Two quick ways to pull random rows from table data in SQL Server: ORDER BY NEWID() or CHECKSUM(NEWID()) with TOP, plus a 60 second video.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Concurrency Basics – Guest Post by Vinod Kumar
Vinod Kumar explains concurrency basics with a simple queue analogy: the shorter the line, the higher the concurrency, and how databases manage it with locks.
Rename a Column or Table in SQL Server Safely
To rename a column in SQL Server, call sp_rename with the table and column name, the new name and the word COLUMN. This post tests the rename on a demo database and shows what it leaves behind: a broken view, an old constraint name and permissions that stay. It ends with a safe way to swap two column names.
Storing UTC and Local Time Side by Side
Store UTC and local time consistently, preserve offsets, handle daylight saving changes, and filter timestamps with clear boundaries.
Change Logs as JSON: Old and New Values in One Column
Skip the audit table with a column for every field. One JSON payload per changed row is lighter, if you handle NULL and multirow updates correctly.
SQL SERVER – Changing Default Installation Path for SQL Server
Tired of moving MDF and LDF files after you create a database? Change the default installation path in server properties so new databases go where you want.
Recycling the Error Log on a Schedule and Keeping Enough History
Keep SQL Server logs readable by recycling the error log weekly, retaining enough archives, setting a size cap, and checking history.
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