Author: Peter Whyte

  • SSMS Maximum Characters Displayed

    By default, the max number of characters displayed in a single column of a query in SSMS when outputting as text is 256 characters. We can amend our query outputs in SSMS to Results to Text, rather than the default grid layout. This can be done by clicking…

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  • How to Delete Files in PowerShell

    This is a post on how to delete files in PowerShell, which will be useful when you need to delete files as part of a script in Windows. This post covers the following:# PowerShell: Delete a File# PowerShell: Delete a Folder# PowerShell: Delete Files in Subfolders Recursively PowerShell:…

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  • Adding Columns to Tables in SQL Server

    As a SQL Server DBA, adding new columns to tables is a routine task, often driven by evolving business requirements or application enhancements. However, when working with larger tables, replication and/or default values, special care is required to manage potential performance impacts and maintain system stability. Before proceeding…

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  • Create a New Firewall Rule with PowerShell

    This is a short post to share a PowerShell script that will create a new Windows Firewall Rule on a your computer. We have to ensure that we run PowerShell as Administrator for this to work. The above is creating a new firewall rule so inbound SQL Server…

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  • How to Show Line Numbers in SSMS

    This post contains a quick guide on how to show line numbers in the SSMS query window. Useful if you want to see line numbers while you code. As well as general preference, enabling line numbers in SQL Server Management Studio is particularly useful when debugging an error…

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  • Add a Filegroup to a Database in SQL Server

    This post contains a demo on how to add a new Filegroup for a database in SQL Server. Most databases work well with single data/log files and do not need this. Database files in SQL Server generally operate with 2 files, data (.mdf) files and log (.ldf) files.…

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  • How to Check PowerShell Version

    This post is a guide on how to check your PowerShell version on a Windows computer. I’m using $PSVersionTable to get this info. It’s important to keep all software as up-to-date as possible, we all know it. Being on the latest PowerShell version is especially required if you…

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  • Disabling Change Data Capture in SQL Server

    This post contains a demo on how to disable CDC (Change Data Capture) in SQL Server 2022. The sp_cdc_disable_table and sp_cdc_disable_db in-built MSSQL SPs are what we should use to disable CDC in SQL Server which is explained more below. The sp_cdc_disable_table and sp_cdc_disable_db are the in-built MSSQL…

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  • How to Enable CDC in SQL Server

    This is a post on how to enable Change Data Capture (CDC) in SQL Server. Enabling this on a database and table will allow the recording of activity when tables and rows have been modified. This is a feature available for us to configure within SQL Server and…

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  • How to Automate PowerShell Scripts with Task Scheduler

    Running PowerShell scripts on a schedule is a common requirement for Windows Admins. This guide will show you how to automate your scripts using Task Scheduler, covering both the GUI and PowerShell methods. Task Scheduler allows you to run programs, scripts, or other tasks based on a schedule…

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