Databases

Creating Native Web Services in SQL Server
Expose your SQL Server data directly over the Web. Learn to create SOAP-based native web services in SQL Server 2005/2008 that can be consumed from client applications over HTTP.

Installing Oracle E-Business Suite R12 on Windows 2003
Learn how to install EBS, starting from scratch and walk away with an up and running EBS instance using the Vision Enterprises database.

Oracle Database 11g: PLSQL and OCI Result Set Caching
Oracle Database 11gR1 offers several new performance enhancements that limit "round trips" between database server, application servers, and applications when the identical data is required. The final article in this series explores how the latest release of Oracle extends the ability to cache result sets to applications and PL/SQL functions.

What Kind of DBA Are You?
Depending on the environment in which they work, a DBA might perform a number of different tasks. Greg Larsen identifies these different tasks, categorized by work environments.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 29: Implementing Service Broker Conversation
Recent installments of our series discussed the functionality incorporated into the asynchronous messaging framework of Service Broker. We described how to initiate a dialog between two services residing in the same database and exchange messages between them. This article focuses on the process of ending an existing conversation.

SqlCredit, Part 18: Exploring the Performance of SQL 2005s OUTPUT Clause
Part 17 of this series introduced SQL Server 2005's OUTPUT clause. The OUTPUT clause is very useful for pulling "automatic" values out of an INSERT statement (or UPDATE). This article looks at how it performs compared to other options.

Accessing Business Data in WPF Applications
Many WPF demos focus on slick graphics and designer user interfaces. While this is all good, those regular business database applications will eventually make the transition from WinForms to WPF. Learn how to get started accessing business data in your WPF applications.

Using the TFS Build Process to Deploy Sharepoint Custom Applications
Learn how to customize your TFS build process to deploy Sharepoint custom applications. Delve into the pros and cons of using TFS to create these builds.

Audit your Windows domain DBA group using PowerShell
Add or removing a login from a dedicated domain group is easy compared to adding individual DBA logins to every SQL Server box. This article illustrates how to audit such changes on the domain group.

Discover SQL Server TCP Port
Learn how to discover the TCP port for a SQL Server instance from the registry using Windows Powershell.

Why LINQ to SQL is a Better Option than Straight SQL
LINQ to SQL eliminates SQL Injection Attacks and is easier to use than straight SQL to boot.

Mastering OLAP Reports: Parameterizing Number of Top Items with the MDX TopCount() Function, Part 2
BI Architect Bill Pearson continues his hands-on demonstration of an approach to the parameterization of the highly useful TopCount() function.

SQL Server 2008: First Impressions
Pulling your hair out trying to get the SQL Server 2008 Sample AdventureWorks databases installed? If so, you've come to the right place; this article makes it easy(ier).

Intro to PHP and Oracle
Sean Hull points you on the right track to get started with PHP and Oracle.

Business Intelligence Publisher The Other Oracle Reports
BI Publisher is a tremendously powerful reporting tool. It is based on a widely accepted standardized open source language (XML), it is feature rich in terms of what it can produce and it empowers users to query, view, and format their own reports.

Creating Charts in an Access 2007 Database
Garry Robinson fills the gap found in the Access 2007 help manual by providing some much needed help on how to use the charting object in Access 2007.

Intrinsic Member Properties: The MEMBER_UNIQUE_NAME Property
Join MSAS Architect Bill Pearson in hands-on exercises, where we gain exposure to the use of the MEMBER_UNIQUE_NAME property in generating simple lists, as well as datasets to support report parameter picklists.

Oracles ADR Command Interpreter - Part 1
Oracles new ADR with command interface shows promise as a way for DBAs to quickly investigate diagnostic information.

Check your SQL Server using Windows PowerShell: Part 4
Earlier installments of this series illustrated how to ping the host, how to check all of the windows services related to SQL Server and how to check the hardware and operating system information. Part 4 of this series demonstrates how to get hard disk and network adapter information from the host machine.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 28: Implementing Service Broker Conversation
Part 28 of this series continues our overview of Service Broker, examining how to initiate a dialog, send a sample message between initiator and target services, process it using a T-SQL RECEIVE statement, and finally observing how the queues and system views change as the result of these events

DB2 9 and Microsoft Access 2007 - Part 3: DB2 Reports
Earlier installments of this series discussed how to use Microsoft Access 2007 as a graphical front end to a back-end IBM DB2 data server and how to leverage Access 2007 and DB2 as an integration layer. This installment examines how to build reports that run against DB2 data servers.

