Andy B
@andybrownsword.bsky.social
š¤ 8
š„ 10
š 170
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https://andybrownsword.co.uk
SSMS 22.7 finally introduces T-SQL formatting š§¹ No more extensions needed, simply Ctrl + K, Ctrl + Q, and you're away šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/06/16/f...
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Formatting T-SQL in SSMS: Itās About Time
Dealing with endless formats for SQL scripts is a special type of pain you get to enjoy as a data developer. With the arrival of SSMS v22.7 last week, we have a solution in the form of a T-SQL formā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/06/16/formatting-t-sql-in-ssms-its-about-time/
6 days ago
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š This month's
#tsql2sday
considering the move back to on-prem. Should we sacrifice capability for control?
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/06/09/t...
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T-SQL Tuesday #199 ā Back to the Future IV: On-Premises
This monthĀ the invitation from KoenĀ asks what would happen if we came back from the cloud. Back to On-Prem. Cloud solutions have sliders which magically reduce downtime, performance issues, and accā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/06/09/t-sql-tuesday-199-back-to-the-future-iv-on-premises/
13 days ago
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Long week. Busy weekend. It's 11pm. Jobs are done. I've got pizza š Time to catch up on the Xbox showcase and see what the teams have been cooking for its 25th anniversary š®
15 days ago
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š” KQL isn't SQL. But it isn't as different as people think either. Here's a first look from a SQL Developer's perspective š
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/06/02/k...
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KQL: A SQL Developerās First Look
Someone drops a KQL query in your lap and says āyou know SQL right?ā. Honestly, itās different enough to trip you up, but similar enough that youāll pick it up quickly. In tā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/06/02/kql-a-sql-developers-first-look/
19 days ago
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Most useful AI use-cases aren't replacing people. They're removing friction: š¼ Plant care šØ DIY š Meal ideas š” Faster thinking A few thoughts on the practical side of AI š
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/05/26/e...
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Everyone Should be Using AI
āAI will take our jobsā scares folks away. This past weekend I took a photo of a plant thatās in a bad way, and asked ChatGPT for support. I got a full rundown of positioning, carā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/05/26/everyone-should-be-using-ai/
26 days ago
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ā ļø Cross database queries confusing your Database Projects? ā Project, DACPAC, and Package References solve the problem Here's how šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/05/19/s...
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Solving Cross Database References in Database Projects
Large data solutions can span multiple databases. Iāve recently shared howĀ amazing Database Projects can beĀ but objects which reference across database boundaries can throw up warnings. Is thā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/05/19/solving-cross-database-references-in-database-projects/
about 1 month ago
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The rare and special feeling of dropping into a new Horizon game šÆšµ Currently showing potential to surpass my personal favourite in FH4 š¬š§. Fun, gorgeous, and polished. Cracking time. It's a good weekend to game š®
about 1 month ago
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"Added the column data type to the tooltip when hovering over a column in the results grid" Without length, scale, or precision, you're just teasing me š
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/r...
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Release Notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
Updates, improvements, and bug fixes for the current version of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/release-notes-22
about 1 month ago
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š¬ This month's
#tsql2sday
looking at Change Detection Figuring out the right time and approach to detection can save a lot of unnecessary work šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/05/12/t...
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T-SQL Tuesday #198 ā Change Detection
Being a Data Engineer, this monthāsĀ invitation from MeaganĀ resonates. Sheās asked us to share a tip, technique, or lesson about detecting changes ā which can be crucial to reduce ā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/05/12/t-sql-tuesday-198-change-detection/
about 1 month ago
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Most database projects focus on schema deployment. The real magic? SQLCMD variables šŖ One project, environment-specific configuration, and reusable publish profiles šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/05/05/s...
