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[Focus]

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Compression in SQL Server 2008
Get the facts about the new data compression feature in SQL Server 2008 and the stored procedure that can help you estimate how much space you might save by compressing your data.
 — Orin Thomas


Is the World Ready for SQL Server 2008?
In this exclusive interview with Ted Kummert, Microsoft corporate vice president of the Data and Storage Platform Division, Karen Forster finds out about some of SQL Server 2008’s key features and what they might mean for you.
 — Karen Forster


New Data Types in SQL Server 2008
New data types in SQL Server 2008 offer more precise date/time storage and solve such problems as unstructured LOB storage—DBAs will like the addition of spatial data types, new date data types, and the FILESTREAM data type.
 — Michael Otey


SQL Server 2008 Boosts Built-in Encryption
The new Extensible Key Management feature makes SQL Server’s built-in database encryption more secure by supporting third-party encryption providers, so that you can store keys outside of the database.
 — Randy Dyess

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[Features]

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Debugging and Logging in SSIS
Easily debug packages, Control Flow tasks, and Data Flow tasks and log package-execution information using the debugging and logging capabilities in SSIS.
 — Erin Welker


Managing Hierarchical Rowsets
Build a sample application in Visual Studio that can be used to manage hierarchical rowsets populated by stored procedures.
 — William Vaughn


Sharpen Your Basic SQL Server Skills
More answers to DBAs' questions. What’s the difference between dividing an integer with NULL or zero, or between a unique constraint and a primary key constraint, or between decimal and numeric data types? And how do you retrieve random rows from a table?
 — Pinalkumar Dave


T-SQL 101, Lesson 1
Whether you are new to T-SQL or you just want to brush up on the basics, you'll want to read and save this guide that walks you through how to write SELECT statements. Learn how to order and rename columns and how to filter and sort results.
 — Bill McEvoy

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[Editorial]

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VMs vs. Multiple SQL Server Instances, Round 2
Choose which server consolidation method is right for you. Mike Otey walks you through factors to consider for your organization.
 — Michael Otey

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[T-SQL Black Belt]

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MERGE
SQL Server 2008’s MERGE statement simplifies the task of merging source data into a target table.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[New Products]

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New Products
Check out new and improved SQL Server-related products from OmBelt Solutions, Red Gate Software, ScriptLogic, Future IT Software, and Stimulsoft.
 — Jeff James

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[SELECT TOP(X)]

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Visual Studio 2008 Offers Plethora of New Features
VS 2008 adds support for new technologies such as AJAX, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), and Language-Integrated Query (LINQ), and more.
 — Michael Otey

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[Tool Time with Kevin Kline]

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SQLQueryStress
You can use this tool to quickly and easily test how a query will affect your system performance.
 — Kevin Kline

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[PTO for the Rest of Us]

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Are Your SQL Server Statements Performing Well?
SQL Server 2005 offers a relatively easy way to determine which SQL Server statements are causing you the most pain. A built-in DMV does the trick.
 — Andrew J. Kelly

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[Sqlmag.com Community Dialog]

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Readers and Authors Swap Ideas
A reader asks Douglas McDowell a question about his PerformancePoint Server Eye on BI article, forum members debate SQL Server trace methods, and Rodney Landrum updates his repository solution, in direct response to readers' feedback.
 — Anne Grubb