How to retrieve META information from Microsoft SQL Server, using the INFORMATION_SCHEMA, with system tables (sysobjects, sysindexkeys, sysindexes, syscolumns, systypes, etc) and/or with system stored procedures (T-SQL).

Since I keep getting emails asking for help with PEAR::Pager, here's a couple of new examples about the most requested features: 1) how to use Pager with a template engine like Smarty; 2) how to use Pager_Wrapper to paginate database results and display them using AJAX.

PostgreSQL table audit: a tutorial featuring a working example with triggers and a PL/TCL function. Or: for once in a while, PHP is not the right tool ;-)

Cheat sheet for the upcoming Firebird 2. A handy reference of the FB2 datatypes, an useful query reference and a list of the PHP Firebird/Interbase functions.

Cheat sheet for PostgreSQL 8. A handy reference of the PostgreSQL datatypes, an useful query reference (with an eye on the INFORMATION_SCHEMA tables) and a list of the internal PostgreSQL functions.

How to navigate through the paragraphs of a long article with PEAR::Pager.

Some clarification about charset settings for the various DBMS (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Firebird/Interbase, Oracle, Sqlite) and a call for help for charset setting support in PEAR::MDB2.

Paginate database results with PEAR::Pager, in an efficient way.

New series of tutorials on PEAR::Pager.

An idea for safer db applications: use read-only db access wherever possible. Use GRANT to create an user with read-only rights, and use it to prevent SQL injection attacks.