Go Figure (by Keith Nicholson)

Congratulations to My Buddy Brian Moore

2008-07-11T18:01:19Z

I just learned that a friend from the past is moving up in Microsoft and providing his great skills to a larger group of Microsoft Developer/Platform Evangelists. Brian Moore, previously the Dallas Developer Evangelist, moved to St. Louis, MO a few years ago to work that region and was then promoted to manage others in the north. The current plan now is for him to manage the entire central region of Developer Evangelists. Brian is a very knowledgeable, efficient, personal, guy. I wish him the best...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 RC0 Candidate is Released!!

2008-06-10T16:38:55Z

FROM Microsoft's Connect Site ( http://connect.micorsoft.com ) Do you have passion for technology? Do you want to make a difference? Then try out SQL Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 (RC0) and provide your feedback. The SQL Server development team uses your comments to help refine and enhance product features. Download Release Candidate 0 from the Download Center! New! The SQL Server team presents the future of SQL Server! SQL Server 2008 represents a significant leap in features, functionality...(read more)

BOL for SQL Server 2008 RC0

2008-06-10T16:22:32Z

So you can now download Books On Line for SQL Server 2008 by going to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=19db0b42-a5b2-456f-9c5c-f295cdd58d7a&DisplayLang=en . I started the process and I got an error on installation requiring a new version of Microsoft Installer. I have Vista SPI installed on this system. Yet I still do not have the latest installer. Curious. So further research shows that it needs version 4.5 which was just released on June 5th. You can find this at http...(read more)

UPDATE: Maximum Capacity Specification for SQL Server in BOL from CTP 6

2008-05-08T19:33:10Z

There are some items to validate on the Maximum Capacity Specification for SQL Server in BOL from CTP 6. 1) Database size: 1,048,516 terabytes? If you can only have 32,767 files and each data file can only be 16 TB, then wouldn't this equate to 524,272 TB for database size? Or has the number of files changed? Or has the size of a data file changed. Current BOL for SQL Server 2005 on http://msdn.microsoft.com show 524,272 TB 2) Instances per computer: -----32-bit: 50 instances on a stand-alone...(read more)

A NULL Question with "+=" Syntax in SQL 2008

2008-04-25T17:01:28Z

During an internal presentation today, a co-worker asked a question about working with nulls using the new T-SQL syntax of “ += ” I tried the following code and it seems to work as expected. Feel free to give it a run. --Requires a SQL 2000 for validation. Code Works of course. PRINT 'Setting CONCAT_NULL_YIELDS_NULL ON' ; GO -- SET CONCAT_NULL_YIELDS_NULL ON and testing. SET CONCAT_NULL_YIELDS_NULL ON ; GO DECLARE @NullValue varchar ( 10 ) DECLARE @Alpha varchar ( 10 ) SET @Alpha = 'abc'...(read more)

Have You Been Schooled?

2008-04-21T14:54:11Z

SchoolofDev is coming to Tulsa, Oklahoma! Following last year's extremely successful Tulsa TechFest, David Walker and his gang of great leaders in Northeastern OK are doing something a little different: I've been asked to present SQL Server topics on May 10th. I'll be showing a similar set of presentations which I did at Oklahoma City Developers Group's 2008 Launch Event. Here are the topics: SQL Server 2008: More of What You Want DBAs SQL Server 2008: Keeping Up with Today’s Development...(read more)

Scalability Experts on TechNet Edge

2008-04-08T14:17:36Z

My co-worker, friend, and overall brilliant guru, Joe Yong, has been interviewed by Joey Snow over at TechNet Edge. Joe asks him about upgrading to SQL 2008 from either 2000 or 2005 editions. He talks about our involvement in hundreds of upgrades and expands upon the tools we use and created. Technorati Tags: SQL , SQL Server , SQL Server 2008 , Upgrade Advisor , Upgrade Assistant , Scalability Experts....(read more)

Vista Tools I'm Using

2008-03-27T19:02:55Z

I'm about to get a new system and I wanted to make sure I have all of the Vista tweaks I was expecting. While I'm at it, I'll update mine. TweakVista for improving my experience in Vista. Script Elevation PowerToys for Windows Vista from July 2007 TechNet including the CmdHere, CMDHereasAdmin, and the PowerShell equivalents. Since I'm a power TabletPC user I also like Microsoft Experience Pack for Windows Vista giving me Media Transfer, Ink Crossword, Equation Writer, and Ink Flash...(read more)

Installation Observations of SQL Server 2008 CTP 6 via ISO image

2008-03-20T02:52:38Z

Right off the bat potential confusion - The install splash screen still shows November 2007. I'm asked to install the .NET Framework 3.5 next. Like a good boy, I'm not running the install on my system directly. I am using a Virtual PC 2007 image based on Win 2003 R2. I also have turned off the ability to go on-line by not having a network open to the outside to reduce security issues. How am I repaid? It wants to download the .NET Framework from some online location. It tries five times to...(read more)

"Please Down-Level Your Word (Excel, PowerPoint) 2007 Version Document. I Don't Have That Yet."

