This season, as we continue to grow and partner with some of the best of the best in the industry. I find myself very thankful. We have been blessed to hire many that were under or unemployed and are now kicking butt in the BI, SharePoint and SQL Server world. I have been both under an unemployed at times in my life and I realize it’s the little things that make our team the best. So this season I thought I would share some of the reasons I’m not only thankful for our growth and success at Pragm...
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Have you been trying to figure out how to take your career in Microsoft BI, SharePoint and SQL Server to the next level? Have you wanted to go from being the best at what you do to being the best in BI and other technologies? Do you have a passion for the community and sharing what you know with others? Do you want to be mentored by the best in the business to reach your ultimate potential? Do you want to give yourself the holiday gift of a new and exciting career? Then we’re looking for you! Pr...
Hey Folks, Welcome to another edition of Motivational Monday. Today’s entry is sponsored by vets everywhere. I’m sure they know better than to sleep in the bunked just off the 8th green at the hotel for dogs. Have you ever heard the saying – “Don’t pee on my head and tell me it’s raining”? The important part of that saying is not that is gross, but that we remember to always shoot straight when communicating. Some key tips when communicating (and some pet peeves of mine) are: 1. Make sure your d...
Have you ever been “dragged” to a long weekend afternoon at a craft fair? Did it look something like this? This smiling lady with the 5 o’clock shadow holding the jugs is excited about one of two things. 1. There is unusually high amounts of traffic at at the Jacksonville Craft Fair this weekend. 2. He? She? just found out about all the cool projects on CodePlex.com related to SQL Server. If you have not checked out Codeplex.com , you need to get on over there. This is an open source site sponso...
Hey folks – It’s time again for SQL Saturday Tampa. Original Birthplace of Iron Chef SQL Server. I have submitted this session again in hopes that it will drive some really fun times for a lot of us to hang out and see who will challenge me? It should be interesting!! We have submitted a lot of great sessions among the other great topics that will be at the event. Make sure to check it out @ www.sqlsaturday.com . Until then – SELECT ‘Stay classy ’ + @YourCityWhereverYouAre +’.’ Want to stay conn...
Hey folks, Just a quick preview that we’re hard at work again on a new book with Wiley publishing focused on SharePoint and all of the cool BI functionality. We don’t have a release date, but we’re plugging away to get it to you early in 2011. Stay tuned. In the meantime, check out our other 24 Hour Trainer books that have already helped thousands get going on Microsoft business intelligence. Knight’s 24-Hour Trainer: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Integration Services Knight’s Microsoft Business Int...
Hey folks, we all know that there are some great training organizations out there (AHEM Pragmatic Works, AHEM). I hate it when I write early and something is stuck in my throat. Anyhow – I wanted to bring up some really cool training that is out there for you to go get for free from Microsoft. It’s a set of really good virtual labs on Technet. They cover all kinds of stuff. Make sure to go check them out and see what there is to offer. There are labs for new features on SQL Server 2008 R2, Busin...
Have you ever had to take a long column of data in Excel and turn it into a column? There are several ways to do this but lately I have been using a new PASTE feature to do this.Here’s how it works. 1. Take a long row of data as shown below. 2. Select and Copy the Row 3. Then Right-Click and Find the “Paste Special” items 4. Select the 4th option from the left (Paste Transpose) and watch what happens. 5. Taa Daa ! Until then – SELECT ‘Stay classy ’ + @YourCityWhereverYouAre +’.’ Want to stay con...
Hey folks – A quick one today since I’m travelling, but I am sharing something I often share with my clients to make sure they are prepared to discuss new features and capabilities in SQL Server 2008R2. The image below is a sample of the videos available at Microsoft SQL Server Tour Videos. Until then – SELECT ‘Stay classy ’ + @YourCityWhereverYouAre +’.’ Want to stay connected to all the coolest SQL, SharePoint, BI and DBA content around? Then stay involved with the SQL Community here: Twitter ...
Today is a topic that is close to my heart. Many of you probably don’t know that the SQL pass organization has not only support for in person chapters but virtual chapters as well. These chapters range in everything from application development to data architecture and database administration. We also have Oracle virtual chapters as well as international virtual chapters and chapters that focus on SQL Azure, Women in technology and virtualization; not just your typical SQL Server topics but all ...
I had some fun last week presenting to the Space Coast User Group in Melbourne as well. They were so much fun and had some really great questions. Thanks Guys and Gals! I’m so sorry about the last minute change but I hope you all enjoyed the free beer. Bonnie and the team there were so gracious to have me! Remember to let me know if you have any questions about our chat on Analysis Services. Adam – @Adam_Jorgensen
Hey folks, I recently had the privilege of joining my hometown user group South Florida SQL Server User Group for a live meeting session on Zero to Cube. It was a great time and I really appreciate the questions. I promised to post some links to resources so here they are .. Books and Training Knight’s 24 Hour Trainer Business Intelligence Professional SQL Server Analysis Services Analysis Services 2008 Unleashed Pragmatic Works Training Classes Microsoft Resources Happy Hunting. Please email me...
