SQL Server FYI...

SQL Server 2005 SP3 - Your Vote is Needed!!!

2008-03-06T16:52:00Z

The current "buzz" about SQL Server is the upcoming release of SQL Server 2008 and all the new features that will help to revolutionize the way data is used. This is awesome and it's great that Microsoft is sticking with their promise to release new versions of the product every 2-3 years. But, I feel it's just as important for Microsoft to focus on the quality of the current version that is being used on production systems today.

Vote Here for SQL Server 2005 SP3:

http://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=326575

Verbage from connect.microsoft.com:

Since Service Pack 2 was relelased, numerous bugs have been fixed. They are available in cumulative update packages (6 to date). However, Microsoft recommends customers not to install these cumulative updates unless affected by one of the fixed bugs. That creates a dilemma for SQL Server administrators. You do not want to install a package if Microsoft recommends against it, but you also want to take pro-active action so that you can squash the bug BEFORE it affects you.

See Comments on this topic from other folks like you:

http://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/Validation.aspx?FeedbackID=326575

SQLDiva

Free Business Intelligence/Business Objects Session: 2/21 at the Hanover Marriot (Whippany, NJ)

2008-02-13T01:41:00Z

Calming the Information Storm

A seminar focused on optimizing trust and visibility into your data using Business Intelligence (BI), and maximizing the effectiveness through BI user adoption

You've automated your business processes and invested in CRM, ERP and other operational systems. Yet, you feel inundated by the storm of data coming in and out of your system. Isn’t it time to optimize your investments and convert your data into a strategic asset that all of your business and IT stakeholders will be able to leverage?

Attend our seminar to discover how you can use your data as your competitive edge and get everyone on board with the strategy. Learn how other organizations have successfully capitalized on Business Intelligence to achieve corporate goals and overcome 3 key informational challenges surrounding:

	1.		Data integrity and trust—learn more
	2.		Consolidation and automation of performance metrics—learn more
	3.		User adoption—learn more

Do you relate to any of the touch points above and wish to calm the manic data storm? Then this is a seminar you do not want to miss! Register now

We look forward to seeing you.

SQLDiva




February 21, 2008 8:00am–12:00pm *Marriott Hanover* 1401 Route 10 East Whippany, NJ, 07981 Cost: Complimentary

Crystal Reports 2008: Free 30-Day Trial

2008-02-03T17:05:00Z

Crystal Reports is currently offering a 30 Day Trial available for download so developers can sample first hand the new features and interface.

Please see additional resources listed below:

Crystal Reports 2008 Home Page (Features & Demos/What’s New/Sample Reports)

Webinar - Introduction to Crystal Reports 2008: Productivity and Visualization (Pre-recorded)

Webinar - Getting to Know Crystal Reports 2008: XML, What-If Analysis, and Deployment Options (Pre-recorded)

Diamond Developer Community for the latest Crystal Reports .NET developer information including white papers, blogs, forums, webinars and more.

SQLDiva

RIP: Ken Henderson, 1966 - 2008

2008-01-30T19:45:00Z

It is with great sadness that I report that at the young age of 41, Ken Henderson passed away on January, 27th. Many of us are familiar with his many "Guru's Guide to SQL" books. I've spent many hours with his books. I'm sorry that I never got a chance to meet Ken. So Sad....

Ken's Books on Amazon.Com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/102-8888029-6567367?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=ken+henderson+SQL

Kalen Delaney's Blog Entry regarding Ken: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/kalen_delaney/archive/2008/01/29/ken-henderson.aspx

Ken's Blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/khen1234/default.aspx

SQLDiva

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Releasing in Q3

2008-01-28T16:10:00Z

Last Friday, a Microsoft Blog (http://blogs.technet.com/dataplatforminsider/archive/2008/01/25/microsoft-sql-server-2008-roadmap-clarification.aspx) announced that SQL Server 2008 will not be released until the 3rd Quarter of 2008.

