Deploying an Updated Model with SQL Compare 16
In a previous post, I deployed a model to a database using SQL Compare 16. This used a new feature in that connects to Redgate Data Modeler. In this...
2026-01-28
23 reads
Steve Jones
- Interests: yoga, reading, biking, snowboarding, volleyball
- Twitter: @way0utwest
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Looking Back at the Redgate 2026 Company Kickoff
Last week I spent a few days in Cambridge, UK for the Redgate Company Kickoff. I landed at 1130a Monday and flew away at 1215p Thursday. I wish I...
2026-01-28 (first published: 2026-01-26)
16 reads
More Documentation is Needed
AI is everywhere, and if you spend any amount of time looking for answers on the Internet to your coding challenges, you've likely encountered a lot of poor, average, good, bad, amazing, and just-helpful-enough AI content. For awhile, I was avoiding the AI summary from Google as the quality seemed slightly off, but lately it's […]
2026-01-28
74 reads
T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: Fuzzy String Search I
Comparing strings has always been hard when we don't have great data quality. If we need exact matches, SQL Server works great. However, we often expect users to enter values without typos and know what values they want to find. Or at least know part of the string. However, matching with wildcards or partial strings […]
2026-01-28 (first published: 2026-01-16)
2,397 reads
Deep Learning and Craftsmanship Matter
GenAI technology is going to change coding, but there is still a lot of work available for humans.
2026-01-26
79 reads
2026-01-26
341 reads
Using AI for Git Hooks
Recently I had someone internally ask about whether SQL Source Control supports Git Hooks. Since it was after UK work hours, I decided to run a quick test. One...
2026-01-26
30 reads
Chopping Off Data
An ETL issue with Excel causes issues, because the users didn't realize a limitation.
2026-01-23 (first published: 2020-10-19)
459 reads
T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: Fuzzy String Search II
In the last article, we examined fuzzy string matching in SQL Server 2025 with a few new functions. We know comparing strings has always been hard when we don't have great data quality. If we need exact matches, SQL Server works great. However, we often expect users to enter values without typos and know what […]
2026-01-23
1,593 reads
Using Prompt AI to Help Setup Data Analysis
I used Claude to build an application that loaded data for me. However, there were a few others things I needed done to help me get the data ready...
2026-01-23 (first published: 2026-01-07)
247 reads
Blogs
Advice I Like: Ranch Rules
By Steve Jones
Leave a gate behind you the way you first found it. – from Excellent...
Fix Slow, Bloated MSDB: Purge Old History And Add Missing Indexes
By SQLPals
Fix Slow, Bloated MSDB: Purge Old History And Add Missing Indexes ...
Three Ways to Use Snowflake Data in Microsoft Fabric
By James Serra
Organizations increasingly want Snowflake and Microsoft Fabric to coexist without duplicating data or fragmenting...
Forums
25 Years of SQL Server Central
Comments posted to this topic are about the item 25 Years of SQL Server...
The Decoded Value
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Decoded Value
Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition in Kubernetes: A Cost-Effective Alternative to RDS
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition...
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)See possible answers