Memories of Andrew Clarke, by Simon Galbraith
Simon Galbraith, co-founder of Redgate and one of the creators of Simple Talk, remembers Andrew Clarke
2025-10-24
Articles
DIY Database Clones
This article explores the 'shadow copy' and 'disk virtualization' services built into the Windows operating system and explains a basic solution demonstrating how the technology is used to copy the data and log files for a live SQL Server database into an 'image', from which we can create multiple, lightweight copies, or clones, of the original database.
2025-10-22 (first published: 2021-04-29)
6,031 reads
Why Indexes are Important Beyond Faster Execution of Queries
Learn how indexes can help you with more than just querying data.
2025-10-22
15,217 reads
SQL EXISTS Use Cases and Examples
I’ve seen the SQL EXISTS keyword in Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL code and don’t understand it well. What does it do? How do I use it? Are there best practices around SQL IF EXISTS?
2025-10-22
Database Ledger in SQL Server 2022
Learn how ledger databases and ledger tables work in SQL Server 2022.
2025-10-20
14,487 reads
Mastering SQL VIEWs: Syntax, Use Cases, and Best Practices
VIEWs are an undervalued and underused feature in SQL. They basically consist of a query that has been given a name, and a parameter list, so can be used like an inline macro. Technically, you’re supposed to think of it as a virtual table.
2025-10-20
Building a RESTful API with FastAPI and PostgreSQL
This article shows how to use Python to create a REST API for your application that developers can use to access the database.
2025-10-17
4,659 reads
T‑SQL BULK INSERT vs OPENROWSET: CSV Imports, File Access Gotchas, and A PowerShell Script
Most SQL bulk insert and SQL Server openrowset tutorials skip file access issues that can stop imports cold. Both the bulk insert statement and openrowset function rely on the SQL Server service account to read a source file. The SQL Server service account must have read permission on the file or its folder. It is also convenient to have read & execute as well as list folder content permissions.
2025-10-17
Identify Unused Tables in SQL Server and Azure SQL
This article presents a way to discover those tables that are unused over a period of time, along with suggestions on how to get rid of these tables.
2025-10-15
13,510 reads
No, Accelerated Database Recovery Doesn’t Fix NOLOCK.
I have never seen a T-SQL feature that people love as much as NOLOCK.
2025-10-15
Blogs
Scooby Dooing Episode 10: The Case of the Copy-and-Paste Consultant
Every Scooby-Doo episode has one thing in common — there’s always a fake ghost....
Regression Testing: DAX User Defined Functions
User Defined Functions is a new feature in PowerBI currently in public preview. There...
The fundamental requirements of a reporting system
By ChrisJenkins
There are some fundamental boxes that your reporting system must tick. ✅ The figures...
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Data > Hype
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Create and Read the Analysis Services Flight Recorder
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Slipstream parameters
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Question of the Day
Slipstream parameters
What parameters are needed to enable a slipstream installation for setup.exe (SQL Server setup)?
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