TSQL Debugger is now on SQL Server 2008 RC0

I have long waited for this feature as I got used to Visual Studio's debugging feature where you can simply put a breakpoint beside a code line and hit the debug button. SQL Server Management Studio now has a Debug button together with the Execute button (except that in Visual Studio, your F5 key would be your Debug command whereas in SQL Server, that would be the Run/Execute command).

This will allow you to step over your code - whether it is calling a stored procedure or a TSQL script - and step thru it a line at a time or at one shot. You can even step thru nested calls, like calling a stored procedure that calls another stored procedure. It will open up a new tab displaying the codes for the procedure or function that you are calling from your TSQL code. I'm just glad it's already in RC0. Check out my video from BlogCastRepository.com on how this works

I'm going to TechEd Asia 2008

I've just confirmed my hotel booking for TechEd Asia 2008 and have already started working on my sessions. I will be doing 2 break out sessions - one on SQL Server 2005 disaster recovery and one on Windows PowerShell. Check out this blog regularly to find out more on what I will be covering for TechEd. There's definitely a thousand and one reasons to go so register now to enjoy the discounts.

SQL Server 2008 Videos from BlogCastRepository.com

I was informed by the owner of the site that my videos have just went live. I've spent quite a number of days working on the videos to make sure that subscribers will get as much as they can in their pursuit of learning about SQL Server 2008. I would appreciate your feedback on what else you would like to see on the video list

Check out the BlogCastRepository website for my SQL Server 2008 videos. I'll come up with SQL Server 2005 videos as well in the future

Exploring Database Backup Compression in SQL Server 2008

Database backup size is always an issue in very large databases. Which is why we plan our backup and restore procedures properly to include either differential and filegroup backups. Most of the times, we use backup compression tools like LiteSpeed for SQL Server from Quest or SQL Backup from RedGate. SQL Server 2008 has a built-in compression engine for you to compress your database backups. I have written an article about this feature in MSSQLTips.com and created a video at BlogCastRepository.com