Questions about Comparing Databases with SQL Compare that you were Too Shy to Ask
Phil Factor offers straightforward answers to tricky SQL Compare questions.
2020-09-30
sql compare
Database Development with GitHub
How can you use GitHub to do team-based database development? This article proposes a process that splits development work into task-based GitHub branches, incorporates daily database builds and integration testing, and using Redgate tools to automate tasks such as provisioning, database scripting, and testing.
2020-09-25
Using Filters to Fine-tune Redgate Database Deployments
Filters are used by Redgate's SQL Compare, SQL Source Control, DLM Dashboard, and SQL Change Automation. A typical use for a filter is to work on just one schema within a database or just a limited set of tables and routines. You would also want to use a filter to exclude certain object, such as database users, from comparisons. Phil Factor explains how they work, and how to create, edit and then use them within the various Redgate tools.
2020-09-02
Reverse-Engineering the Production Database into Source Control
Starting out a new database development with source control is relatively easy. To introduce source control into an existing database application can be more challenging. Phil Factor explains some of the fundamental steps.
2020-08-28
Creating a Simple Development Harness with SQL Compare and SQL Data Generator
There is no single, correct approach to developing and testing your SQL batches and routines. It depends on the requirement. For simple tasks, like modifying and testing a view or stored procedure, SQL Compare and SQL Data Generator, combined, provide a useful, lightweight development harness.
2020-07-29
Exploring the SQL Compare Options
Phil Factor dissects and disentangles the various SQL Compare options.
2020-07-28
The Database Development Stage
Phil Factor distills the basic tasks of the database development stage and explains how SQL Compare can help tackle them.
2020-06-12
Using Custom Deployment Scripts with SQL Compare or SQL Change Automation
Phil Factor describes how custom pre- and post-deployment scripts work, when doing state-based database deployments with SQL Compare or SQL Change Automation, and how you might use them to, for example, add a version number to the target database, specify its database settings, or stuff data into some tables.
2019-11-18
Blogs
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25 Years of SQL Server Central
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The Decoded Value
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Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition in Kubernetes: A Cost-Effective Alternative to RDS
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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)See possible answers