So, like, what is a byte?
A friend of mine in the filmmaking business, who is exceedingly bright but has never worked with SQL Server before, was reading through the first… Read More »So, like, what is a byte?
Normalization, The Sequel
If there’s one thing that SQL Server is really good at, it’s relationships. After all, a relational database management system without the relationships is nothing… Read More »Normalization, The Sequel
A First Look At Normalization
Phew! There’s a lot to take in with data types, collation, precision, scale, length, and Unicode, and we’re just getting warmed up. This week’s post is over 2,000 words long!
Over the last three weeks, we’ve gone fairly deep into data types, and now we are going to see how they come into play with normalization.
If we go back to the first post in this series, I mentioned normalization, and then apparently I forgot about it in the next two posts. What you didn’t see is that I was talking about it all along.
Fundamentals of Data Types
Last week, we discussed storing text in a database. This week we will dive deeper into data types. When storing data in our database, we… Read More »Fundamentals of Data Types
Data Types and Collation
Last week we started with a very simple definition of a database: a discrete set of information, with a specific structure and order to it.… Read More »Data Types and Collation
What is a Database?
What is Microsoft SQL Server? To answer that, we have to ask what a relational database management server (RDBMS) is. To answer that, we have… Read More »What is a Database?
Max Server Memory and SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 1
(This post was last updated on 1 August 2022.) Everything changed for SQL Server Standard Edition on 16 November 2016, and how memory limits work.… Read More »Max Server Memory and SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 1
SQL Modernization and Cloud Migration Talk in Calgary
On 28 February 2017, I will be speaking at Microsoft Calgary as part of a roadshow for AMTRA Solutions. Lunch will be provided. You can… Read More »SQL Modernization and Cloud Migration Talk in Calgary
Testing for Object Existence: CREATE OR ALTER
For the longest time, T-SQL writers have had to wrestle with ways of testing for an object’s existence so that it can either be dropped… Read More »Testing for Object Existence: CREATE OR ALTER
Testing for Object Existence: DROP … IF EXISTS
For the longest time, T-SQL writers have had to wrestle with ways of testing for an object’s existence so that it can either be dropped… Read More »Testing for Object Existence: DROP … IF EXISTS
Configuration Manager Shortcut on Windows 10 and Server 2016
(Last updated 2020-01-07) This is more for my own reference than anything. On newer versions of Windows desktop and Windows Server, we may find that… Read More »Configuration Manager Shortcut on Windows 10 and Server 2016
Temporal Tables and Hidden Period Columns
In my November 2015 post, An Introduction to Temporal Tables in SQL Server 2016 using a DeLorean, I wrote: The HIDDEN property is optional and… Read More »Temporal Tables and Hidden Period Columns
My surname is NULL
Last Wednesday on Twitter, Abayomi Obawomiye (@SQLAmerica) wrote: https://twitter.com/SQLAmerica/status/819252286274695168 I just met someone with the last name NULL today. I really want to ask if… Read More »My surname is NULL
Temporal Tables and History Retention
I’m a huge fan of Temporal Tables in SQL Server 2016. I first wrote about them, in a four-part series in November 2015, before SQL… Read More »Temporal Tables and History Retention
Data Platform MVP Award
I am pleased to announce that I was awarded the Data Platform MVP Award by Microsoft on 1 January 2017. Nothing changes with my customers.… Read More »Data Platform MVP Award