May 2006 - Posts

That missing tool for the DB developer

My blog has moved to sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons
The full version of this post can be found here., http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/That missing tool for the DB developer
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Microsoft are releasing a new edition to visual studio for database developers

Yipeeeeeeee

Thanks to Patrick for the info Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals. Gert Drapers talks about the formation of the team as well. Euans take on Data Dude 

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/That missing tool for the DB developer

SSIS: Improve the performance of parsing integers and dates

Fast parse is hidden in the depths of the advanced settings of a flat file, it can be used to improve the performance of parsing text files for date and time and integers

Jamie has looked into and the performance improvements you can achieve SSIS: Fast Parse

Great Blog from SQL Server Engine team

My blog has moved to sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons
The full version of this post can be found here., http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Great Blog from SQL Server Engine team
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Thanks to Euan for pointing out that Sunil from the Storage Engine team has started a blog. This continues the fantastic set of blogs coming out of the SQL Server team

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Great Blog from SQL Server Engine team

Jim Gray interview - Processing with GPUs

Jim Gray was recently interviewed by The Register about the use of GPUs for processing data and the challenges for coding parallel systems.

http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2006/05/30/jim_gray/

Every interview, whether written or video (http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=49891, http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=50428) Jim comes across as being immensley intelligient as well being clear and concise.

Being called a Distinguished Engineer just about sums it up.

If your are lucky enough to be going to the SQL Server 2005 upgrade event on Friday, then enjoy Jim's keynote

Yay! A new Stored Proc vs. Dyn. Sql battle!

Frans Bouma has brought together a set of posts about stored proc v ad hoc SQL usage. Yay! A new Stored Proc vs. Dyn. Sql battle!

On reading the posts it is clear that each has its place, if only everyone would agree.

I have to comment on the fact that many people who make views about bad this and poor written that are generally experiencing them in an enterprise environment. More and more systems nowdays aren't such systems, don't process 100's of transactions per second so why do they need to eek out that nth degree of performance. Most servers these days are hugely powerful compared to previous version, whereas in the client world the applciations have absorbed this increase, the database hasn't so as servers get faster so do the database servers.

For these reasons it is a fair argument to say "we are develop code in a way that means we can develop systems faster", if this means using adhoc sql then why not, i know form biter experience that managing 10 sps that do the same thing but with a slightly different where clause isn't great for supportability.

Which ever option you choose make sure you have a DBA that can review any adhoc sql your system produces to make sure you haven't got some nice cross joins occuring.

 

SQLCLR supports assembly versioning...NOT

Bob Beauchemin's has blogged about the lack of support for versioning CLR assemblies in SQL Server 2005. Although some have said its is possible Bob has clarified the siuations where apparent versioning is possible

SQLCLR supports assembly versioning...NOT

Top Trick in Management Studio

My blog has moved to sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons
The full version of this post can be found here., http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Top Trick in Management Studio
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I blogged last July about the ability to select column headers when copying from a grid in Management Studio into excel or notepad, and that it left something to be desired when copying one value.

Well for the RTM they change the behaviour so that if you select more than one column the headers are include otherwise they are not.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Top Trick in Management Studio

Are you allowed to be sizeist in the database world

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The full version of this post can be found here., http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Are you allowed to be sizeist in the database world
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Well even if your not, one of my real bug bears is fat tables. These aren't large tables they are fat tables, wide ones with lots of columns or large data types.

The reason this gets is is people develop databases with 10s of rows in them. Then end up with millions of rows in them in a live environment and find this things just don't perform.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Are you allowed to be sizeist in the database world

and now for something completely different...

Euanga is leaving the SQL team and joining the Visual Studio Team on Team Test. I relaly hope Euan can take some of his immense SQL knowledge and push for some great SQL testing tools.

Euan your shirts have always been memorable, you must be glad with a new team you can now get a new one. Good luck with your new team.

Mythbusters, SQL Server History follow up

Fantastic insight into the size of the SQL teams by the number of signatures on the boxes right from version 1 up to 2005 (much bigger box)

Mythbusters, SQL Server History follow up

IIS Site launch

My blog has moved to sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons
The full version of this post can be found here., http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/IIS Site launch
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Microsoft have launched a new site

"Inside you will find deep technical content, training, blogs, forums, searchable tech center and more. Also inside is the most comprehensive look at IIS7 which is available publicly as of today as part Vista Beta 2 and Longhorn Server Beta 2"

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/IIS Site launch

Moving my blog

My blog has moved to sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons
The full version of this post can be found here., http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Moving my blog
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I am moving my blog from sqljunkies to sqlblogcasts.com  http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons

The new RSS feed is http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/rss.aspx

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Moving my blog

Cannot find SQLResourceLoader.dll

You've installed integration services and your dts packages now fail with the following error

"This application failed to start because SQLResourceLoader.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem"

This application failed to start because SQLResourceLoader.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem

To resolve this make sure you have installed the legacy components in the client tools section of the SQL 2005 install.

Oops

You may have noticed that old posts suddenly appeared on this blog. Slight mistake managed to republish each post again.

Should all be ok now.

SQL prompt - Intellisense for SQL

Red gate have released an intellisense application that works with SQL editing tools including enterprise manager and Management Studio.

The application sql prompt (http://www.red-gate.com/products/sql_prompt/index.htm) is currently free.

I have spent the last 15 minutes trying it out and came to the conslusion that I'm glad its free because I wouldn't want to pay for it.

I have tried to give it its dues but it falls down in the following areas.

Its too slow, it takes too long for the list to display, I can type the details quicker. This is especially true with the join section.

Its buggy, I found it got lost in its context only displaying tables that join to a table I had previously deleted. It also wouldn't select a table when pressed enter on a number of occasions.

The key strokes are different to that in VS, which means I have to manage two sets of key strokes.

Simply put, the aim of intellisense is to improve coding efficiency. This doesn't it may do sometimes but the occasions that it fails, is too slow when you are epxecting it just negate any benefit you could achieve.

You can really see why MS had issues with including it in management studio and so was pulled.

 

Becareful naming columns in a datagridview

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The full version of this post can be found here., http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Becareful naming columns in a datagridview
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Just came across an odd situation today in developing a windows form application using the datagridview.

I added some columns and then named them, I then couldn't compile my app. If you're clever you might be step ahead of me here.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Becareful naming columns in a datagridview