Hey Folks. I’m coming to you live from SQLPASS Summit in Seattle. It’s already looking like a great event and there are only the precon folks here so far. That participation in spired me to make today’s motivational Monday about getting involved. Don’t let people tell you getting involved won’t make a difference or you won’t learn anything or any of the other lame excuses people make for not doing something they know would help them. Get involved people!! Check out my other blogs or email me for...
In life there are not many guarantees. For DBA’s and developers there are a few: 1. Backups will become corrupted but only when you need them. 2. Clusters will fail to fail over 3. Your plan does have a whole in it. None of us are perfect and if we make a plan it will have a flaw or exploit that we cannot see or manage in a cost effective way. 4. Whatever you planed for should be re-planned until you feel you’ve covered all your bases. (See Below)… Take this motivational Monday and revisit your ...
I have been meaning to write this for a while, but i wanted to wait for a break in SQLDrama. (i.e. NomCom elections, PASS Summit Selections, Patrick’s Ego being but away for good and other important events). I have notices a swell in the SQL Community in the last few years and it’s fills me with tremendous pride to be a part of such a brother and sisterhood of folks who are so focused on growing each other, themselves, and the products the use every day. I love the fact that we can constructivel...
Ok so I know this is late, but I wanted to thank Jack, Andy and the team at the Orlando SQL Server User Group for their efforts in pulling this together. As usual it was a great event. I got the chance to try out a new presentation on Dashboarding which I think was well received. (Everyone I paid to clap did so dutifully and keeps their 5 dollars). I’m running SharePoint locally on my workstation and while there are some limitations, it’s a method you want to explore so i am posting the link to ...
I don’t mean a LaRock aka SQLRockstar, but an actual rock. I was at dinner last week after our all day session at SSWUG’s Fall Vconference. Some of the great folks in Tucson were nice enough to come out and let Patrick (@PatrickDBA) and I feel like we had groupies.. Riiiight . They informed us that this was the first time they had heard of SQL Saturday. I know if you’re reading this you’ve heard of this event. It so great and an incredible service from your local chapters, PASS and local volunte...
For those of you who have seen our team present, we always do our best to make it really informative, drive value and give you something you can leave with and immediately use without a lot of fuss and muss. Well there is some exciting news. We are up for a possible PreCon at the SQLRally event that is being held in Orlando next year. There is some stiff competition, but with all due respect to those who are also up for selection in the BI Session category, our session will cover more, be more e...
Hey Gang, Sorry for the absence. I have been offline for a bit dealing with some family stuff. All if good now and I’m back in the saddle. So What better way to get going than with another on of our motivational Monday series’. Today’s lesson comes from our friends the Anti Tank Dogs. For those of you familiar with my puppy/child you will know that I would rip that tank apart before letting it near my pup, but this dog is determined to get this tank and bring it down. Tenacity is admirable, but ...
This week we’re highlighting a new whitepaper on Configuring Kerberos Authentication for Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Products. It’s written by Tom Wisnowski and the ret of the SQL CAT team has contributed.. You can get it here http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=196600 and it’s a great resource for getting Kerberos working in your SharePoint 2010 environment. All to often I have heard folks saying “Oh we have to use Kerberos? Isn’t there another option?” This is because Kerberos can be tricky a...
Thanks for coming to today's webinar. We had a great turnout and hope to see you again soon. I have posted the powerpoint from the session here! Thanks everyone! - Adam
For those of you whose BI projects never resemble your prom night (never getting past first base), it’s probably time to consider a more agile approach. Literally. Agile methodologies can deliver a serious injection of accomplishment and user credibility by delivering the project in chunks. IT has been very successful for us and is a foundation to the types of engagements our clients are most excited about. There is a great book called Agile Project Management with Scrum. Check it out and get ou...
Quick update from your PASS BI Virtual Chapter folks! September 29th, Mike Davis is doing a session on SSRS R2: The New Stuff . In this session Mike shows you the new features in Reporting Services 2008 R2. You will learn how to use the Map control, Sparkline, Indicator, and Data Bars. See the new report builder 3.0. Learn about shared Data sets and report parts. Learn how to drill down from the US level to the state level using the map controls. About Mike – Mike Davis, MCTS, MCITP, is a Senior...
Hey folks, With high availability being so “high” on everyone’s list mirroring is a hot topic. This article by Sanjay Mishra and Prem Mehra talks about all the ways you can implement mirroring with a large number of databases without scaling to multiple instances. The articles’ overview is here” A frequently asked question regarding database mirroring is: How many databases can be mirrored in a single instance of Microsoft ® SQL Server®? This question is often raised by customers who are consoli...
Motivational time again! Have you ever worked on a project where someone was seeking their moment in the sun for an award or promotion? This can sometimes cloud their judgment or to rush something that they otherwise would have taken more time on in order to make a deadline. In my career I have had to dead with both sides of this coin. I have been the line holding that guy back, and that guy working towards improving my standing in an organization. It’s difficult on both sides. The trick is to a...