Category: SQL Server

How to Restore a SQL Server Database on a Mac using Azure Data Studio

Posted on by Ian

Restoring a database is a piece of cake with Azure Data Studio. It’s a similar process to doing it with SQL Server Management Studio.  Simply click Restore and follow the prompts.

This restore process allows you to navigate through the computer’s file system to locate the .bak file. This .bak file contains a backup of the database you want to restore. So when SQL Server restores the database, it’s using the .bak file to do so.

However, if you’re running your SQL Server instance inside a Docker container (which of course, you would be if you’re running SQL Server on Mac or Linux), there’s something you need to be aware of if your backup file is located outside the Docker container.

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How to Install Azure Data Studio on a Mac

Posted on by Ian

Azure Data Studio (previously known as SQL Operations Studio) is a free tool that you can use to manage SQL Server. It uses a graphical user interface (GUI) that helps you view the various databases and objects within a SQL Server instance. It can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it’s also designed to be used with Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Data Warehouse.

Here I explain how to install Azure Data Studio onto a Mac, then how to use it to connect to SQL Server.

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What is Azure Data Studio?

Posted on by Ian

Microsoft Azure Data Studio is a free, cross-platform tool that can be used to manage SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Data Warehouse.

Azure Data Studio was formerly called SQL Operations Studio (while it was in preview release), and it was renamed to Azure Data Studio once it was moved to general availability (GA) on September 24, 2018.

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SIN() Examples in SQL Server

Posted on by Ian

Using SQL Server, you can use the T-SQL SIN() function to return the sine of a number. More specifically, this function returns the trigonometric sine of the specified angle, in radians, and in an approximate numeric, float, expression.

The return data type is float.

You provide the number as an argument when calling the function.

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SIGN() Examples in SQL Server

Posted on by Ian

In SQL Server, the T-SQL SIGN() function returns the sign of a number. In other words, it indicates whether or not the value is a positive number, a negative number, or zero.

You provide the number as an argument when calling the function.

The function returns the following result, depending on whether the argument is positive, negative, or zero.

  • 1 if the number is positive
  • -1 if the number is negative
  • 0 if the number is zero

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ROUND() Examples in SQL Server

Posted on by Ian

In SQL Server, the T-SQL ROUND() function allows you to round a number to a specified length or precision.

You provide the number as an argument, as well as the length you’d like the number to be rounded to. The function also accepts an optional third argument that allows you to specify whether the number is rounded or truncated.

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