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Smarter Database Project Deployments with SQLCMD Variables
A regular Database Project deployment is static and delivers consistent results regardless of environment. When it comes to schema, thatās usually desired, butĀ dataĀ is a different sā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/05/05/smarter-database-project-deployments-with-sqlcmd-variables/
about 2 months ago
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Database Projects have landed in SSMS š ā¦but theyāre not complete (yet) Here's what you need to know š
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/04/28/d...
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Database Projects in SSMS Arenāt Quite There (Yet)
Last monthĀ in SSMS v22.4, we had the Database DevOps (preview) workload introduced which brings with it Database Projects. Last weekĀ I shared my favourite features for themĀ which make deployments aā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/04/28/database-projects-in-ssms-arent-quite-there-yet/
about 2 months ago
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Only in Britain š¬š§ "A ban to address a long-running issue of pony-and-trap racing on roads"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Pony and traps to be banned on two Buckinghamshire roads
Buckinghamshire Council says it is a
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2vzrr1wn6o
about 2 months ago
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Still writing deployment scripts by hand? š¤ š” There's a better option (and it's been around for years...) Database Projects šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/04/21/d...
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Database Projects are Amazing for Deployments
If youāve been using Database Projects for simply maintaining copies of your database objects ā like I used to ā then youāve been missing out on the power of its deploymentsā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/04/21/database-projects-are-amazing-for-deployments/
2 months ago
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Failover groups replicate data... ...but logins are your issue š¬ Here's how to keep them in sync šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/04/14/s...
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Syncing Logins Across Managed Instance Failover Groups
Failover Groups for Managed Instances are a great option to replicate data, but they donāt replicate key instance elements ā one of which is logins that live in the master database. If ā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/04/14/syncing-logins-across-managed-instance-failover-groups/
2 months ago
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TOP (1) returning multiple rows? ā Cleaner syntax ā ļø Worse plan šš¼ You'll be paying the syn-tax š°
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/04/07/w...
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Why TOP (1) Can Return Multiple Rows (and Why That Matters)
HavingĀ TOP (1)Ā return multiple rows feels wrongā¦ but thatās whatĀ WITH TIESĀ can do. For a long time I used patterns like this to get the first record in a group: WITHā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/04/07/why-top-1-can-return-multiple-rows-and-why-that-matters/
2 months ago
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š¤ Do you actually know what's running on your SQL Server? Most environments are busier than they look. A quick dive into msdb surfaces the full picture - especially before a migration šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/31/q...
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Querying msdb: A Pre-Migration Audit for SQL Agent Jobs
Most SQL Server environments have more jobs, schedules, and hidden complexities than you realise. Itās only when you arrive at a migration and peek under the hood that the scale is clear. Herā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/31/querying-msdb-a-pre-migration-audit-for-sql-agent-jobs/
3 months ago
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š¤ Can you search a billion row table efficiently without an index? šš¼ Yep - and it can be faster than using one š„
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/24/b...
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Blazing Fast (and Accurate) Searches Without an Index
Last week I demonstrated aĀ fast binary search approachĀ to quickly slice through large unindexed tables. I love the approach, but it fell short in two key areas ā drop-in usage, and proper bouā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/24/blazing-fast-and-accurate-searches-without-an-index/
3 months ago
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ā” Faster than a scan š Faster than an index (+ lookups) š¤Æ No schema changes needed Binary search over correlated data massively reduces the work needed to query large tables šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/17/b...
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Blazing Fast Searches Without an Index
I know, clickbait right? Hear me out. Searching vast log or audit tables without indexes is painful. Narrowing down a specific time range often means scanning millions or billions of rows. But thatā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/17/blazing-fast-searches-without-an-index/
3 months ago
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Adaptive Cards provide a richer and more interactive experience for your notifications in Teams šš»
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/10/e...
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Elevating Teams Notifications using Adaptive Cards
Last week we looked atĀ utilising Teams to make notifications more collaborative. This week I want to show how we can add more visual and interactive elements by adopting Adaptive Cards. What are Adā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/10/elevating-teams-notifications-using-adaptive-cards/
3 months ago
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Email alerts work... until they become noise š A simple Logic App brings pipeline notifications to Teams - with threads, replies, and tagging built in šš»
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/03/b...