2008-03-05T14:48:45Z

One of the challenges of being an early adopter of technology is that most people, companies, organizations have not crossed over the chasm to upgrading to a new version. Even a year after the release of Office 2007, I still am being asked to save Word, Excel, and PowerPoints in the non-(docx, xlsx, pptx) formats. It is very clear to me that many companies have not or will not be upgrading to this release. To remain polite and cooperative I am saving the document in the format my customers, friends...(read more)

Found: SQL Server 2008 February CTP Books Online -- the Download Edition

2008-02-29T19:27:40Z

I have been trying to find this for days. Sure, I've downloaded the CTP6 and the BOLs are there, but they are accessed only through my virtual image. I want to read the BOL on my TabletPC without running Virtual PC. Well I finally found it thanks to a blog post by Tai Yee over in SQL Server User Education at Microsoft. You can download this fine gem at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=19db0b42-a5b2-456f-9c5c-f295cdd58d7a&DisplayLang=en . Thanks Tai Yee!...(read more)

But Will SQL Server 2008 Break My App?

2008-02-28T18:30:56Z

There are a lot of companies that are evaluating the upcoming version of SQL Server with this key question. In larger companies and enterprises, mission critical applications need to be considered for the Relational, BI, and Reporting tools. Scalability Experts is working close with Microsoft to transform your question into an educated decision. Scalability Experts has been licensed by Microsoft to work on the further development of the SQL Server Upgrade Assistant . In conjunction with this, we...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 - CTP 6 For February Now Available

2008-02-28T18:01:45Z

Try SQL Server 2008 Today Download the latest SQL Server 2008 Community Technology Preview (CTP) and try out the latest features for 180 days! The SQL Server development team uses your feedback to help refine and enhance product features. Download the newest CTP today and share your feedback. Select one of the options listed below. The CTP software for IT Professionals and Developers is exactly the same, but the supporting experience has been tailored to offer greater relevance for each profession...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 Community Launch Events in OKC

2008-02-28T16:25:00Z

In case you have missed out, yesterday was the big launch event for Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008. You can go to the virtual launch event site for more information. If you want something more local, there are lots of opportunities over the next couple of months. There are official and User Group Community Launch events which will be happening all over. Check out the enrollment for more info in your area. If your location is not on the official list, try here for local...(read more)

Playing with Windows Live Writer

2008-02-27T11:42:00Z

I usually bypass the general e-mail from Microsoft about how to use Windows better than I do. Why? Because most of the time, I've used those features. However, to quote coach Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State University, "I'm a man! I'm 40!" and boy am I starting to feel the creep of not keeping up with it all. Heck! I'm getting close in 2008 to doubling the number of post in 2007. So there is hope. Today, I decided to to look into some of the new Windows Live products listed...(read more)

DreamSpark from Microsoft = Free College IT Software

2008-02-25T19:33:00Z

I just saw this from a friend, Chris Koenig, at Microsoft. If you have any children, friends, or family in college and they are heading toward an IT or Graphics Design career then you will want to check this out. This is an incredible opportunity for them to receive $1,000s in free software. Free Software for Students - Microsoft DreamSpark Calling all students! Check out this video featuring Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates as he discusses a new initiative called Microsoft DreamSpark targeted at offering...(read more)

The Winds Have Changed -- I'm Now at Scalability Experts

2008-02-23T00:20:00Z

I am the Business Unit Lead of Training and Content Development for Scalability Experts. Yes, it is a big title, but don't let that fool you. I have ownership of our great courseware and curriculum based on high level content for Microsoft SQL Server. Training and Knowledge Gap Fulfillment is just a small part of our offerings. The rest of our business is providing great assistance in Scaling and Consolidating SQL Server environments. Be sure to check out our site....(read more)

Finding Your Way With Vista and Pharos

2006-12-20T23:23:00Z

A few years ago I purchased MS Streets and Trips 2005. It came with a Pharos i360 GPS receiver. I have had a ball with this product. Since I travel a lot, it has helped me get from place to place quite easily with its integration into MS Streets and Trips. Since I got it, I have upgraded the software MapPoint 2006 and recently to the RTM of Vista. With the Vista upgrade I could not get the reciever to be seen. Today I finally went out to Pharos site . I downloaded the USB drivers to reinstall. This...(read more)

SQL Server FileGroup Usage

2006-11-04T16:22:00Z

An attendee to a class recently asked: I was on you course in Microsoft Amsterdam (where we had not terminals set up) recently and you mentioned about having sql server running on 3 disks to increase performance by the use of file groups. e.g filegroup 1 - data dictionary and stored procs - disk A filegroup 2 - Data - Disk B transaction logs - Disk C We here are about to implement a new SQL 2005 san based solution and i was wondering if you could point me to any documentation/web articles that describes...(read more)

Tech Ed 2006 Session Tracker App

2006-09-23T02:13:00Z

Last year after Tech Ed 2005, I wrote a little app in .Net 1.1 that allowed me to track which sessions I watched on the DVDs. This year, I did it again and I have made it available to you via a ClickOnce app. Navigate to http://www.ksdynamics.com/others/teched2006dvd/ksdynamics-publish.htm. I'll point out some things I learned later this week.