Author: Steve Stedman

Aggregating Data in Your SQL Server SQL Server is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing data, and one of its most valuable features is the ability to aggregate data efficiently. Whether you’re working with sales figures, customer data, or operational metrics, aggregating data allows you to summarize and extract meaningful insights from large datasets. By grouping and calculating values like sums, averages, or counts, you can transform raw data into actionable information that drives business decisions. Are you ready …

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Need SQL Server Help? Stedman Solutions Is Here for You SQL Server is a powerful database platform, but even experienced professionals run into challenges. Whether you are dealing with Performance Tuning, Corruption recovery, backup issues, high availability setup, or general troubleshooting, getting the right help can save you time and prevent costly downtime. At Stedman Solutions, we specialize in all aspects of SQL Server management and support. Our Team has decades of real-world experience solving complex database problems for companies …

Expert SQL Server Help from Stedman Solutions Read more →

Free Ransomware Awareness Class – Essential Protection for Your Business | Stedman Solutions Are you concerned about the growing threat of ransomware and its potential to disrupt your personal or professional life? Our “Ransomware Awareness Class – Absolutely Free” is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to protect yourself from this pervasive cyber threat. Ransomware attacks have skyrocketed in recent years, targeting individuals, businesses, and even critical infrastructure, often resulting in devastating financial and data losses. …

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Discover Stedman Solutions: Your Go-To for SQL Server Management Welcome to an exciting exploration of how Stedman Solutions can transform your business challenges into opportunities for growth. In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving market, staying ahead requires innovative strategies and reliable support. Whether you’re grappling with operational inefficiencies, seeking to streamline processes, or aiming to enhance your technological capabilities, Stedman Solutions offers tailored expertise to meet your unique needs. Let’s dive into the ways this dynamic company can become your partner …

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This Veterans Day, we’re taking time to recognize and thank those who have served — including the Veterans who are part of our own team at Database Health Monitor. From November 11th through November 17th, we’re offering a special opportunity for Veterans who purchase a Database Health Monitor subscription: a free 1-hour onboarding session with the Database Health Monitor development team. This session is designed to help you get the most out of Database Health Monitor. We’ll walk through setup, …

Honoring Veterans with a Complimentary 1-Hour Onboarding Session Read more →

There’s a lot happening in the world of AI right now, and tools like Grok, ChatGPT, and GitHub Copilot are becoming essential for developers and DBAs. In the latest versions of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 2025 and Visual Studio, Copilot is now built-in, offering real-time code suggestions. But when working outside those environments, I’ve found Grok — accessible via X (formerly Twitter) — to be especially powerful and flexible. Why This Matters: Small Wins Add Up A task that …

Using AI Tools Like Grok and Copilot to Boost SQL Productivity Read more →

Saying Thank You with Database Health Monitor Rewards At Stedman Solutions, we wanted to find a meaningful way to thank everyone who uses Database Health Monitor. The longer you use the tool, the more value you should get — without any additional cost. This idea came to me while working with a hosting provider that increased customer benefits each month as a loyalty perk. We decided to bring that same spirit to Database Health Monitor. Here’s an example: after three …

Database Health Rewards Program Read more →

One of the checks in the Database Health Monitor Quick Scan Report that often raises questions is check #243: data and log files on the same drive. At first glance, this might not seem like a big deal. After all, it’s just disk space, right? But in reality, placing your MDF/NDF files (data) and your LDF files (logs) together is a bad practice for two main reasons: Performance & I/O SQL Server accesses data and log files in very different …

Why You Should Not Put Data and Log Files on the Same Drive in SQL Server Read more →

One of the fundamental aspects of working with SQL Server is understanding how to get the number of rows affected by a query. Whether you’re working with SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements, knowing the row count can provide critical insights into your database operations. In this blog post, we’ll explore different methods to retrieve the row count in SQL Server and discuss scenarios where each method is most effective. 1. Using COUNT(*) with SELECT Statements When you need to …

Various was To Count Rows in SQL Server Read more →