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Better Pipeline Notifications using Teams
Whether running Data Factory, Synapse, or Fabric pipelines, things go wrong ā and the de facto response is to send an email. Weāve looked atĀ sending emails from pipelinesĀ before, but atā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/03/03/better-pipeline-notifications-using-teams/
4 months ago
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Simple, consistent, and effective failure tracking for SSIS using package-level Event Handlers šš»
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/02/24/s...
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Simple, Consistent, and Effective Failure Tracking in SSIS
SSIS packages provide great flexibility for integration between systems, but when they go wrong you can end up digging through logs or reports because every package logs differently. A standarised ā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/02/24/simple-consistent-and-effective-failure-tracking-in-ssis/
4 months ago
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š Database Instructions have landed in SSMS š¶š» Today: Copilot gives better responses š“š» Tomorrow: adoption could reshape how we collaborate around databases It's early days, but this could be the start of something bigger šš»
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/02/17/m...
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More Context for Copilot with SSMS v22.3
Last week, Database Instructions landed for GitHub Copilot as part of the SSMS v22.3 release. Database Instructions piggyback on extended properties to give Copilot specific context about database ā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/02/17/more-context-for-copilot-with-ssms-v22-3/
4 months ago
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This month's
#tsql2sday
looking at how code ages badly when it's not designed to fail š§Ø
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/02/10/t...
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T-SQL Tuesday #195 ā How Has My Code Aged?
This month,Ā Pat asks us to consider how our code has aged. Like fine wine, or old milk? A common time to revisit old code is when something breaks. I was contemplating Patās question this weeā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/02/10/t-sql-tuesday-195-how-has-my-code-aged/
4 months ago
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Power BI / Fabric / SSRS š Header rows in paginated reports work well - until they don't. Here's how to fix their behaviour šš»
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/01/27/i...
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Intentional Header Behaviour in Paginated Reports
If youāve tried to get header rows to repeat or scroll as you move through your paginated reports, you may have felt the frustration of getting them working correctly. Whether itās Repoā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/01/27/intentional-header-behaviour-in-paginated-reports/
5 months ago
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Week in Finland wrapped up š«š® Fortunate to venture out for numerous activities. Skiing was a standout with views like this šš» The unexpected highlight was ice karting - full on Tokyo Drift āļø
5 months ago
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This month's
#tsql2sday
focuses on learning from mistakes: Letting order become logic leads to fragile systems āļøāš„
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/01/20/t...
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T-SQL Tuesday #194 ā Learning from Mistakes
Part of the joy of new experiences is making mistakes and learning from them. For this monthās invitation,Ā Louis Davidson asks usĀ to share one of those mistakes to help others learn. The lessā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/01/20/t-sql-tuesday-194-learning-from-mistakes/
5 months ago
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š Power BI and Fabric workspaces are built for authors. Apps give consumers a better experience:
andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/01/13/e...
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Elevate Report Presentation with Apps in Power BI and Fabric
When using Power BI or Fabric workspaces to browse reports, weāre greeted with a list of items and their attributes. While attention is given to report visuals such as bars, pies, candles, anā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2026/01/13/elevate-report-presentation-with-apps-in-power-bi-and-fabric/
5 months ago
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How've the last couple of weeks been? Satisfactory (the game š®) Exploring, planning, and optimising āļø... apparently efficient factories and pipelines are my thing š
6 months ago
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What doesn't go bump in the night? The Halloween problem - because SQL Server solves it for you š
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/30/t...
