To cycle clipboard ring entries in SSMS, press Ctrl+Shift+V after a paste. The clipboard ring is most useful when you copy several names, so this post uses T-SQL to build clean column lists and tests the QUOTENAME and STRING_AGG limits that break a paste.
SQL Server Version and Edition: SQL in Sixty Seconds #043
To find the SQL Server version and edition, read SERVERPROPERTY instead of parsing @@VERSION. The tests here show every useful property on SQL Server 2025, why ProductLevel can say RTM after an update, and how to read the version from the ERRORLOG.
SQL SERVER – Backup and Restore Database Using Command Prompt – SQLCMD
Good DBAs automate the boring work. Here is a simple script to run Backup and Restore of a database from the command prompt with SQLCMD.
Generate Random Values in SQL Server: SQL in Sixty Seconds #042
To generate random values in SQL Server, pick the function by the job: RAND for one value, CHECKSUM(NEWID()) for a value on every row, CRYPT_GEN_RANDOM for tokens. The tests here count 100,000 draws and show where the common formulas go wrong.
TRIM Function in SQL Server: SQL in Sixty Seconds #040
The TRIM function removes spaces from the ends of a string, and SQL Server has had it since 2017. The tests here show which characters TRIM leaves behind, the LEADING and TRAILING keywords, and a WHERE clause that read 884 pages against 3.
Configure Database Mail in SQL Server: SQL in Sixty Seconds #039
To configure Database Mail, you need an SMTP account, a profile and permission to use it. The tests here build all three with T-SQL on SQL Server 2025, show the exact errors for missing access, and follow a failed send through the mail log.
Wrap SQL Code in SSMS: SQL in Sixty Seconds #038
You can wrap SQL code in SSMS so long lines fit the window and you never scroll sideways. This post gives the exact menu path, what each option on that page does, a long query to test it with and a shortcut for switching it on and off.