.… Read more
Testing is a challenging yet crucial part of software development, but how do you know that a test is telling you what you need to know? In this article, Michael Sorens explores the concept of phantom tests that return correct results but don’t actually prove anything.… Read more
There are many options today when it comes to developing applications. In this article, Julio Sampaio demonstrates how to create an application built on top of Angular with an ASP.NET API as the the back-end process.… Read more
Index maintenance can be a real headache for database administrators as tables grow larger and maintenance windows shrink. In this article, Greg Larsen demonstrates resumable index operations available with SQL Server 2017 and 2019. This feature helps DBAs work around those small maintenance windows by allowing certain index operations to be paused and restarted again later.… Read more
New releases of SQL Server arrive at a quick pace, and it's difficult to keep up with the many features introduced in each version. In this article, Phil Factor reviews a feature you may have missed, inline indexes. He covers the syntax and the many ways they can be used and then performs some performance tests to see if they can make a difference with table variables.… Read more
Creating a quick dashboard with a few reports may be the beginning of a BI solution, but unless time is spent on the underlying model, it won't be adaptable enough to grow. In this article by Gogula Aryalingam, you'll see how the advice of a mentor helped a newbie understand how to create a flexible model that will lead to a valuable BI solution. … Read more
In today’s world, some people do not need computers because they can do everything on their smartphones. Playing games is no different and is one of the most popular uses for the mobile devices (who makes phone calls, anymore?). In this article, Lance Talbert shows you how to create a game that will run on an Android device.… Read more
Filling out online forms is often tedious, but it's even more frustrating when the input is not checked until you click Submit. In this article, Dino Esposito shows how to create smart forms that validate the input as it's being entered.… Read more
Getting security right is always necessary but often not easy. In this article, Joydip Kanjilal describes policy-based authorization in ASP.NET Core used to create a reusable authorization model and simplify securing your applications.… Read more
GraphQL is an efficient and flexible query language. In this article, Julio Sampaio explains how to use GraphQL and walks you through building a simple application.… Read more
Validating the user input of a web form is important for security and data quality. In this article, Dino Esposito explains how to validate a form and add undo capability with Bootstrap 4.… Read more
Creating forms is one of the most basic skills for a web developer. It’s easy to, do but achieving the best user experience takes some work. In this article, Dino Esposito demonstrates how to improve the usability and functionality of web forms.… Read more
Bootstrap provides an easy way to add modal dialogs to web pages. Dino Esposito explains how to create modal dialogs with Bootstrap and describes the improvements available with Bootstrap 4. … Read more
Maintaining database security can be a complex task. In this post, Louis Davidson describes a method that can be used to maintain separate security for multiple environments (e.g., production and development) without changes to the database itself. … Read more
Bootstrap 4 has many features to make your life easier if you are a web developer. In this article, Dino Esposito explains the Bootstrap 4 media object which can dramatically decrease your use of inline CSS.… Read more
