The End of Summer
It's the first week of September, but Steve sees it as the end of summer. It's a time to catch up on things.
How to avoid nested REPLACE functions with TRANSLATE in SQL Server
This guide covers how TRANSLATE() works, how it compares to REPLACE(), and where it falls short compared to other SQL dialects like PostgreSQL and Oracle.
Importing Excel files into SQL Server using DuckDB and Python
Learn to use DuckDB to read data from Excel and then send it to SQL Server with Python and Pandas.
Measuring Productivity
Today Steve wonders if the data professionals out there measure themselves on the job.
Database Animations: The Difference Between Row Compression and Page Compression
What's the difference between SQL Server's row compression and page compression, and when does each one make sense?
How Can SQL Server Detect Application Errors When Developers Can’t?
How a simple Extended Events session can turn you from a silent guardian to a developer’s best ally. There is an old, undeniable paradox in the life of a Database Administrator: If you do your job perfectly, nobody remembers you exist, only when you resolve problems. When queries are fast, backups are pristine, and the […]
Preserving Data
Today Steve has a few comments on backups and your ability to get to a restore in the event of an issue with your provider.
Configure SSMS Dark Mode Step By Step
You’re using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and would like to use Dark Mode. You’ve looked at the configuration options and don’t see a way to configure it.
When the Token Meter is Zero
DBAKevlar disccusses the new product from Perplexity and Nvidia that just shipped on August 25th. If you haven’t been paying attention its goal is businesses whose entire generative AI solution has been what the AI bubble is betting on.
Blogs
Au Revoir for now
By Steve Jones
No, I’m not quitting or retiring. Just going on vacation, but I leave tonight...
The SUM of Nothing: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I caught this interesting item over on Pinal Dave’s blog: Eleven Interview Questions that...
Forums
Building a SQL Server Fleet Audit That Leadership Actually Reads
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Building a SQL Server Fleet...
Smart AI Agents and Data Security
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Smart AI Agents and Data...
RegEx Functions IV
Comments posted to this topic are about the item RegEx Functions IV
Question of the Day
RegEx Functions IV
I have this data in a table in a SQL Server 2025 database:
EmailAddressID EmailAddress 7 [email protected] 8 [email protected]If I run this query, which row(s) are returned?
SELECT top 10 * FROM person.EmailAddress WHERE REGEXP_LIKE(EmailAddress, '^D', 'i') AND BusinessEntityID IN (7,8)See possible answers