Database backups, integrity checks, and performance optimizations are core regular tasks of DBAs. The client data is very important for a DBA to manage the database backup and make sure the integrity of the backups. So if something goes wrong with a production database, it can be recovered with minimum downtime. The database integrity checks are also important because, in the case of database corruption, it can be corrected with minimum downtime and data loss. Managing database performance is also important. Managing database performance is a combination of multiple tasks. Read More
Tag: sql server
Creating Customer-Focused SSRS Reports with Parameters
This article talks about how to create a basic customer-focused report using SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
The article also highlights the importance of utilizing the full potential of the SSRS reporting technology by using parameters in SSRS reports – for example, to meet business specifications.
The main focus of this article is to prepare the readers who already have a T-SQL background to create SSRS reports for customers. In this way, the customers can run these reports based on their desired input values rather than on default values provided by report developers. Read More
How to Document Your SQL Server Database
The process of documenting a SQL Server database is a complete and continuous process that should start during the database design and development phases and continue during all database related life cycles in a way that ensures having an up-to-date version of the database documentation that reflects reality at any point in time. If performed properly, the generated database documentation file will contain an up to date and complete list for the database objects and a brief description for these database objects. Read More
SSRS Reports Development in Simple Terms
The article is dedicated to the fundamentals of SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) development and aimed at beginners and professionals interested in database development.
A direct method in the form of a walkthrough is used to discuss the core concepts and their implementation in regards to SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
The main focus of the article is to give the basic concepts of reports development rather than discuss the latest SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) versions and their features.
Advanced SQL: Variations and Different Use cases of T-SQL Insert Statement
In my previous article, I demonstrated:
- Insert the output of the table-valued function in the SQL table.
- Insert the output of the table-valued function that is created on the remote database server.
In this article, I am going to demonstrate:
- Copy data between two tables, created in a different schema.
- Copy data between two tables, created in different databases on the same server.
- Copy data between two tables created, in different databases resides the different server (Cross server query)
How to Automate the Process of SQL Server Database Schema Synchronization
The goal
Keeping two databases in sync is a task we often encounter when working on SQL database development and maintenance. One particular case is this – the versions of a database present on testing and development environments need to be consistently synchronized to make sure that tests are running on the most recent version. This should be done by detecting schema changes in the development version of a database and then automatically synchronizing them with the version from the testing environment on a scheduled basis.
How to achieve it
We’ll look into how automated synchronization of two SQL databases can be achieved by combining a schema comparison tool with PowerShell scripts and scheduling. Read More
Tutorial on SQL (DDL, DML) on the example of MS SQL Server dialect
Introduction
This tutorial includes information about SQL (DDL, DML) that I have gathered during my professional life. This is the minimum you need to know while working with databases. If there is a need to use complex SQL constructions, then usually I surf the MSDN library, which can be easily found on the internet. To my mind, it is very difficult to keep everything in your head and, by the way, there is no need for this. I recommend that you should know all the main constructions used in most relational databases such as Oracle, MySQL, and Firebird. Still, they may differ in data types. For example, to create objects (tables, constraints, indexes, etc.), you may simply use integrated development environment (IDE) to work with databases and there is no need in studying visual tools for a particular database type (MS SQL, Oracle, MySQL, Firebird, etc.). This is convenient because you can see the whole text, and you do not need to look through numerous tabs to create, for example, an index or a constraint. If you are constantly working with databases, creating, modifying, and especially rebuilding an object using scripts is much faster than in a visual mode. Besides, in my opinion, in the script mode (with due precision), it is easier to specify and control rules for naming objects. In addition, it is convenient to use scripts when you need to transfer database changes from a test database to a production database. Read More
Automatic gathering of SQL Server configuration by using PowerShell
At present, the gathering of SQL Server configuration information is no longer a problem— the opportunities to add value through an update and to build a stable database environment exist permanently. Most of the third party tools provide the appropriate functionality in order to capture the software market. Through this guide, you’ll figure out the ways to capture few SQL Server configurations and manipulate the data by using PowerShell.
Moreover, you will get the answers to the following questions:
- How to gather SQL Server configuration
- How to automatically discover SQL instances
- How to manually input the SQL Server instances to speed up the process
- How to transform data by using PowerShell
- And more…
SQL Server Database Tables Export and Import Methods
When working as a SQL Server database administrator or developer, you cannot live in your isolated SQL Server world without communicating with other data sources. For example, there is rarely a day when you won’t be requested to import data from an Excel, Access or CSV file into your SQL Server table. Or, conversely, export one of your SQL Server database tables to an external file in order for this table to be used in another database engine or to be analyzed externally by the corresponding team.
SQL Server provides us with a number of methods that can be used to export an existing SQL Server database table to an Excel or text file, and import data from an external data source to a new or existing SQL Server database table. In this article, we will gradually cover all these methods.
Using Trace Flag 3226 to Suppress Log Backup Logging
Introduction
Every backup operation in SQL Server is written to the SQL Server Error log. This includes Transaction Log Backups even when they occur as part of a Transaction Log Shipping Configuration. Sometimes logging the entire Log Backup can be a nuisance in the SQL Server Error Log and needs to be managed. Trace Flag 3226 is used to suppress such logging and we will demonstrate how this can be done in this article.