PowerShell – Backup SQL Server System Databases

I have been lately writing on powershell and didn’t know there are many more scenarios that can be enabled. I was traveling for a consulting assignment over the weekend for a customer location. Though this exercise was around performance tuning their systems, it was amazing to see that they had some of the basics not done either. In this blog we will be discussing about how to backup SQL Server System Databases.

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SQL SERVER – Change Color for System Object Name in Text Editor (SSMS 2016)

You might have seen my earlier posts about SQL Server 2016 management studio. There are a lot of changes which have happened in SSMS area. One of such change which I heard is that SSMS now uses Visual Studio 2015 shell. I am a sort of guy who likes some of the settings to be as they were when I worked with good old SQL 2000 days too. I like the color coding used for ages since I first worked with SQL Server using Enterprise Manager. Here is an example where I personally felt the old style is far more productive than the new default. Let us see how we can change color for the system object name in the text editor.

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SQL SERVER – Optimizing Tabular Models for Self-Service Reporting: Summarize By – Notes from the Field #123

[Note from Pinal]: This is a new episode of Notes from the Field series. I personally have no problem accepting that I do not know many topics. One of the such topic is Tabular Models. I always wanted to learn more and I finally got the opportunity to learn more.

In this episode of the Notes from the Field series I asked SQL Expert Bill Anton a very crucial question – How can we optimize Tabular Models for self service reporting with the help of Summarize By ? Bill was very kind to answer the questions and provides plenty of information about how a novice developer can work with Tabular Models.

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SQL SERVER – Skip “Save Changes to the Following Items?” Prompt in Management Studio (SSMS 2016)

As a DBA/Developer, you must have seen below screen lot of times and most of the time you must have hit No. I know it is one of those moments when you want to leave from work and those annoying popup just stops you for that couple of seconds that you don’t want to waste. In reality, I inadvertently press the space bar and it asks for a location to save. Let us see an interesting blog post about SSMS 2016.

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SQL SERVER 2016 – Scroll Bar Enhancement in Management Studio (SSMS 2016)

While I am getting ready to play with SQL Server 2016, I am finding fresh look and feel for SQL Server Management Studio. I heard that its uses latest version of visual studio shell. There are many enhancements which I am seeing in SSMS 2016 and today I would talk about Scroll Bar settings. I am sure you are going to miss some of them considering all these are hidden mostly in some options deep within. Be assured for many more blogs on these topics in future too.

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Hey DBAs – What Are You Assuming/Missing Today? – Notes from the Field #122

[Note from Pinal]: This is a 122nd episode of Notes from the Field series. This story about Shepherd DBA, Teacher and Mentor. If you know Mike Walsh, he is an amazing person to meet and know. He is a technical expert, but along with that he is a true life coach. I am fortunate to be his friend. Every single time I meet him, I learn something as a human. In this episode of “Hey DBAs” Mike explains one of the most important things any DBAs should learn, which is to say “I Don’t Know”.

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SQL SERVER – Computed Column and Conditions with Case Statement

When I do not find anything on my blog, I write a blog post about it, so next time I do not have to recreate the scripts from the beginning. Just another day, I was doing performance tuning for an organization, I had to create a computed column with CASE statement and I suddenly realize that I do not have such a script on my blog so I decided to write a blog post on this subject.

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