The event is tonight, and it’s my first time helping out as a moderator. I got a call for volunteers, and I added my name. The event starts at 1800GMT and runs for a few hours.
The schedule is up, and I’ll be moderating Vern Rabe’s session on Poorly Performing T-SQL Queries and How to Fix Them. I’ve known Vern for a few years and enjoy seeing him at SQL Saturday’s. This will be a good session, so tune in and ask some good questions.
SQL Prompt has some nice color coding features, but sometimes I want a database to keep the same color, regardless of instance. I don’t know that I’d recommend this, but since I work in demo environments across versions, this is a handy trick for me.
In the SQL Prompt menu, there is an options item.
Clicking this brings up a dialog with a number of sections along the left and details on the right. Near the bottom is the color menu.
When I decide to color code a database, I click “add” and I get this view. The cursor defaults to the Server/Group edit box, and I’ve typically entered a server name here.
However, I can skip this and just enter a database.
In this configuration, every time I open a query window to a database called SimpleTalk_1_Dev, no matter which instance, it will be colored purple.
I can see this when connecting to my default local instance.
I also test things on a v14 (SQL 2017) instance, and if I connect there, I see the same thing.
In some sense, this is an edge case. I demo similar things across instances and versions, and it’s nice to keep colors simple rather than entering dozens of instance names. However, it’s not something many people do, as they often use the same database name on different instances. That’s a more common scenario.
That’s supported as well. Notice here I’ve entered just a server with no database.
Now every database I connect to on this instance will be colored green. Note that the purple still overrides because it is specific to a database. The third tab below is connected to the SimpleTalk_1_Dev database.
SQL Prompt has some amazing features, but color coding is one that helps me keep track of which databases and instances I’m connected to in a query window. If you‘ve never configured this, give it a try.
If you’ve never tried SQL Prompt, it’s incredible. Download an eval today and see what you think.
I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.
Today’s tip is to write your worries down and save them for a specific “worry time”.
What am I worried about? Not much, and my worries are really small. I worry my daughter won’t get to experience college this fall, including sports, and I won’t get to watch her play. I’m worried my middle kid won’t get a job when he graduates next year. I’m worried my oldest will get sick, or stuck, in Spain this year where he’s supposed to teach. Or that he won’t go.
Mostly I worry that I won’t be able to get back to my way of life, speaking, travel, coaching, and snowboarding. This is a good way to write a few things down, and I’ll worry about these on the weekend, when I can have a drink with my wife and complain about things.
I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.
Today’s tip is to get the basics right: eat well, exercise, go to bed on time
This is my go to coping tip, well, two of the three. Or maybe three of three, depending on how you view things.
First, exercise. This is something that’s important to me, as evidenced on my workout log for June. July is looking slightly worse, but I had a few interruptions.
I find exercise is a great break from life for me, but it’s also a good long term habit to build for your health. At least walk around regularly.
I like my bed, and I look forward to sleep. I do try to get to sleep early, with complaints from my wife that I can’t stay awake, but I have been struggling the last month to stay asleep. I seem to wake up at night, wide awake, and can’t get relaxed. Sometimes I lay there, sometimes I read a bit. I don’t feel too stressed and my diet hasn’t changed. I’m guessing I’m just getting old.
That brings me to eating. Food comforts me. While I try to cook more vegetables for the family and look for healthy alternative recipes, I’m not great at it, and I’m not great at limiting portions. I am trying to do better, and it’s on my mind, but doing better is a struggle.
Be better than me today.
Voice of the DBA 