Tim Ford
Tim Ford is a Senior Database Administrator with MindBody in San
Luis Obispo, California and is in the process of relocating west to the Pacific
Northwest from Michigan. Since 2010 he’s produced Microsoft Data Platform
training events branded as SQL Cruise from Alaska to the Caribbean and the
Mediterranean at Tech Outbound, an
events company specializing in technical training in unconventional locations.
His SQL Cruise events take place on cruise ships in the Caribbean, Alaska, and
the Mediterranean. Tim also is the Executive VP of Marketing for PASS,
the global association for Microsoft data professionals. He also is a
contributing author for itprotoday and doesn’t maintain
his blog like he should at thesqlagentman.com.
Tim loves helping people find their true potential through education and
building networks between Thought Leaders in various fields and those who are
just starting on their careers or struggling to find their footing in
established careers. If you’re looking for this sort of experience then check
out the next SQL Cruise event taking place this August in Seattle.
2010 Awards
2009 Awards
2008 Awards
2010 Awards

2009 Awards

2008 Awards

Auditing and Compliance
- How to find out what SQL Server rights have been granted to the Public role (last update: 2/24/2009)
- Identify Orphaned Windows Logins and Groups in SQL Server with sp_validatelogins (last update: 10/22/2009)
Backup
- Function to Return Default SQL Server Backup Folder (last update: 3/19/2010)
- Script to find SQL Server databases without transaction log backups (last update: 1/6/2010)
- Script to retrieve SQL Server database backup history and no backups (last update: 10/9/2008)
- Using the FORFILES Command to Delete SQL Server Backups (last update: 11/3/2008)
Central Management Servers
- Run SQL Commands Against Multiple SQL Servers Without CMS (last update: 8/10/2010)
Clustering
- Balancing Resources for SQL Server Clustering and Consolidation (last update: 8/13/2008)
- Cluster Administrator Application for SQL Server DBAs (last update: 12/17/2008)
- Getting started with SQL Server clustering (last update: 7/16/2008)
- Identifying Windows Volumes on a Clustered SQL Server Instance with the DMVs (last update: 1/5/2009)
- Manually Configure SQL Server Resource Group Ownership in Cluster Administrator (last update: 12/22/2008)
- SQL Server Clustering Active vs Passive (last update: 8/4/2008)
Database Administration
- Determine Free Space, Consumed Space and Total Space Allocated for SQL Server databases (last update: 6/2/2018)
- Find SQL Server databases where log file is too large (last update: 4/25/2011)
- Manage the size of SQL Server Transaction Logs (last update: 2/9/2009)
- Managing SQL Server Database and Application Metadata (last update: 8/19/2008)
- SQL Server Third Party Application Requirements Document and Checklist (last update: 1/25/2010)
- Third Party Application Checklist for SQL Server (last update: 8/12/2009)
Database Mail
- SQL Server 2005 Database Mail Setup and Configuration Scripts (last update: 2/20/2008)
Dates
- SQL Server 2008 Date and Time Data Types (last update: 10/30/2008)
- SQL Server Date function that determines date range based on weekday (last update: 6/10/2009)
- SQL Server function to convert integer date to datetime format (last update: 5/24/2019)
DBA Best Practices
- SQL Server 2005 Index Best Practices (last update: 10/6/2009)
- Using Windows Groups for SQL Server Logins as a Best Practice (last update: 9/3/2009)
Disaster Recovery
- Rebuilding the SQL Server master database (Part 1 of 3) (last update: 6/23/2008)
- Rebuilding the SQL Server master database (Part 2 of 3) (last update: 6/26/2008)
- Rebuilding the SQL Server master database (Part 3 of 3) (last update: 7/3/2008)
Dynamic Management Views and Functions
- Collect and store historical SQL Server performance counter data with DMVs (last update: 12/21/2010)
- Collecting SQL Server performance counter data for trending (last update: 7/27/2010)
- How to Find Keywords in SQL Server Stored Procedures and Functions (last update: 5/3/2019)
- Identify last statement run for a specific SQL Server session (last update: 7/22/2009)
- Session State Settings for Cached SQL Server Query Plans (last update: 9/2/2009)
- SQL Server Performance Counter DMV sys.dm_os_performance_counters (last update: 6/17/2010)
- SQL Server sys.dm_os_wait_stats DMV Queries (last update: 2/24/2010)
- Useful management information from SQL Server DMV sys.dm_os_sys_info (last update: 1/31/2011)
Fragmentation and Index Maintenance
- SQL Server Index and Statistics Report (last update: 8/13/2020)
Functions - System
- Using the OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME function to return the SQL Server schema name (last update: 6/4/2009)
Functions - User Defined UDF
- Finding a string value in a SQL Server table (last update: 12/29/2008)
- SQL Server function to determine if all characters are capitalized (last update: 11/7/2007)