Create Your First SQL Server Database in 3 Quick Steps
The goal of this article is to create an Employees database in SQL Server and populate it with test data in three quick steps.

Oracle Database 11g: SQL Query Result Set Caching
This article - the first in this series - delves into how the result set from a SQL query result set can be retained in the database's Shared Pool for later access by a similar or identical query in the immediate future

Parameterizing Number of "Top" Items with the MDX TopCount() Function - Part 1
Writing high-performance reports against Analysis Services cubes means learning MDX to some extent. Parameterization of MDX functions is one of those things that cannot be delivered solely via graphical MDX Editor. BI Architect Bill Pearson demonstrates a way to parameterize the highly useful TopCount() function.

Working with BLOBs Using SQL Server and ADO.NET
Want to store documents or photos in SQL server? Learn how SQL Server and ADO.NET together can provide an elegant solution for storing and retrieving BLOBs.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 27: Implementing Basic Service Broker Objects
Marcin Policht explains the interaction of the primary elements of Service Broker's asynchronous messaging framework and describes a process of setting up the database objects necessary to demonstrate their sample implementation (which will be the subject of our next article).

SqlCredit - Part 17: Exploring SQL 2005s OUTPUT Clause
SQL Server 2005 introduces the OUTPUT clause, a bit of magic that allows us to get the identity value, plus a number of other values, from an INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE, which all have different interaction with OUTPUT. This article concentrates on INSERT.

SQL Server 2008 MERGE Statement
With a single MERGE statement, you can easily implement insert, update, and delete logic to handle criteria for maintaining a table. Read on to learn how to use the MERGE statement.

Oracle Reports for DBAs
As an Oracle DBA you might think that Oracle Reports have nothing to do with you, and you might be missing out on a simple means of generating reports to identify a source file, create an external table, write an SQL script and more.

Intrinsic Member Properties: The MEMBER_NAME Property
MSAS Architect Bill Pearson introduces the intrinsic MEMBER_NAME property. In hands-on exercises, we gain exposure to the use of the property in generating simple lists, as well as datasets to support report parameter picklists.

Focus on Popular Objects to Speed up an Access 2007 Database
Garry Robinson outlines how usage data can make the quest to speed up an Access database more focused. The article also delves into an Access 2007 ACCDB only feature called TempVars

Check your SQL Server using Windows PowerShell - Part 3
Part 3 of this series illustrates how to acquire operating system and hardware related information from a host machine.

Oracle: MOVE vs SHRINK Commands
This article discusses re-organizing a table using the move and shrink commands, then compares how the rows are compacted within Oracle blocks and how row chaining is resolved

Introducing Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Unit Testing
Learn how to build Unit tests and generate sample data for your database development projects.

SQL Server Audit in SQL Server 2008: Part 2
Learn how to monitor database-level actions and write audit results to files

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 26: Service Broker
This article is a brief overview of Service Broker's core features, which are available (in a somewhat limited capacity) in SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. The next installment will describe a sample application illustrating its operations and discuss its management, security, and routing characteristics.

DBA Insider - Useful PL/SQL Packages
Oracle supplies quite a large complement of pl/sql stored procedures, packages, and functions, which can help with some of a DBA's day-to-day needs. This article looks at some of the useful ones that we can add to our DBA or Developer toolbox.

Hands-on Oracle: Backup and Recovery Games - Creating Datafiles
Learn how to recover from the loss of a datafile, when you don't have a backup of that file

Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part 5
Join Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson as he continues his subseries surrounding components of the Analysis Services dimensional model. In this article we conclude our introduction to dimension attributes, focusing upon the Source group of attribute properties.

Looking at Memory Usage for Oracle Processes
When an Oracle instance starts, or an application uses the Oracle database, the associated Oracle processes are allocated and consume memory. Learn how to use the V$PROCESS view and V$PROCESS_MEMORY to look at this memory usage

SQL Server Profiler - Part 2
Part 1 of this series discussed the difference between a Trace and Profiler. This installment examines additional preconfigured templates, how to synchronizing Profiler and Perfmon and how to run Profiler as a scheduled task

Check your SQL Server using Windows PowerShell - Part 2
Part two of this series illustrates how to access the Windows service on a remote machine using Windows PowerShell and WMI-Object to see if all of the windows services related to SQL Server are up and running.

Oracle Database 11g: Database Replay - Part 3
The final article in this series illustrates how to use Oracle Database 11gR1's new Database Replay (DBR) features to capture and prepare a workload from a current Oracle 10gR2 single-instance database environment and then replay that identical workload in an Oracle 11gR1 Real Application Clusters (RAC) testing environment

Parameterizing Number of "Look Back" Periods with the MDX LastPeriods() Function, Part 2
BI Architect Bill Pearson continues his hands-on demonstration of an approach to the parameterization of the highly useful LastPeriods() function.