This news isn't unexpected and I'm sure a lot of SQL Server Professionals out there will enjoy having their "2008 Summer Vacation" to get up to speed with SQL Server 2008. Enjoy the extra time!!!

SQLDiva

2006 PASS Community Summit Tidbits....

2006-11-22T17:53:00Z

During the 2006 PASS Community Summit, I discovered the interesting SQL Server Websites listed below.

I hope this helps you with your journey through the SQL Server Technologies!!!

SQL Server Best Practices on Microsoft TechNet:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/bestpractice/default.mspx

Dell Website that includes SQL Server Specific information.
www.dell.com/sql

SQL Server 2005 Tools, Utilities & Examples from the Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit
http://www.msftdwtoolkit.com/ToolsandUtilities/ToolandUtilities.htm

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

SQLDiva

NJ Code Camp III Registration Now Open!

2006-11-11T04:13:00Z

Registration for NJ Code Camp III is now open.

For more information, please see www.njcodecamp.org or refer to Peter Laudati's blog post.

Please note that you must register for the code camp on the Microsoft Events Site.

SQLDiva

I’m off to the PASS Community Summit….

2006-11-10T15:48:00Z

It’s Friday morning and I kind of feel like a kid 2 days before Christmas. Do you remember that feeling? I can’t think about anything other than the conference and I have this squishy feeling in my stomach. I am so incredibly excited about attending the PASS Community Summit. In the past, I attending 2 TechEd Conferences (2000/2005) and 2 SQL DevConnections Conferences (2001/2004) and those conferences were great. But, I’m expecting this one to be AWESOME.

I’m flying to Seattle from NJ on Sunday evening and will be staying at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel right next to the Seattle Conference Center. It should be great to be right next to the conference center. If you want to read about the horrible tale of someone staying 40 minutes via metro from the TechEd Europe conference center, see my hubby’s blog. Since this is my first trip to Seattle, I’m hoping to see a few of the sites on Monday before my sessions start. On Tuesday, I will be attending PASS Volunteer training and then starting on Wednesday the ‘Hardcore’ presentations start. I’m also looking forward to the Women in Technology luncheon on Thursday. As the years have passed by, I’ve made a lot of techie guy friends, but I don’t have a lot of techie girlfriends. So, it would be great to meet a few more. I also have been invited to a few dinners/parties on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, but I will be winging it on Monday and Tuesday night. If you want to meet up with me during the conference, please feel free to contact me.

I will be attending most of the sessions in the “Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence” and “Database & Application Development” track.
But, I will definitely be attending the sessions listed below.

Wednesday
Part 1: Enabling BI Analytics with Excel 2007, SharePoint 2007 and SQL Server 2005 (Thierry D'Hers)
Part 2: Enabling BI Analytics with BSM, Proclarity, Sharepoint 2007 and SQL Server 2005 (Sanjay Soni)

Thursday
Handling Dimensions ETL with SQL Server 2005 Integration Services (Erik Veerman)
Testing and Refactoring Your Database with Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals (Gert Drapers)

Friday
Message in a Bottle: SQL Service Broker from 1 to 100 in 75 Minutes (Klaus Aschenbrenner)
Design Reports in MS Office & Deliver with SQL Reporting Services (Jeff Gutridge)

Hope to see you there!!!

SQLDiva

Free MeasureUp Certification Practice Tests until 8/31

2006-08-17T16:29:00Z

MeasureUp is offering free practice tests until 8/31.

