Mr. Bad Example

FAQ: Where can I get SQL Server 2005? (April 2005 CTP update)

2005-04-23T17:24:00Z

Feeling a bit of Deja Vu? Well, yes, this is about the third time I've run a very similar post but I just noticed that the April CTP for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is available, so here we go again! New with the April CTP, you can self-nominate in the TAP program. Complete this survey and if you are selected to participate, you'll be able to get SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition CTPs directly from Microsoft.

Please be sure to read the release notes for this version since a lot has changed over time.

Finally, if you've been waiting saying “oh, I'll wait for Beta 3,“ don't! This is the version to begin your testing and playing with.

A frequent question I see on the various news groups goes something like this one: "Is it possible to download SQL Server 2005 for practice? Is there like student edition available for nominal fee? Subscribing to MSDN is very expensive for an individual."

Actually you can get all you need for "free.^*" I'll point you at the most current stuff. As a reminder, this is unsupported beta software. Do not install it on a machine that you care much about being able to not uninstall it cleanly from (think FDISK, ok). It is best to install it to a virtual host (like VirtualPC), or make a really good backup first. Why? Uninstalling this software -- while not hard -- is order of component removal sensitive as talked about here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=97383299-E74B-4AF8-90C7-FA0CA20A10C4&displaylang=en

First, make sure you are running on an OS and hardware configuration that meets the minimum requirements:

Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 Professional Edition , Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional Edition with Service Pack 2. Note that Windows XP Home, Windows NT, Windows Me and Windows 9x are not supported at this time.
Intel Pentium III or compatible 550-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor (1 gigahertz or more recommended). Certain non-Intel processors like the Transmeta and some odd-ball AMD chips have been problematic in the past.
256 megabytes (MB) of RAM (512 MB or more recommended for sure.)
1.3 GB of available hard disk space.

With that said, I normally recommend installing these bits in this order:

The .NET framework version 2.0.50215.44 from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=44381
The SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SSX) bits, version 9.0.1116 from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=46&p=3&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=97383299-e74b-4af8-90c7-fa0ca20a10c4&genscs=&u=http%3a%2f%2fdownload.microsoft.com%2fdownload%2fe%2f1%2f1%2fe1196b19-de92-4ab2-bafd-5b5ad26e67b4%2fSQLEXPR.EXE
Express Manager (XM) from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3212A9A2-B658-4710-B04E-8A28355F836D&displaylang=en
The SQL Server 2005 Books online from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=40&p=1&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=97383299-e74b-4af8-90c7-fa0ca20a10c4&genscs=&u=http%3a%2f%2fgo.microsoft.com%2ffwlink%2f%3fLinkId%3d31046.
You may also want to download and install the AdventuresWorks database to work with. There's a long posting in blog covering that. See http://sqljunkies.com/WebLog/ktegels/articles/installawdbssx.aspx

Note that this version is pretty much stand alone. If you want/need a rich "developer's environment," you may want to look at using one of the Visual Studio Express products instead (see http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/.) They ship with and install their own version of the .NET runtime and SSX, so there's no need to download and install them separately.

^* Note that SSX isn't the full version of SQL Server 2005 and those differences are covered in the Express White Paper at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnsse/html/sseoverview.asp. That said, SSX is a great way to get started. By free, I mean that there's no charge to download or license to buy.

Reporting Services 2000 Service Pack 2 Bits Out!

2005-04-23T17:22:00Z

Key Functional Enhancements

SharePoint Web parts enable you to explore and view reports located on a report server by using Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services or SharePoint Portal Server.
Reports can now be printed directly from within Internet Explorer. A Microsoft ActiveX control is provided to support a rich client-side printing experience including full page preview.

Go get it from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=502C0D89-1308-4662-8F58-CEC55EF1235B&displaylang=en

April 2005 SQL Server Webcast Series

2005-04-05T13:06:00Z

Discover how Microsoft SQL Server 2005 offers database developers the optimal combination of a tightly integrated development and data management platform. The rich and flexible programming environment in SQL Server 2005 allows you to leverage your existing skills and utilize familiar tools to build robust, secure, scalable applications.

Register today to learn how the integration of the .NET Framework in SQL Server 2005 provides several major benefits, such as an enhanced programming model, enhanced safety and security, user defined types and aggregates, and a common development environment that integrates database development into the Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 development environment. In this series, we cover:

.NET Framework Integration: Learn how you can now take full advantage of the Microsoft .NET Framework class library and modern programming languages to implement functionality within the server.
Transact-SQL and Managed Code: Find out how to decide between using traditional Transact-SQL or a programming language that is compatible with the .NET Framework, such as Visual Basic .NET or C#. Understand where each method provides benefits and how to design for this in the beginning.
Web Services: See how to develop XML Web services in the database tier, making SQL Server an HTTP listener.
XML: SQL Server 2005 contains deep native support for XML. Learn how this can significantly help as you develop applications that make use of XML.
Data Access: Discover how ADO.NET 2.0 not only supports all of the new SQL Server 2005 features but also enables productivity and performance gains for all developers.

Bonus: Attend a webcast in this MSDN series and complete an evaluation to receive the most current version of SQL Server 2005 Beta software on CD. Attend at least three MSDN webcasts in this SQL Server 2005 webcast series and submit evaluations and you will receive a SQL Server 2005 T-shirt*. And by attending a live webcast in this series and submitting an evaluation, you will qualify to win a Portable Media Center pre-loaded with Microsoft's best webcasts!

Also, don't forget about Today's webcast by Dr. Rys talk about Managing XML Data on the Database with SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005. Go register now!