SQL Server 2008 Date Functions - Part 2
To manage and use the new date data types introduced in SQL Server 2008, Microsoft has provided a number of new system functions. In this article, Greg Larsen explores the new system functions and some of the old date functions that were available in older releases of SQL Server.

Working with the XML Data Type of SQL Server
Store XML data directly in SQL Server. Use the power of the XML data type to store and manipulate XML data efficiently and easily.

LINQ to Entities Preview
ADO.NET 3.0 and the ADO.NET Entity Framework are designed to let you spend less time writing SQL and database plumbing code and more time working in the space of the problem you are trying to solve.

Product Review: Toad Data Modeler 3
Quest Software has hit the ball out of the park with its Toad Data Modeler 3 (TDM) application. Ease of use, a huge amount of functionality, and an outstanding support base all combine to make TDM a superb product.

Enhancement in Variable Declaration SQL Server 2008
Enhanced variable declaration, one of the many enhancements that Microsoft added to SQL Server 2008 allows you to declare and initialize a value at the same time. This article shows you how to do it.

Implementing Upgrade of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
In the previous installment of our series, we presented a variety of reasons that might influence your decision to upgrade a full-fledged member of the SQL Server 2005 family. This article discusses the actual implementation of this process, pointing out additional factors that might affect its complexity.

Intrinsic Member Properties: The MEMBER_KEY Property
Join BI Architect Bill Pearson in an introduction to the intrinsic MEMBER_KEY property. In hands-on exercises, we gain exposure to the use of the property in generating simple lists, as well as datasets to support report parameter picklists.

Check your SQL Server using Windows PowerShell - Part 1
This new series examines methods and procedures to check the status of the Operating system, SQL Server instances and databases, using Windows PowerShell. Part One illustrates how to create a PowerShell script to ping the host machine and how to source the PowerShell function and call the function.

Secure Microsoft Access Passwords and Encryption in Access 2007
Learn how to improve on what already is a very significant security improvement in Access 2007--database encryption.

A Database-Driven Reporting Application
Discover how reporting applications can adapt to changing reports by shifting its report-related information into a database.

Mastering OLAP Reports: Parameterizing Number of "Look Back" Periods with the MDX LastPeriods() Function
Parameterization of MDX functions is one of those things that cannot be delivered solely via graphical MDX Editor but then, you really didnt think that you could avoid actually touching MDX at all, did you? BI Architect Bill Pearson demonstrates a way to parameterize the highly useful LastPeriods() function.

Beginner's Guide to SQL Server Database Development with VSTS Database Edition
Learn how to make Visual Studio Team Suite Database Edition part of your development process.

Oracle Automatic Storage Management
ASM provides many benefits, but also requires learning new concepts, commands, utilities, and administration tasks. Sean Hull examines what ASM solves, and what it takes to manage and weigh the pros and cons.

DB2 and Visual Studio 2008: Getting Started
Paul Zikopoulos gets you started on the path to DB2 9 and Visual Studio 2008 for .NET developers including hints and tips to get you in the express lane when it comes to enabling .NET developers to build DB2 data-bound applications.

Oracle Applications Reference Books
Aside from Oracle's own documentation covering Oracle Apps and a few books covering specific modules, the published books landscape regarding EBS is fairly barren. There are two notable generalist coverage books available that can help you get a good jump on learning Oracle Applications.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 24
Part 24 of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition reviews the most common reasons that influence a decision to upgrade to a Workgroup, Standard, or Enterprise member of SQL Server 2005 family.

An Oracle Tune-Up: Tuning Your SQL for Maximum Performance
Nothing impacts application performance like a badly running SQL query. Learn how to optimize query performance to make your Oracle applications faster.

Database Development in Rational Application Developer 7
Learn how to establish a database connection, set up a data development project, and work with SQL Builder.

SQL Server Audit in SQL Server 2008 - Part 1
SQL Server 2008 February CTP introduces a new feature, SQL Server Audit. This feature facilitates auditing of Database Engine events by providing simple T-SQL statements to enable, store, and view audits on server and database objects. Part 1 of this series focuses on the server level events.

Controlling SQL Text Indexing Services with SQL Managed Objects and VB.NET
Control the SQL Server service from your VB code using SQL Management Objects (SMO).

Oracle Database 11g Common Background Processes
To understand Oracle background processes is to understand how Oracle works--offering opportunity to tune effectively. Learn about the processes that are typically running after a fresh, common, and basic installation.