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The Halloween Problem and SQL Server
Itās not the usual time of year to think about Halloween, but listening toĀ Erik DarlingĀ andĀ Kendra LittleĀ recently on theĀ Dear SQL DBA podcastĀ they mentioned a completely new topic to me:Ā Halā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/30/the-halloween-problem-and-sql-server/
6 months ago
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š§ ISNULL and COALESCE may return the same value, but not the same type:
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/23/u...
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Understanding Return Types with ISNULL and COALESCE
Last week we looked atĀ how expressions are evaluatedĀ with theĀ ISNULLĀ andĀ COALESCEĀ functions. Whilst weāre in the area itās worth running through how data types are selected for them tooā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/23/understanding-return-types-with-isnull-and-coalesce/
6 months ago
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āļø ISNULL and COALESCE may return the same value, but not in the same way:
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/16/u...
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Understanding Expression Evaluation with ISNULL and COALESCE
When eliminatingĀ NULLĀ values with SQL Server queries we typically reach forĀ ISNULLĀ orĀ COALESCEĀ to do the job. Generally speaking theyāll provide equivalent resulā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/16/understanding-expression-evaluation-with-isnull-and-coalesce/
6 months ago
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This month's
#tsql2sday
, sharing a couple of notes with career advice: š¶š¼ ...to my past self š“š¼ ...from my future self
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/09/t...
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T-SQL Tuesday #193 ā A Note to the Past and a Warning from the Future
This monthāsĀ invitation from MikeĀ asks us to write a couple of notes ā one to our past self, and oneĀ fromĀ our future self ā focused on what weĀ wereĀ concerned about, and what weĀ shā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/09/t-sql-tuesday-193-a-note-to-the-past-and-a-warning-from-the-future/
6 months ago
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š Quick win: Add email support to ADF / Synapse pipelines with a lightweight Logic App šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/02/s...
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Sending Emails from Data Factory Pipelines
Not all pipelines in Azure have native options for sending emails. The lucky Fabric folks haveĀ an Office 365 connectionĀ ready to rock. Data Factory and Synapse donāt have email capability buiā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/12/02/sending-emails-from-data-factory-pipelines/
7 months ago
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Winter is coming... (stew in the slow cooker tonight š²)
7 months ago
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š§ The Import Data wizard in SSMS copies columns, not schema. Don't lose the important bits šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/11/25/t...
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The Cost of Convenience with the Import Data Wizard
If you need to create a copy of a table in another database, the āImport Dataā option may seem convenient. If youāve used this method to copy to your dev environment and found thiā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/11/25/the-cost-of-convenience-with-the-import-data-wizard/
7 months ago
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šØ When SQL Server stops responding, the DAC might be your lifeline. See how it works in different offerings:
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/11/18/u...
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Understanding SQL Serverās Dedicated Admin Connection (DAC)
Slow queries are one thing, but under heavy pressure, your SQL Servers might see failed connections or slow responses. When the server isnāt responding we want a back-door we can crack open. ā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/11/18/understanding-sql-servers-dedicated-admin-connection-dac/
7 months ago
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āļø If your Self-Hosted IR doesnāt need to run 24/7, switch the VM on for the work and off when youāre done - and save š°
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/11/11/r...
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Reduce Uptime and Costs for Azure Hosted Integration Runtimes
If you have a Self-Hosted Integration Runtime (SHIR, or IR for short here) on an Azure Virtual Machine (VM), thereās a cost to keep it online. When used intermittently ā for example durā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/11/11/reduce-uptime-and-costs-for-azure-hosted-integration-runtimes/
7 months ago
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āļø Calling Logic Apps from Pipelines āļø Web vs. WebHook: the patterns, pitfalls, and cost savings š°
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/11/04/c...
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Calling Logic Apps from Data Factory Pipelines
Last week weĀ looked at calling a Data Factory Pipeline from a Logic App. This week I thought weād balance it out by taking a look at calling a Logic App from an Azure Data Factory (ADF) Pipelā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/11/04/calling-logic-apps-from-data-factory-pipelines/
8 months ago
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Demonstrating the pattern for calling a pipeline from a Logic App and waiting for completion šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/10/28/r...
