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?
Database Ledger in SQL Server 2022
Learn how ledger databases and ledger tables work in SQL Server 2022.
Limiting the Ability to Concentrate and Collaborate
Open offices have an interesting side effect: less collaboration.
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.
I Love Editorials
Why do I love editorials, I can hear you asking. The answer is simple. It's all about opinions. I have opinions. Lots of them. Lots and lots of them. I'm flying home from Hong Kong after visiting a Redgate customer. They are doing amazing work.. It's so cool getting to see how people are solving […]
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.
The Journey to PostgreSQL (or anything)
Learning is fundamental in technology. Steve has a few thoughts on adopting a new technology at work.
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.
No, Accelerated Database Recovery Doesn’t Fix NOLOCK.
I have never seen a T-SQL feature that people love as much as NOLOCK.
Blogs
The Book of Redgate: Spread across the world
By Steve Jones
This was Redgate in 2010, spread across the globe. First the EU/US Here’s Asia...
Merry Christmas
By John
Today is Christmas and while I do not expect anybody to actual be reading...
Self-Hosting a Photo Server the Whole Family Can Use
By Bert Wagner
Until recently, my family's 90,000+ photos have been hidden away in the depths of...
Forums
Database backup job steps
I have a SQL Agent job for backing up a set of Analysis Services...
SQL Server 2025 Backup Compression Algorithm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server 2025 Backup Compression...
The Large Encoded Value
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Large Encoded Value
Question of the Day
The Large Encoded Value
I want to use the new BASE64_ENCODE() function in SQL Server 2025, but return a string that isn't large type. What is the longest varbinary string I can pass in and still get a varchar(8000) returned?
See possible answers