hey all , this is quite interesting topic to start with , since it was completely new for me so I thought of putting this on BIDN so we can all get some knowledge about WML.. Well to start with WMLis totally out of what we have been doing as Website Development is concerned . Just to give an idea let me start with HTML first ... We are alll quite aware of the fact that we use HTML for building web applications , however the word WML was completely unclear to me . Just recently I found out it sta...
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Ta-DA!!!! So we started this show with the Pledge , got wowed with the Turn and finally we've come to the last step: the Prestige! During the last stage of our act we saw a glimpse of the magic of the Summit and we also saw a certain object near and dear to my heart disappear. So how did this all end? Let's get to it. As I've mentioned before this was my first Summit so I really had no idea what to expect going there. I've known from many others that have gone before me that there is ALWAYS some...
W hile flipping through this month’s SQL Server Magazine (December 2010 ), I came across what I thought was a very interesting top 10 list of “ Favorite Go-To Websites for SQL Server Solutions ”. I could not find the list on the website, but if you have the December 2010 magazine, you can find it on page 21 in the Editors’ Best and Community Choice Awards. Here is the list provided by SQL Server Magazine: www.sqlservercentral.com – you can follow me here www.bidn.com – here www.sqlserverpedia.co...
If you are anything like me, you document your SSIS packages for those who may have to maintain them after you move on to other projects. One thing that have disliked is how annotations worked in SSIS. There is no word wrap setting to automatically wrap to the next line, nor could you just hit the enter key to get to the next line. You had to hit CTRL along with the ENTER key to do this. I found it slightly annoying, but like any other annoyances, we accept it for what it is! J Annotations have ...
We have a couple of access programs that we use for data conversions. These programs convert the csv files that are generated from our CRM to a fixed file format that is then uploaded to interface with other government institutions. With the introduction of OFfice 2007 there is this extra step that the users were required to do to enable macros manually every time they use these programs. I thought this manual should not be there for the users so I set out to look at all the options available to...
Today I want to challenge you to solve a problem that I faced recently. I can tell you that was a hell of a challenge algorithm. I found myself with 2 possible solutions. I'm here to listen your solutions and take them in consideration "against" my solution. Here is the problem: Lets say that 3 technicians are sent to customer's house to solve a task. Each technician has a level (1,2,3...and so on). The total task time will be the SUM that each technician took to solve the task, but will not be ...
I stumbled across this site today that contains very useful videos on Microsoft BI tools. There are 39 videos of which I have listed the top five from their site here The first video is a twelve minute introduction entitled "What is Business Intelligence?" This video covers what is meant by terms such as data warehousing and business intelligence and why companies undertake such projects. The second video is a 34 minute overview of how a single data warehouse can be used to deliver business valu...
I have written a couple quick blogs recently sharing some of the new usability changes for SSIS in Denali. In previous posts I wrote about Resolve References and Data Flow Grouping . Today I am writing about another quick tidbit. Annotations are a feature that has been available in previous versions of SSIS. Essentially, they are ways of leaving notes in your package about what is going on with it. People often use annotations to type version change notes of a package or explain what steps in th...
Yesterday I was in a presentation and because we wanted to see most of the screen, there was a requirement to hide the top ribbon see the image below. I suggested to double click on the menu item to hide the ribbon. That is, double click either on Home, Insert, Pge Layout etc. Someone in the room suggested a keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F1 . That worked too. Also keep in mind that this works across all Office 2007 and 2010 applications including Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook etc. I thought of sha...
I found the following interesting announcement on the SilverLight Team Blog about Project Crescent . Here is an extract from the announcement. Project Crescent allows business users to manage data and show information in a truly innovative and exciting way, allowing people to visualize, interact and report on data using highly interactive visualizations, animations and smart querying. One of Crescent’s most exciting features is its integration with PowerPoint. Through a feature called Storyboard...
Hello BIDN Community, As I am sure that most of you know T-SQL fairly well and know how to use the %Like% operator when writing T-SQL. For those of you that don’t know here’s a sample of how you can write a simple T-SQL query using the Like operator. SELECT * FROM [AdventureWorksDW2008] . [dbo] . [DimProduct] where [EnglishProductName] like '%frame%' Check out this link to learn more about the T-SQL operator, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms179859.aspx Ok enough with the T-SQL let’s ge...
Recently, I was asked to install Denali for a client because one of the employees attended PASS 2010 and had seen a session about column based indexing. The client was really eager to begin testing in their environment to see what kind of performance boosts they would gain. As an obedient consultant, I installed Denali and created the database, file groups, partition function and a partition scheme for the test. While doing all this, I researched as much as I could find (not much out there on De...
I was so excited when I found out that Denali was released last week. Like it was Christmas time, I almost immediately went to download it and then I looked for what was new. J Unfortunately though, in the CTP that was released, there are no changes to Reporting Services. Now, that doesn't mean that future CTP's won't have modifications as I have read that they do plan on releasing some changes. Just not on this one! So don’t feel left out and keep your eyes out for what is coming soon. J UPDATE...
The Pragmatic Works Foundation was created to find passionate people who are interested in joining the technology field but cannot make the financial investments needed for training and hardware. Working with our job placement partners our goal is to place all candidates who complete training with a new career in technology. What does it involve? After submitting a personal profile to be considered, qualified candidates will be selected to attend an orientation. The purpose of the orientation is...
Since this week is Thanksgiving and I was busy as mess on Friday, I figured I would wait to post the solution to last week's MDX puzzle until today and take a week off from blogging while I celebrate Thanksgiving with the family. To solve Encounters of the Fourth Kind, you needed to take advantage of two MDX functions: the Ancestor function and the IIF function . So lets start off with a base query that has Reseller Sales Amount on the columns and Products on the rows: SELECT [Measures].[Reselle...
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 ...
So looks like we have another blog party on our hands, this time courtesy of Jen McCown ( Blog | Twitter ), one half of the MidnightDBA brand ! This is such a great topic especially coming from a couple who have built up quite a successful brand for themselves in the community and continue to grow it. Check out both their entries ( Jen | Sean ) on this topic as they both have really interesting views on this stuff. Branding is a funny thing. It can go one of two ways: you can create a brand that...
There have been several usability features that have been added to SSIS in the latest CTP. One of these features is Grouping in the Data Flow. This is a feature that exists in current versions of SSIS but only in the Control Flow. It will work the same way it currently does in the Control Flow, so it is purely an organizational tool. To apply grouping simply select multiple data flow objects then right-click and select Group. The group can be collapsed by hitting the up arrow. The result looks l...
I was trying to create a Named set in SSAS 2008 using the MDX calculations. I wanted to include all of the members of a hierarchy except one of them. I started with trying to use the filter expression and this worked but was very cumbersome to get the syntax right. I finally switched over to the MDX function “Except”. To create a Named Set in Analysis Services Click on the Calculation tab and then the Named Set button across the top. The Code in the Named Set was: Except ( {[Referral Type].[Refe...
On many occassions I have worked on SSIS packages that need Script Tasks. And in an attempt to get the package done quickly, I drag over the Script Task open it up and immediately click on the edit button... And right about that time, I realize that I have opened a Microsoft Visual C# script when I wanted to open a Visual Basic script. Unfortunately, once you select "Edit Script...", you cannot go back and change it, you're forced to delete the Script Task and drag over a new one. One thing you ...