GoSQLServer Job Forum and RSS feed

2005-03-15T17:18:00Z

Looking for work or people with a passion for SQL Server and other Microsoft Technologies in the Omaha Area? We've just spun up a forum and RSS feed on the Greater Omaha SQL Server User's Group website (http://www.gosqlserver.com/ ) to help you connect. Details here:

http://www.gosqlserver.com/cs/forums/53/ShowPost.aspx

and the RSS feed is at:

http://www.gosqlserver.com/cs/forums/rss.aspx?ForumID=17&Mode=0

Reporting Services Scripter Rocks!

2005-03-03T23:39:00Z

Fellow SQL Server MVP Jasper Smith has come with a really neat tool named "Reporting Services Scripter" that makes managing multiple Reporting Services installations easier. It enables scripting of all Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services catalog items to aid in transferring them from one server to another. It can also be used to easily move items on mass from one Reporting Services folder to another on the same server. Depending on the scripting options chosen, Reporting Services Scripter can also transfer all catalog item properties such as Descriptions, History options, Execution options (including report specific and shared schedules) and server side report parameters.

You can download the Reporting Services Scripter here.

FAQ: Where can I get SQL Server 2005? (February 2005 CTP update)

2005-03-03T17:06:00Z

Actually you can get all you need for "free.^*" I'll point you at the most current stuff. As a reminder, this is unsupported beta software. Do not install it on a machine that you care much about being able to not uninstall it cleanly from (think FDISK, ok). It is best to install it to a virtual host (like VirtualPC), or make a really good backup first. Why? Uninstalling this software -- while not hard -- is order of component removal sensitive as talked about here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=08215D3F-9A1D-483F-8E21-A2EE19936899&displaylang=en

First, make sure you are running on an OS and hardware configuration that meets the minimum requirements:

Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 Professional Edition , Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional Edition , Windows XP Service Pack 1. Note that Windows XP Home, Windows NT, Windows Me and Windows 9x are not supported at this time.
Intel Pentium III or compatible 550-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor (1 gigahertz or more recommended). Certain non-Intel processors like the Transmeta and some odd-ball AMD chips have been problematic in the past.
256 megabytes (MB) of RAM (512 MB or more recommended for sure.)
405 MB of available hard disk space.

With that said, I normally recommend installing these bits in this order:

The .NET framework version 2.0.50110.27 from http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/a/7/ea749a11-f09f-4e9b-8d04-36763a71de58/dotnetfx.exe
The SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SSX) bits, version 9.0.1090 from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=08215D3F-9A1D-483F-8E21-A2EE19936899&displaylang=en
Express Manager (XM) from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=67079BB3-4FD4-4638-B923-A13741179B98&displaylang=en
The SQL Server 2005 Books online from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2adbc1a8-ae5c-497d-b584-eab6719300cd&DisplayLang=en The downloads are at the bottom of that page.
You may also want to download and install the AdventuresWorks database to work with. There's a long posting in blog covering that. See http://sqljunkies.com/WebLog/ktegels/articles/installawdbssx.aspx

While I think using the February CTP is "the way" to go for most folks, you may and to use the less current but more stable Beta two bits. Those are at:

The .NET framework version 2.0.40607 from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=B7ADC595-717C-4EF7-817B-BDEFD6947019&displaylang=en
The SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SSX) bits, version 9.0.852 from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=62B348BB-0458-4203-BB03-8BE49E16E6CD&displaylang=en
The SQL Server 2005 Books online from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2adbc1a8-ae5c-497d-b584-eab6719300cd&displaylang=en. The downloads are at the bottom of that page.
Sorry, there's no XM for that version (see http://sqljunkies.com/WebLog/ktegels/archive/2004/09/30/ssxgui20040930.aspx), but you can use QARA instead. You can get that from http://www.tegels.org/qara/.

Greg Low shows the value of DDL triggers

2005-03-02T14:04:00Z

Aussie SQL Guru Greg Low shares a script the prevents changes to a SQL Server 2005 master database. Too cool.

My Reporting Services Web Chat is now available online thanks to SSWUG

2005-02-25T19:32:00Z

Thanks to the fine folks over at SSWUG, you can now watch and listen my Reporting Services Kickstart webcast from yesterday on-demand. It looks like the slides aren't scrolling, though, so if you're interested in following along, but sure to download PDF for that. The download link for that is a button on the bottom of the viewer Window.

I'm still waiting for the list of questions from them, so look for that follow-up early next week.

Questions, comments and suggestions welcomed here, of course.

Service Oriented Integration and the Reporting Services Web Services

2005-02-25T19:06:00Z

I was blessed with the opportunity to follow one of the best .NET brains in Omaha last night -- the Phil Canarski (sp?) -- with a quick presentation on using Reporting Services's Web Services as part of a Service Oriented Integration effort. Its just amazing some the stuff that folks are doing with Reporting Services and Phil is one of them.

The highlight of night had to be my awful demonstration of C# coding skills. Maybe VB.NET really has inflicited a certain amount of “drain bamage“ on me afterall. However, it did meet my goal of saying the word “Service“ or “Services“ 93 times in an hour.

Continues here.

GoSQLServer March 2005 Meeting Annoucement

2005-02-25T15:41:00Z

Who: The "Best of the best of the best" from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Nebraska - Al Zyck and Ravi Thoutireddy

What: Overview of BCBSNE's multi-Terabyte, 64bit, SQL Server 2000/Informatica Enterprise Data Warehouse

When: 2005-03-17 18:30:00-06:00 (that's 6:30PM Central Time, of course)

Where: Vatterott College, 11818 "I" Street, Omaha

Why: Al and/or Ravi will be covering this warehouse's Basic Design, Implementation Issues and Lessons Learned. They will be also be providing brief feedback on their evaluation of SQL Server 2005.

How: Please sign up for membership on GoSQLServer.org and respond to this poll to RSVP.