- SQL Server UDF to pad a string (last update: 4/27/2009)
- SQL Server user defined function to convert MSDB integer value to time value (last update: 5/5/2009)
Indexing
- Retaining historical index usage statistics for SQL Server Part 1 of 3 (last update: 5/12/2009)
- Retaining historical index usage statistics for SQL Server Part 2 of 3 (last update: 6/5/2009)
- Retaining historical index usage statistics for SQL Server Part 3 of 3 (last update: 7/8/2009)
Integration Services Execute Package Options
- Run SSIS using xp_cmdshell in a SQL Server stored procedure (last update: 10/18/2010)
JOIN Tables
- Handling cross database joins that have different SQL Server collations (last update: 3/27/2009)
Linked Servers
- How to setup linked servers for SQL Server and Oracle 64 bit client (last update: 2/13/2008)
Locking and Blocking
- Understanding SQL Server Blocking (last update: 4/6/2010)
- Understanding SQL Server Locking (last update: 3/23/2010)
Maintenance
- Execute UPDATE STATISTICS for all SQL Server Databases (last update: 10/17/2008)
Microsoft Access Integration
- Configure Microsoft Access Linked Tables with a SQL Server Database (last update: 4/18/2008)
- Microsoft Access and SQL Server Integration (last update: 4/4/2008)
- Microsoft Access Pass Through Queries to SQL Server (last update: 4/22/2008)
- Microsoft Access Pass Through Queries to SQL Server in Detail (last update: 5/25/2010)
- Modifying Microsoft Access Linked Tables from SQL Server (last update: 5/2/2008)
Monitoring
- Collect SQL Server database usage for free space and trending (last update: 2/4/2008)
- Find Current Running SQL Statement in SQL Server (last update: 8/14/2020)
- Identify Completion Time for Long Running SQL Server Processes using Dynamic Management Objects (last update: 3/3/2014)
Performance Tuning
- Analyzing SQL Server Plan Cache Performance Using DMVs (last update: 12/31/2010)
- Trending Buffer Pool Performance Using DMV sys.dm_os_performance_counters (last update: 12/29/2010)
Professional Development Career Planning
- Vacation for a SQL Server DBA (last update: 8/25/2008)
Professional Development Skills Development
- SQL Server DBA Telecommuting Tips (last update: 8/22/2008)
Query Plans
- How to read SQL Server graphical query execution plans (last update: 11/4/2009)
- SQL Server Query Execution Plans in SQL Server Management Studio (last update: 10/12/2009)
Replication
- Getting additional error messaging information for SQL Server replication (last update: 2/3/2009)
Reporting Services Configuration
- SQL Server Reporting Services Configuration Tool (last update: 3/12/2008)
Reporting Services Dynamic Reports
- SQL Server Reporting Services Conditional Formatting (last update: 9/18/2008)
Reporting Services Installation
- Adding Reporting Services to an existing SQL Server 2005 installation (last update: 2/28/2008)
Scripts
- Finding and listing all columns in a SQL Server database with default values (last update: 6/4/2008)
- List columns and attributes for every table in a SQL Server database (last update: 6/26/2009)
- Run same command on all SQL Server databases without cursors (last update: 1/17/2008)
- SQL Server Script to Create Windows Directories (last update: 3/21/2008)
Security
- Correct the SQL Server Authentication Mode in the Windows Registry (last update: 2/25/2008)
- Creating a SQL Server proxy account to run xp_cmdshell (last update: 10/22/2010)
- How to eliminate SQL Server security issue caused by sp_replwritetovarbin (last update: 2/23/2009)
- Identifying SQL Server logins with overlapping server roles (last update: 4/23/2010)
- SQL Server 7.0 to 2005 Security Vulnerabilities Could Allow Elevation of Login Privileges (last update: 9/19/2008)
SQL Server Agent
- Auto notification for failover of a server and restart of SQL Server services (last update: 1/12/2009)
- Custom job categories to organize your SQL Agent jobs (last update: 4/24/2008)
- Reassign Job Ownership for All Jobs on All SQL Servers (last update: 8/24/2010)
- Verbose SQL Server Agent Logging (last update: 8/31/2018)
SQL Server Configurations
- SQL Server DSN and ODBC Configuration (last update: 4/7/2008)
SQL Server Management Studio
- Building and customizing SQL Server script templates (last update: 3/28/2008)
- Determine space used for a table using SQL Server Management Studio (last update: 9/26/2008)
- Launching a default Project in SQL Server Management Studio (last update: 10/20/2008)
- Options for scripting SQL Server database objects (last update: 5/21/2008)
- SQL Server Management Studio customized startup options (last update: 10/10/2008)
T-SQL
- Differences between SQL Server temporary tables and table variables (last update: 8/6/2008)
- Using INSERT OUTPUT in a SQL Server Transaction (last update: 12/13/2010)
Testing
- Find, compare and use the same session settings as another SQL Server user (last update: 8/17/2009)
Upgrades and Migrations
- Transition from MS Access to SQL Server with the Migration Assistant (last update: 4/28/2010)