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Running Data Factory Pipelines in Logic Apps
When building Azure Logic Apps we can use the Azure Data Factory connector to start a pipeline. However that action simplyĀ triggersĀ a pipeline and doesnāt wait for it to finish. If ā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/10/28/running-data-factory-pipelines-in-logic-apps/
8 months ago
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FTTP finally available and installed. Top class service from Openreach š¤ Upward of 40x uplift on the old copper in one afternoon š¤Æā”
8 months ago
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This month's T-SQL Tuesday looking at string parsing, and filling the Named Groups gap in SQL Server 2025's Regex functions š§©
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/10/21/t...
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T-SQL Tuesday #191 ā Art of the Parsable
This monthās invitation from SteveĀ asks us about our favourite string parsing routines. It conveniently popped up as I wasĀ trying out the new Regular Expression (Regex) functions in SQL Serveā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/10/21/t-sql-tuesday-191-art-of-the-parsable/
8 months ago
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š§ String parsing got an upgrade in SQL Server 2025 with Regular Expressions. Check out the expressions and the power they bring šŖš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/10/14/e...
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Exploring Regular Expressions in SQL Server 2025
String parsing is aĀ regularĀ occurrence when it comes to data engineering. Splitting strings, converting, combining ā all in an effort to bring some order. Sometimes we need a more pā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/10/14/exploring-regular-expressions-in-sql-server-2025/
8 months ago
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I was today years old when I learned bearer tokens could be decoded š¤Æ
8 months ago
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Proactively review and tighten your SSRS security with a couple of quick scripts šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/10/07/r...
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Review Security Drift in Reporting Services
Reporting Services deployments arenāt exactly the latest fashion, so any you stumble upon are probably a little dated and in need of TLC. One place to review would be the security. Security iā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/10/07/review-security-drift-in-reporting-services/
8 months ago
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Integrating with SharePoint from Logic Apps š¤ using the REST API, an App Registration, and a certificate š
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/09/30/f...
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File Operations in SharePoint Using Logic Apps and App Registration
The standard SharePoint connectors in Logic Apps authenticate with Entra accounts. When you want to use an App Registration instead, itās a little trickier. In this post, weāll show howā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/09/30/file-operations-in-sharepoint-using-logic-apps-and-app-registration/
9 months ago
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A bit about debugging and error handling with RAISERROR and THROW šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/09/23/w...
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Why Do We Still Use RAISERROR?
I donāt useĀ RAISERRORĀ often ā I usually forget which severity code to use. After looking at a sprinkling of them recently I decided it was time for a refresher, so come along for the riā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/09/23/why-do-we-still-use-raiserror/
9 months ago
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Great to see 1.0 and the Xbox release for DRG Survivor šŖš¼ Had a blast trying out early access and love diving back in for 1.0! Rock and stone miners āļø
9 months ago
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Quick and easy table row count. That is all. šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/09/16/h...
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How Many Rows Are In That Table?
A question I ask myself often when exploring unfamiliar data sets. So hereās a quickie: SELECT SchemaName = OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME([object_id]), TableName = OBJECT_NAME([object_id]), NumRows = SUā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/09/16/how-many-rows-are-in-that-table/
9 months ago
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š„ļø Den in progress... āļø Love a good flat pack ā Afternoon project complete
9 months ago
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This month's
#tsql2sday
discussion about mastery of skills and my approach to learning šš¼
andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/09/09/t...
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T-SQL Tuesday #190 ā Mastering Skills
This monthās T-SQL TuesdayĀ invitation from ToddĀ asks us to consider mastery of skills. Learning is a continual cycle, a part of our everyday ā be it on a personal or professional journeā¦
https://andybrownsword.co.uk/2025/09/09/t-sql-tuesday-190-mastering-skills/
10 months ago
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