Strate SQL

We all like free stuff.  Especially when we already know it’s something we love.  And if you are reading this blog, you likely love or really like SQL Server.  Or just maybe you are paid to like it.

What ever the reason, the more you know about it the better you will be in applying the features to your business issues.  Which it turn could lead to things like bonuses and a brand new car.

So speaking of free training,  Pragmatic Works, WROX, SQL Server Central, and SQL Server Magazine have gone together to provide a monthly series on SQL Server training. 

This month’s topics are:

SQL Server Parallel Data Warehousing (PDW)
Register!
May 18, 2010 11:00 a.m. EDT
Bruce Campbell, Microsoft

SQL 2008 R2 Parallel DW Appliance (PDW) – formerly known as Project Madison, PDW, is Microsoft’s first DW Appliance. PDW utilizes Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) and will scale out SQL Server 2008 R2 DW from 10’s to 100’s of TBs. PDW has standard support for MPP, High Availability, Linear Scalability and a HUB and Spoke DW Architecture.  In this session Bruce Campbell will present the underlying architecture of PDW and how Parallel processing will improve upon your current data warehousing designs.

The role of Solid State Storage (SSS) in Modern Data Warehouses.
Register!
May 20, 2010 11:00 a.m. EDT 
Sumeet Bansal

Solid State Storage (SSS) is making a significant contribution towards modern Database systems.  In this session, Sumeet will talk about the challenges that traditional storage systems pose for Data Warehouses, and how SSS can alleviate them.  He will talk about the impact of an SSS based Data Warehouse for vastly increased performance and energy efficiency.

Creating Dashboards in PerformancePoint 2010.
Register!
May 25, 2010 11:00 a.m. EDT
Mark Stacey

With the release of Sharepoint 2010, Performance Point Services has evolved into a enterprise ready rapid development dashboarding and scorecarding toolkit.

Creating KPIs, scorecards and dashboards has never been easier.

During this training session, Mark will show how to connect to disparate data sources such as Analysis Services cubes, databases, and information stored in Sharepoint lists, and present this data in scorecards and charts.

If this sounds appealing – run out and get registered at the links above.  Also, keep up to speed with upcoming sessions from the webinar page.

With the next release of SQL Server, data analysis is going to go through a major change with the PowerPivot add-in for Excel and SharePoint.  If you haven’t been keeping up with these changes to Business Intelligence, SSWUG.org has an opportunity for you to get up to speed.  On January 22, 2010 there will be an online conference on PowerPivot with the following sessions:

• Getting started with PowerPivot
• Insight and oversight: the IT perspective on PowerPivot
• Power up your Pivots! Building sophisticated applications with PowerPivot
• Beyond the desktop: PowerPivot in your business infrastructure

Not only is the this a great opportunity to learn about some new features, but it is also a free event.  No excuses not to learn on this day…  hope to see you online.

This week SSWUG is hosting another virtual conference featuring content for SQL, SharePoint, BI, and .NET professionals.  There is a lot going on and like their previous conferences you don’t have to leave the comforts of your beach bungalow to participate in the conference.

I encourage everyone to check this out…

We’re excited to present our 5th vConference series! Attend and find out why the world is raving about these great technical events! Networking with attendees, seeing demonstrations, getting how-to information, Q&A with speakers, downloadable samples and transcripts, on-demand content and much more.

Here’s some of the great content we’re putting together for you

• Scripting techniques for SQL Server
• Powerful .NET development tips and tricks to help in your application development work
• SharePoint key points and techniques, things to optimize your installation
• Troubleshooting and tuning techniques
• Building reports, applying key Business Intelligence (BI) approaches to your work
• Outstanding Sponsorship Opportunities – Be a sponsor! Our sponsorship options are not what you’re used to seeing – contact us today for exciting opportunities.

Our surveys reveal that an incredible 88% of attendees gained knowledge they could use immediately, and 99% said they would probably be recommending a SSWUG.org Virtual Conference in the future.

To register for the event… go here.

I’m speaking at the upcoming SSWUG Ultimate vConference and thought I’d share some reasons to attend the upcoming conference that I got in an e-mail today…

"6 Reasons to Attend SSWUG’s Ultimate vConference This Spring"

(Second round early-bird discounts end on March 1st – Register Now and Save $45!)

1. No planes, no trains and definitely no automobiles.
2. Thirteen simultaneous tracks (which means more than 130 sessions).
3. Over 35 well-known industry expert speakers  that you can interact with live during their sessions.
4. Thirty days of on-demand viewing after the live conference ends.
5. All four disciplines include a brand-new SQL Server 101 track.
6. Early Bird discounts NOW! You can register today for $80 per discipline (a savings of $45).

SSWUG’s Ultimate Spring Virtual Conference

Mark your calendar for April 22,23 and 24.

