database-tools Archives

SQL Performance, Part 3: Multiple Table Access Methods

In part one of our overview of SQL performance we examined relational optimization; part two took a look at query analysis and introduced...

Code-Signing Mini-Series (Part 3: Reading Certificates from Personal Store)

by ps1

Certificates can be installed permanently by loading them into Windows certificate store. PowerShell can access this store via its cert: drive. The...

Code-Signing Mini-Series (Part 2: Reading Certificates from PFX Files)

by ps1

In the previous tip we created new code-signing test certificates both as pfx file and located in your certificate store. Today, you’ll see...

Code-Signing Mini-Series (Part 1: Creating Certs)

by ps1

To play with digital signatures, and discover how you can sign scripts and modules, you first need a code-signing certificate. If you can’t get one...

Six SQL Server performance boosters with your existing hardware

by Peter

Nearly all successful applications can benefit from the performance-driven strategies outlined in this whitepaper. Many of the categories and items...

Converting SecureString to Clear Text

by ps1

Secure string content cannot be easily viewed: $password = Read-Host -Prompt 'Your password' -AsSecureString PS C:\> $password...

Using Catalog Files

by ps1

Catalog file support (.cat) is new in PowerShell 5.1. Cat files basically are file lists with hash values. You can use them to ensure that a given...

Making Error Records More Readable

by ps1

Whenever PowerShell encounters an error, it emits an Error Record with detailed information about the problem. Unfortunately, these objects are a...

Creating Write-Protected Functions

by ps1

PowerShell functions by default can be overridden anytime, and you can also remove them using Remove-Item: function Test-Lifespan {...

Why your Always On solution is not always on

by Peter

Microsoft markets a variety of SQL Server availability technologies under the umbrella term Always On. Always On is a broad term covers many...

$FormatEnumerationLimit Scoping Issues

by ps1

As shown in the previous tip, the secret $FormatEnumerationLimit variable determines how many array elements are shown in output before the output...

Displaying Array Members in Output

by ps1

When you output objects that have arrays in their properties, only 4 array elements are displayed, then an ellipsis truncates the rest: PS C:\>...

Find All Files Two Levels Deep

by ps1

Yet another file system task: list all *.log files in a folder structure, but only to a maximum depth of 2 folder structures: Get-ChildItem -Path...

SQL Performance, Part 2: Query Analysis and Access Path Formulation

by CraigSMullins

In part one of our overview of SQL performance we examined relational optimization and the things that impact it. In today’s blog post, we...

Deleting All Subfolders Below A Given Level

by ps1

Here is another file system task that sounds worse than it actually is. Let’s say you need to remove all folders below a given level in a...

Deleting All Files from a Folder Structure

by ps1

Sometimes tasks sound worse than they actually are. Let’s say you need to clear a folder structure and remove all files, leaving empty...

Key Considerations for Selecting a Database Tool

by Joy Ruff

Database professionals must handle many different tasks during the work day, ranging from creating queries and scripts to comparing and editing...

Five database administration mistakes that can cost you your job

by Peter

Everyone makes mistakes. Database administrators are no exception to that rule. When database administrators make mistakes, they are often the ones...

Announcing SQL Admin Toolset 1.9.2 General Availability

by Binh Chau

We are pleased to announce the general availability of SQL Admin Toolset 1.9.2. Existing users may upgrade to this version through the IDERA...

Adding RSS Ticker to PowerShell Title Bar

by ps1

A new PowerShell background thread can do things for you in the background, for example updating your PowerShell window title bar with new news...

Invoke-WebRequest vs. Invoke-RestMethod

by ps1

Invoke-WebRequest simply downloads the content from any web site. It is then your job to read the content and make sense of it. In the previous tip...

SQL Performance, Part 1: Relational Optimization

by CraigSMullins

Application developers must code efficient SQL and understand how to optimize SQL in order to develop efficient applications. But it is not just the...