Use STRING_AGG for generating backup commands with copy-only backups, checksums, safe database names, and dated files for careful review.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL Server Tips: Temporary Tables, Constraints and Agent
Temporary tables, constraints and SQL Server Agent each solve a different problem. Choose an appropriate temporary-table scope, use declarative rules for data integrity and give scheduled jobs clear ownership and failure handling.
sp_refreshsqlmodule: Refreshing Views and Procedures After a Table Change
Use sp_refreshsqlmodule to refresh changed table dependencies, inspect stale view columns, and protect stable contracts with schema binding.
SQL SERVER – 2008 – Introduction to Online Indexing Operation
An introduction to online indexing in SQL Server, which lets you create or rebuild an index while the table stays available to your app.
Year-to-Date Totals Next to the Same Period Last Year
A fair year-to-date comparison needs the same dates from last year. Here is a short query, plus the leap day trap.
Splitting a URL Into Host, Path and Query String in T-SQL
Practice splitting a URL into host, path, and query values with T-SQL string functions, SQL Server 2025 regex, and ordered parameter rows.
Named Instances and Default Instances
Named instances and default instances differ in connection strings, ports, SQL Browser discovery, and the operations each one needs.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
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My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