Check out the sites for more information:

• SQL Server vConference
• Business Intelligence vConference
• .NET vConference
• Sharepoint vConference

It’s become necessary for me to dig into SharePoint a bit.  I’m a huge newbie here so I figure I’ll share all of the links for things I look up in these SharePointy travels.  I expect some of these posts will be very trivial but “hey, I’m learning.”

I had two goals today with the site I am working on.  First was to restrict the surveys in a list group so that by default all users initially see their own items.  And secondly, I needed to prevent non-administrators from viewing items from other users.

To accomplish the first I use the link “How can I restrict views to the contributor’s content, only?”.  This was very straightforward and it’ll make life a lot easier.  After creating the view I changed the navigation for the site to utilize the folder versus a specific view on the folder.  That will make it easier to manage the views in the future.

The second goal was even easier to do than the first.  I changed the Item-Level Permissions: Read Access property under List Advanced Settings to “Only their own” which got me where I needed to be.

Not all too exciting, but since I don’t know Jack about SharePoint I felt pretty warm and fuzzy.

I’ve been working a side-project that involves tying in SharePoint with Reporting Services.  One of my wise co-workers managed to point some of the benefits and constraints that Microsoft has found in using the Reporting Services add-in for SharePoint.

Configuring a report server to run in SharePoint integrated mode provides the following additional functionality that is only available when you deploy a report server in this mode:

• Use document management and collaboration features, including alerts and version control. A SharePoint site provides a unified portal for accessing and managing all documents in one place.
• Use SharePoint permissions and authentication providers to control access to reports, models, and other items.
• Use SharePoint deployment topologies to distribute reports over an Internet connection outside the firewall. A report server provides report and data processing services in the context of a larger SharePoint deployment that is configured for Internet access.
• Manage reports, models, data sources, schedules, and report history in custom application pages on a SharePoint site. You can set properties, define schedules and subscriptions, and create and manage report history on a SharePoint site the same way you create and manage them from other tools in SQL Server.
• View a report in a new customizable Report Viewer Web Part. The Web Part includes page navigation, search, print, and export features.
• Publish or upload reports, report models, resources, and shared data source files to a SharePoint library, including Report Center in Office SharePoint Server.
• Use Report Designer, Model Designer, and Report Builder to create report server items. If you are using the Service Pack 2 version of these tools and if you configure the report server to run in SharePoint integrated mode, you can publish the newly created items directly to a SharePoint library. You can also use the Upload action on a SharePoint site to add any report definitions and report models to a SharePoint library.
• Because the report server processes report definitions in the same way regardless of the server mode you use, the report data and layout is unaffected by server mode. Any report that you can run in a native mode report server can run on a report server that is configured for SharePoint integrated mode.
• Create ad hoc reports using report models and Report Builder. You can generate models and start Report Builder from a SharePoint site. You can add, open, and save ad hoc reports to a SharePoint site. If you are using the Enterprise Edition, you can deploy ad hoc reports that support infinite clickthrough functionality.
• Subscribe to and deliver reports to a SharePoint library using a new SharePoint delivery extension. You can also deliver reports through e-mail or to a shared folder. The report server delivery extensions are used to deliver reports.
• In Office SharePoint Server , connect a Report Viewer Web Part to a Filter Web Part or a Library Web Part in dashboards or Web Part pages.
• Program against a new SOAP endpoint to create custom applications that integrate with a SharePoint site. You can also use the updated Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provider to programmatically configure a report server instance that runs in SharePoint integrated mode.

Unsupported SharePoint FeaturesUnsupported SharePoint Features

• Not all features are available for integrated operations. On the SharePoint site, you cannot use SharePoint Outlook calendar integration or SharePoint scheduling for report server document files. Personalization is also not supported.
• Unsupported Reporting Services FeaturesUnsupported Reporting Services Features

The following features are not available on a report server that runs in SharePoint integrated mode:

• URL addressing is different in SharePoint integrated mode. SharePoint URLs are used to reference reports, report models, shared data sources, and resources. The report server folder hierarchy is not used.
• Reporting Services custom security extensions cannot be deployed or used on the report server. The report server includes a special-purpose security extension that is used whenever you configure a report server to run in SharePoint integrated mode. This security extension is an internal component, and it is required for integrated operations.
• Report Manager or Management Studio cannot be used to manage a report server instance that is configured for SharePoint integration.
• Data-driven subscriptions are not available. This applies to all editions.
• The rs.exe command line utility is not supported. The utility does not support the SOAP endpoint used for programmatic access to a report server that runs in SharePoint integrated mode.
• Linked reports are not supported.
• My Reports is not supported.
• Job management features that allow you to stop a long-running report process are not supported.
• Batching methods will not be supported.