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Implementing a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pattern with Microsoft SQL Server 2025 allows you to ground generative AI responses in real-time company data without the need for model fine-tuning. This version of SQL Server functions as a native vector database, enabling seamless integration between relational data and AI-powered insights. Incorrect: [Not B] Training a custom language model is not a use case for the Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) pattern. In fact, the primary purpose of RAG is to provide a language model with up-to-date information without the need for training, retraining, or fine-tuning. Reference: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/azure-sql/sql-server-2025-embraces-vectors-setting-the-foundation-for-empowering-your-data-with-ai 

Azure AI integrates with SQL to enable intelligent insights like natural language queries, anomaly detection, and predictive analytics. 

Azure OpenAI Service allows users to query structured SQL data using natural language via LLMs. 

Vector embeddings enable similarity search, allowing semantic queries beyond exact matches. 

AI models (like OpenAI) are typically accessed via APIs, which SQL apps call externally. 

To disable GitHub Copilot repository-level instructions for yourself without affecting others, you can modify your User Settings in Visual Studio Code. This allows you to override or ignore specific repository-wide configurations like copilot-instructions.md at a personal level. How to Disable Repository-Level Instructions 1. Open User Settings: Press Ctrl+, (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+, (macOS) to open the VS Code Settings editor. 2. Search for Copilot Chat: In the search bar, type github.copilot.chat.customInstructions. 3. Configure Custom Instructions: Find the setting for Github > Copilot > Chat: Custom Instructions. Ensure the User tab is selected at the top to apply changes only to your account and not the shared workspace. 4. Toggle via Chat UI: Open the Chat view (Ctrl+Alt+I or Cmd+Shift+L). Click the Configure Chat (gear icon) at the bottom of the chat panel. Select the Instructions tab and uncheck or remove any active repository-level files to disable their influence on your session. Reference: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/custom-instructions

To achieve this using SQL Graph in Azure SQL, you use the MATCH clause to define the path. Since you need exactly two directed relationships (A →B →C), you must chain the edge table twice in the same direction. Transact-SQL Statement SELECT Person3.ID, Person3.NameColumn -- Replace with your actual nvarchar(100) column name FROM PersonNodeTable AS Person1, KnowsEdgeTable AS Knows1, PersonNodeTable AS Person2, KnowsEdgeTable AS Knows2, PersonNodeTable AS Person3 WHERE MATCH(Person1-(Knows1)->Person2-(Knows2)->Person3) AND Person1.ID = @InputID; Use code with caution. Key Components MATCH Clause: Defines the traversal pattern. The syntax (Node)-(Edge)->(Node) ensures the relationship is directed. Chaining: To get "exactly two" steps, you define three node aliases and two edge aliases. Aliases: Each instance of the table must have a unique alias (e.g., Person1, Person2, Person3) so the engine can distinguish between the different points in the path. Filtering: The WHERE clause uses your input parameter (@InputID) to set the starting point of the graph traversal Incorrect: [Not A] Need three persons, not two. [Not B] Do not use JOIN. [Not C] Incorrect MATCH statement. Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/graphs/sql-graph-sample

In a Microsoft Fabric SQL database, you can use the REGEXP_REPLACE function (introduced as part of the SQL Server 2025/Always-up-to-date engine updates) to normalize email subaddresses. Solution using REGEXP_REPLACE The command you proposed correctly extracts the email string from the JSON document and applies a regular expression to strip the plus-sign subaddress. SELECT REGEXP_REPLACE(JSON_VALUE(Payload, '$.customer_email'), '\+.*@', '@') AS NormalizedEmail FROM YourTable; Breakdown of the Command JSON_VALUE: Efficiently extracts the customer_email as a scalar string from your Payload column. REGEXP_REPLACE: Searches for the pattern \+.*@ (a literal plus sign followed by any characters until an @) and replaces that entire matched segment with just @. Native Support: Unlike older versions of SQL Server that required complex CHARINDEX and SUBSTRING workarounds, Fabric SQL databases now include this modern regex functionality. Reference: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/azure-sql/exciting-new-t-sql-features-regex-support-fuzzy-string-matching-and-bigint-support-in-dateadd-preview/ 

Use RETURN to produce the scalar value of the function. In an Azure SQL Database scalar function (a user-defined function that returns a single value), you must use the RETURN statement to return the scalar value. The RETURN statement immediately terminates the function's execution and returns the value specified in its argument to the calling statement or procedure. The value returned must be of the data type specified in the RETURNS clause of the function definition. The second argument to DATEDIFF should be @OrderDate as it is the start date, while the third argument is the end date, which is the current date. Note: DATEDIFF (Transact-SQL) This function returns the count (as a signed integer value) of the specified datepart boundaries crossed between the specified startdate and enddate. Syntax DATEDIFF ( datepart , startdate , enddate ) Arguments datepart Specifies the units in which DATEDIFF reports the difference between the startdate and enddate. Commonly used datepart units include month or second. Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/functions/datediff-transact-sql

To initialize the Data API builder (DAB) configuration to read the SQL connection string from your Container Apps secret, use the following dab init command: dab init --database-type mssql --connection-string "@env('MSSQL_CONNECTION_STRING')" Why this command works --database-type mssql: Specifies that you are connecting to an Azure SQL or SQL Server database. @env('MSSQL_CONNECTION_STRING'): This is the built-in DAB function that tells the runtime to substitute the value of the specified environment variable at load time. Since your Container Apps secret is mapped to MSSQL_CONNECTION_STRING, DAB will resolve it automatically when the container starts. --connection-string: This flag sets the data source connection. By using the @env() syntax here, you ensure the secret remains out of the static configuration file. Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-init

To extract an ID (e.g., alphanumeric) from the first paragraph of an nvarchar(max) column in Microsoft Fabric using STRING_ESCAPE, use STRING_SPLIT or CHARINDEX to isolate the first paragraph, apply STRING_ESCAPE, and a regex pattern. Note: T-SQL does not natively support a REGEXP_SUBSTR function like Oracle/Snowflake. The solution below uses STRING_ESCAPE followed by pattern matching via PATINDEX and SUBSTRING to extract a typical alphanumeric ID. Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/queries/contains-transact-sql