SQL DBA Blog

Category: SQL Server

SQL Server Blog Archives, by Peter Whyte (Database Administrator).
Includes: Database Admin, Management Studio (SSMS), Windows Admin, PowerShell, WSL, MSSQL Backups, Restores & more…

  • Moving TempDB Files in SQL Server

    It’s a solid best practise to have TempDB files stored in separate drive, away from your C: drive. This is because TempDB can grow very large, very quickly (within minutes); depending on workloads of course, and this can happen on both the TempDB data (.ndf) and log (.ldf)…

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  • The SSMS Import Flat File Feature

    The Import Flat File feature within SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) was introduced in December 2017 (14.0.17213.0). This is a streamlined version of the Import Data feature and it minimises the user intervention during a file import. Unlike the Import data feature, you don’t have the option to…

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  • Attaching SQL Databases Without Log Files

    In a perfect world, you’d never lose a database log file. But when the unexpected happens and you urgently need the data from a database, knowing how to attach a SQL Server database without its log (.ldf) file can be a lifesaver. This guide walks you through the…

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  • Backup & Restore (WITH FILE)

    In this post I’m going to show what the WITH FILE = X option does when backing-up or restoring a SQL Server database. microsoft_documentation The first thing we need to know is that a backup file can contain multiple databases, and even multiples of the same database. If you…

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  • Applying Data Retention to a SQL Table

    In SQL Server, there’s often a need to delete old data from a database table. This could be for reasons like adhering to GDPR policies, managing oversized tables that are slowing down operations, staying within SQL Server Express’s 10GB limit, or simply cleaning up application logs and errors.…

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  • Using Custom Connection Colours in SSMS

    SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the tool that most SQL Server user queries are run from. It has an option that allows you to change the colour of your query banner, which is useful if you want visually mark a server that you work with every day.…

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  • Exporting SQL Server Query Results to CSV

    This guide explains how to export a SQL Server query results to a CSV file using SSMS. SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the primary tool used for managing SQL Server databases and running queries. By default, SSMS exports data in a column-aligned format, but to export data…

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  • How to Check Table Sizes in SQL Server

    There are many ways to check the size of a table in SQL Server. The way you will do it will likely depend on what your task at-hand is. For example, a quick look at the Disk Usage by Top Tables report on a database you’ve never seen…

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  • Backing Up a SQL Server Database

    Backing up a database is something I’ve always found easier done within a query window. There’s not much to it; That’s what I’m used to writing. I’ve no need to worry about the copy_only option these days, or check SQL Server Editions to see if I can use…

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  • Restoring a SQL Server Database

    This is a simple guide to restoring a full backup file in SQL Server, providing an overview of a few options that are available during the process. It is always a good idea to read through Microsoft’s documentation on database restores before proceeding. This will ensure that you…

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