Product learning

Posts by

Louis Davidson

I am a SQL Server professional with over 30 years of experience in data modeling, SQL Server coding and internals, and ETL.

I’ve been part of the SQL Server community for many years, as a speaker and writer, and have an equally long-standing enthusiasm for Dollywood and DisneyWorld, as a self-confessed roller coaster addict.

Louis Davidson

19 November 2025

Louis Davidson

19 November 2025

SQL Prompt AI Versus Smart Quotes

SQL Prompt AI can repair certain types of broken SQL almost instantly, saving hours of clean-up time. Just prompt it clearly, check the results are exactly what you intended, and you're ready to run. Read more

24 April 2022

24 April 2022

Sharing SQL Prompt Code Snippets and Styles via the Redgate Platform

SQL Prompt users can now share formatting style or code snippets in designated Team spaces on the Redgate Platform. Louis Davidson explains how it works. Read more

23 February 2021

23 February 2021

Reusing Query Results in SSMS

Every time you need to reuse the query results from SSMS, for example to populate another table, or to search for matching rows in another table, it will inevitably mean a lot of manual tweaking to the get the results into the right format. Louis Davidson uncovers three SQL Prompt gems that can remove... Read more

5 November 2020

5 November 2020

Sharing SQL Code Snippets with Coworkers, The World and Yourself

Louis Davidson explains how he manages and shares several different sources of SQL Prompt code snippets, in a single Snippet library, using Dropbox and source control. Read more

Louis Davidson

25 June 2020

Louis Davidson

25 June 2020

SQL Prompt Snippets to Drop Columns and Tables and Handle Associated Dependencies

Louis Davidson provides a pair of SQL Prompt snippets that will help you deal with dependencies, whenever you need to drop columns or tables. Read more

11 February 2020

11 February 2020

Using SQL Prompt Code Snippets for Repetitive Tasks

Louis Davidson discovers the joy of using SQL Prompt code snippets to remove repetition from a variety of tasks, from inserting comment headers, to creating tables, to executing useful metadata queries. Read more

13 November 2019

13 November 2019

Finding Correlated Rows Using EXISTS or COUNT

Should you always use EXISTS rather than COUNT when checking for the existence of any correlating rows that match your criteria? Does the former really offer "superior performance and readability". Louis Davidson investigates. Read more

23 April 2019

23 April 2019

Refactoring Databases with SQL Prompt

Louis Davidson demonstrates how SQL Prompt can significantly lessen the pain involved in occasional, 'heavyweight' database refactoring processes, such as renaming modules, tables and columns (Smart Rename), or splitting tables (Split Table). Read more

Louis Davidson

27 March 2019

Louis Davidson

27 March 2019

Refactoring a Batch or Object with SQL Prompt

Louis Davidson reveals some useful Prompt features for refactoring individual code blocks or modules during development, which will improve code quality, reduce tedium, make testing simpler, or sometimes all three. Read more

9 January 2019

9 January 2019

How to Apply Non-Standard SQL Formatting Using SQL Prompt

SQL Prompt not only will format your code exactly as you want, but will also help you switch quickly to an alternative style, or to apply exceptions to certain parts of a SQL script, where your preferred style isn't what's required. Read more

SQL code formatting

Posts by Louis Davidson

Posts by

Louis Davidson