Articles by PHIL FACTOR

The TSQL of CSV: Comma-Delimited of Errors

Despite the neglect of the basic ODBC drivers over the years, they still afford a neat way of reading from, and writing to, CSV files; and to be able to do so in SQL as if they were tables is somewhat magical. Just to prove it is possible, Phil creates a CSV...

Generating Data for Database Tests

By Phil Factor

It is more and more essential for developers to work on development databases that have realistic data in both type and quantity, but without using real data. It isn't exactly easy, even with third-party tools to hand. Phil Factor shows how it can be done,...

Normalisation and 'Anima notitia copia' (Soul of the Database)

By Phil Factor

Phil, in a guest editorial for Simple-Talk, puzzles over the possibility that a SQL Server System table commits sins against relational theory. Maybe the answer isn't that simple....

Automated Script-generation with Powershell and SMO

By Phil Factor

In the first of a series of articles on automating the process of building, modifying and copying SQL Server databases, Phil Factor demonstrates how one can generate TSQL scripts for databases, selected database objects, or table contents from PowerShell and...

Confessions of a DBA: My worst mistake

By Phil Factor

Over the next few months, we'll be asking various well-known DBAs to describe their worst disaster caused by a mistake they made. To kick off the series, we asked Phil Factor to confess. He came up with a classic: The mistaken belief that a backup WITH CHECKSUM...

Presentations: On snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

By Phil Factor

When a keynote speech looks likely to go horribly wrong, you have to dig deep to rescue the situation.

Temporary Tables in SQL Server

By Phil Factor

Temporary tables are used by every DB developer, but they're not likely to be too adventurous with their use, or exploit all their advantages. They can improve your code's performance and maintainability, but can be the source of grief to both developer and...

Making HTML tables easier on the eye- CSS Structural Pseudo-classes

By Phil Factor

We asked Phil why his PowerShell tabular reports looked so nice. 'CSS structural pseudo-classes' he muttered mystically. Later on, without any further warning, he popped up with this article that explains for anyone who has missed them, how to go about doing...

SQL Programmer's workshop

By Phil Factor

Phil Factor records, as closely as possible, the twists and turns of creating a SQL Server TSQL stored procedure, describing the methods that work for him.

How to develop TSQL Code

By Phil Factor

The basic texts for developing SQL code tend to leave unsaid the basic techniques for building routines such as stored procedures in TSQL. Phil is well-known for his more lengthy and complex stored procedures, so we asked him to explain in more detail how he...