SQL Server's OpenJson function will let you dismantle JSON structures into relational tables, including tables with foreign/primary key relationships. As I noted in an earlier column, JSON is great ...

Which makes for a better primary key: natural data points or meaningless values? Database developers have strong opinions on this facet of primary key design. This article settles the debate once and ...

When working on a multidimensional design, every fact table within scope should be handled with care. In an ideal world, each low-level fact table represents the metrics related to a business event.

The superiority of surrogate versus natural keys is a hotly debated topic among database developers. Susan Harkins offers some insights into when — and why — you might choose one over the other.