Microsoft SQL DBA Blog
Published by Peter Whyte, an experienced SQL Server Database Administrator.
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How to Change Connection Colours in SSMS
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the go-to tool for running SQL Server queries. One of its handy features is the ability to change the colour of the query banner, providing a visual indicator of the server environment you are connected to. This feature can be especially beneficial…
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Counting Rows within CSV Files using PowerShell
This post contains a script that will help count rows within multiple CSV files using PowerShell. If you have a directory containing many CSV files, this’ll help you count the rows of each CSV file within the folder. Counting rows within CSV files may be useful for verifying…
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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 Quickly Get Table Sizes in SQL Server
Monitoring table sizes in SQL Server is crucial for effective database management. For a detailed guide covering various methods, including built-in reports and custom scripts, please refer to my latest article on this: How to Check Table Sizes in SQL Server. In this guide, we’ll show a few…
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How to Backup a SQL Server Database
Ensuring regular backups of your SQL Server database is essential for data protection and disaster recovery. Whether you prefer using SQL commands or SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), this guide will walk you through both methods. Backing Up a SQL Server Database Using T-SQL If you want a…
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Restoring a Full Database Backup in SQL Server
In this post I’m sharing a demo of restoring a Full database backup using the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) Restore Database Wizard. I often find myself running through the SSMS Restore Database Wizard and scripting out the SQL to a new query window when running an ad-hoc…
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How to Properly Copy SQL Dates into Excel
When copying a SQL query result directly into Excel, DATETIME columns often don’t display as expected. Excel doesn’t seem to handle milliseconds well, making the dates appear messy. The Issue: Excel Precision Struggles Here’s an example of data I copied over from SQL Server into an Excel sheet.…
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What is Stack Exchange Data Explorer (SEDE)?
As a DBA, I’ve found Stack Exchange Data Explorer (SEDE) to be an invaluable tool for analyzing data from the Stack Exchange network. It’s essentially a web-based SQL playground, allowing you to run queries and uncover hidden insights without downloading any data. Just open the tool, write a…
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sp_who, sp_who2 & sp_whoisactive
Ever wondered what’s happening inside your SQL Server instance? sp_who, sp_who2 and sp_whoisactive are stored procedures that allow you to view current users, sessions, and processes within a SQL Server instance. This kind of information helps you diagnose blocking issues and monitor general activity. Among them, sp_whoisactive is…
Useful SQL DBA Posts
SQL Server Performance
– Get Full SQL Server System Info Fast
– Quick Performance Troubleshooting Scripts
– Identify Missing & Unused Indexes
– Get Wait Stats & Top Consuming Queries
– Get Exclusive Locks on Tables
– Get Last Node Blip in SQL Server FCI
Security & Maintenance
– Get Estimated Database Backup/Restore Time
– Get Last Database Backup Dates/Times
– Get Database Sizes & Space Used
– How to Get Table Sizes
– Get Index & Heap Fragmentation Levels
– Get SQL User Permissions and Roles
– Creating SQL Users on Availability Groups
– Audit Failed Login Attempts
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