The blog has reached 700 articles. Here is why I write, plus updates since article 600: the SQL Server MVP award, user group work and 4 million visitors.
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.
Organising Notes You Have Already Written
Learn to organise notes around problems, useful search terms, and review dates so earlier SQL Server work becomes easy to find and trust.
Parameterized Queries From Application Code
Use parameterized queries from application code to prevent SQL injection, improve plan reuse, and avoid parameter length mistakes.
A One Page Reference for Everyday SQL Server Work
Build a practical SQL Server reference around everyday questions, with compact queries for context, objects, requests, space, and transactions.
Comparing Two Databases Without a Scoreboard
Learn how to compare databases using representative work, operational skills, recovery requirements, and costs rather than feature-count scoreboards.
Naming SQL Server Instances So People Understand Them
Naming SQL Server Instances well clarifies default and named installs, survives growth, and makes later server renames less painful.