Go Figure (by Keith Nicholson)

Congratulations to My Buddy Brian Moore

Keith Nicholson — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:01:19 GMT

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...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 RC0 Candidate is Released!!

Keith Nicholson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:38:55 GMT

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...(read more)

BOL for SQL Server 2008 RC0

Keith Nicholson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:22:32 GMT

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...(read more)

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

Keith Nicholson — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:33:10 GMT

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...(read more)

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

Keith Nicholson — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:01:28 GMT

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...(read more)

Have You Been Schooled?

Keith Nicholson — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:54:11 GMT

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...(read more)

Scalability Experts on TechNet Edge

Keith Nicholson — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:17:36 GMT

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...(read more)

Vista Tools I'm Using

Keith Nicholson — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:02:55 GMT

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...(read more)

Installation Observations of SQL Server 2008 CTP 6 via ISO image

Keith Nicholson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:52:38 GMT

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...(read more)

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

Keith Nicholson — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:48:45 GMT

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...(read more)

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

Keith Nicholson — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:27:40 GMT

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...(read more)

But Will SQL Server 2008 Break My App?

Keith Nicholson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:30:56 GMT

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...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 - CTP 6 For February Now Available

Keith Nicholson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:01:45 GMT

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...(read more)

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

Keith Nicholson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:25:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Playing with Windows Live Writer

Keith Nicholson — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:42:00 GMT

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...(read more)

DreamSpark from Microsoft = Free College IT Software

Keith Nicholson — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:33:00 GMT

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...(read more)

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

Keith Nicholson — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:20:00 GMT

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

Keith Nicholson — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:23:00 GMT

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...(read more)

SQL Server FileGroup Usage

Keith Nicholson — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:22:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Tech Ed 2006 Session Tracker App

Keith Nicholson — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 02:13:00 GMT

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.