If you would like to take advantage of MeasureUp's offer,
follow the steps below:

1. Select your Practice Test
2. Use COUPON CODE MUP81506 at checkout by August 31, 2006
3. Start practicing.

SQLDiva

MSDN Webcast: Team Edition for Database Professionals Four-Part Series

2006-08-09T12:58:00Z

Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals (Part 1 of 4): Overview
Tuesday, August 01, 2006 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals (Part 2 of 4): Managing and Deploying SQL Server 2005 Schemas
Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals (Part 3 of 4): Database Testing and Refactoring
Tuesday, August 08, 2006 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals (Part 4 of 4): Schema Source and Version Control
Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

SQLDiva

NEW!!!! SQL Server Masters Program at SetFocus

2006-08-01T12:52:00Z

SetFocus has designed The Masters Program: SQL Server Track to help bring database developers to the next level in their career, utilizing SQL Server 2005 integrated closely with Visual Studio 2005.

Whether you have been building databases with SQL 7/2000, Access, MySQL, Oracle, DB2or if you have previously been developing in other languages such as VB, VB.NET, C, C++, C#, ASP.NET, or even Java and want to focus more closely on database design, this program may be for you!

The Master's Program: SQL Server Track is designed to give you the most intense learning experience available for database developers today.

Utilizing customized Microsoft Official Curriculum as their base combined with intensive assignments, exams, and projects we have organized a comprehensive and integrated SQL Server 2005 training program which thoroughly covers the key technologies that you need to make the transition to this new world of database programming.

SetFocus is currently recruiting for the first session starting October 9, 2006.

For more info:

http://www.setfocus.com/mastersprogram/sql-server-training.aspx

SQLDiva

Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals

2006-06-01T12:36:00Z

Yesterday, Microsoft announced that they will be releasing “Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals”.
Looks AWESOME!!!

Links:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/may06/05-31VSDatabasePR.mspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/teamsystem/products/dbpro/default.aspx
http://blogs.msdn.com/gertd/

SQLDiva

Technorati Profile

Good. Fast. Cheap. O'Reilly Launches PDF Guides

2006-05-31T00:51:00Z

The NJ SQL Server User Group has enrolled in a program sponsored by O'Reilly. O'Reilly will be donating books
to our group and in turn I will blog about their promotions. So here's the first blog entry.

As part of O'Reilly Media's commitment to delivering vital technology information to people who need it, when they need it, O'Reilly is launching an ongoing series of PDF publications to address cutting edge technologies. O'Reilly's PDF guides are in-depth, immediate, timely, and authoritative. Readers can purchase and download the PDFs through the O'Reilly online store, with no restrictions on the ability to save, copy, or print them.

The advantages to readers are numerous. O'Reilly authors can disseminate crucial information as the need arises, without having to wait for enough material to fill an entire book. Production time is reduced dramatically, giving IT professionals and others immediate access to the knowledge they want. Plus, readers can easily search the text, copy and paste handy bits of code into their applications, and take the PDF with them even when they're offline. But most importantly, readers won't have to compromise in their pursuit of timely information--these PDFs provide the high-quality content for which O'Reilly has come to be known.

Follow this link for this month's PDF offerings ==>

SQLDiva

Didn't get a change to attend the MSDN event this quarter? Live Stream Tues. 5/23

2006-05-23T11:57:00Z

If you didn't get a chance to attend this quarters MSDN Event Live, Susan Wisowaty
has arranged for the event to be streamed. See her blog.

Sessions
Session 1: Make it Simple – Language Enhancements in the .NET Framework 2.0
Session 2: Make it Powerful – Exploring the Enterprise Library for the .NET Framework 2.0
Session 3: Make it Personal – Creating Customizable User Interfaces with Web Parts and ASP .NET 2.0

Register here:
http://www.setfocus.com/events/msdn.aspx

SQLDiva

Red-Gate offers SQL Prompt 2.0 …Free of charge!

2006-05-23T02:17:00Z

Red-Gate has just announced that they will be offering SQL Prompt 2.0 for FREE!!

SQL Prompt provides Intellisense-style code auto-completion for Microsoft SQL Server editors,

for fast and accurate script building. SQL Prompt works with Query Analyzer, Management Studio,

Visual Studio and Enterprise Manager.

SQLDiva