Randolph West

Randolph West is the Microsoft Docs content lead for SQL Server on Linux, and SQL migrations. A former Microsoft Data Platform MVP who has worked with SQL Server since the late 1990s, Randolph solves technology problems with a focus on SQL Server and C#. You can also see Randolph acting on the stage and screen, or doing voices for independent video games.

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Blogs

PowerPoint to HTML with Claude AI

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I had an idea for an animated view of a sales tool, and started...

Don’t Miss Out – SQL Server Query Tuning Fundamentals Starts Next Monday!

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Next Monday, February 9, 2026, my one-day live online training SQL Server Query Tuning...

Monday Monitor Tips: SQL Auditing Preview

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One of the features we advocates have been advocating for is a better way...

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Forums

Tame Those Strings (Series)

By Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Tame Those Strings (Series)

SSRS shared dataset parameters not showing in expression builder

By SLL1966

I am creating shared datasets that our executive staff can use for creating reports...

SSRS shared dataset parameters not showing in expression builder

By SLL1966

I am creating shared datasets that our executive staff can use for creating reports...

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Question of the Day

The Decoded Value

In SQL Server 2025, what is returned from this code: 

DECLARE @message VARCHAR(50) = 'Hello SQL Server 2025!';
DECLARE @encoded VARCHAR(MAX);

SET @encoded = BASE64_ENCODE(CAST(@message AS VARBINARY(1000)));
SELECT BASE64_DECODE(@encoded)

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