Compound Assignment Operators in SQL Server 2008
MAK illustrates the use of Compound Assignment Operator that is introduced in SQL Server 2008.

Introduction to SQL 2005 Profiler - Part 1
Profiler is a tool that monitors the events and activity running on a SQL Server. Using profiler, this monitoring can be viewed, saved, and replayed. This article focuses on using Profiler with SQL Server 2005, but the tool is also included with SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2008.

Oracle Database 11g: Database Replay, Part 2
Part 2 of this series - demonstrates how Oracle 11g Database Replay can be used to capture and prepare a workload from a current Oracle 11g production database environment (P+0) and then replay that identical workload in an Oracle 11g testing environment that represents the next iteration (P+1) of the database system.

Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part 4
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson continues his introduction to dimension attributes, focusing upon the Parent-Child group of attribute properties. This article continues our subseries surrounding components of the Analysis Services dimensional model.

Oracle DBA in an Oracle Applications World - Part 2
Steve Callan presents a simple but effective means of replicating your production environment for the first time on a new machine.

New Date Data Types with SQL Server 2008
Greg Larsen examines the new SQL Server 2008 date data types, comparing them to the existing data types that are available within older versions of SQL Server.

SqlCredit - Part 16: The Cost of Bloat
Database designers, developers, and administrators deal with a database that continues to grow over time, often at an alarming rate. In this series' current quest to understand costs of different architectures, we will look at what cost is paid in query performance as a table grows.

Intrinsic Member Properties: The MEMBER_CAPTION Property
Architect Bill Pearson introduces the intrinsic MEMBER_CAPTION property. In hands-on exercises, we gain exposure to the use of the property in generating simple lists, as well as datasets to support report parameter picklists.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 23
Part 23 of this series reviews manual workarounds to migrate from MSDE-based installations, when running an in-place upgrade of individual instances isn't possible. Additional factors that should be considered during migration to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition are also covered.

Table-valued parameters SQL Server 2008
In previous versions of SQL Server, it has not been possible to pass a table variable, as a parameter, to a stored procedure. Microsoft introduces table-valued parameters, along with other features, in SQL Server 2008. This article illustrates the function and usage of table-valued parameters.

Oracle 10g Cloning Guide: A Small County Government Approach
This document offers one approach to database refreshes for Oracle 10g databases on Windows 32 and 64 bit servers.

DB2 9.5 and IBM Data Studio - Part 10: Building Stored Procedures
Learn how to take an SQL statement that you built using either the SQL Editor or the SQL Builder and quickly turn it into a deployed SQL/PL stored procedure. In addition, this article explains how to move a data development project between servers.

Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview - Part 3
Join Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson as he continues his subseries surrounding components of the Analysis Services dimensional model. In this article we continue our introduction to dimension attributes, focusing upon the Misc group of attribute properties.

Oracle Warehouse Builder Automated ETL Processing
Steve Callan offers a high level overview of what it takes to automate a load, covering each and every project item you need to address for this to work.

Policy-based Management in SQL Server 2008 - Part 2
Learn how to use SQL Server Agent alerts and jobs to fix policy incompliance automatically.

DB2 9.5 and IBM Data Studio - Part 9: The SQL Editor Development Accelerators
The last article of this series noted that you can write SQL using both the SQL Builder and SQL Editor. This installment touches on the differences between SQL Builder and SQL Editor by showing you the capabilities of the SQL Editor in more depth.

Upgrading from Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE)
This installment focuses on upgrading from Microsoft Desktop Engine (MSDE) to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

Multi Table Loop
This article examines how to loop through multiple tables to process the data.

Row Value Constructor in SQL Server 2008
This article illustrates different methods to insert data into a table, including the new Row Value Constructor, which simplifies the data insertion.

Programming, Perl + Oracle
Perl is a powerful scripting language that can meet your day-to-day scripting needs as a database administrator, and if used prudently, and responsibly, as a language to build large web-based applications. Here's a quick introduction to using Perl with Oracle.

SQL Server Management Studio Reports and Dashboard
This article examines the built in reports called SQL Server Management Studio Reports and an additional add-on called Performance Dashboard.

The Flash Guru: Serving FLV Files Over Slow Connections
In this latest installment of our popular monthly series, we again turn to our favorite Flash Video expert, Stefan Richter, to answer a question from our forum. This time: How to serve video to users with slow Internet connections.

Create Your Own Reports with Oracles Snapshot Information
If you are tired of running the same old Oracle AWR reports, not getting to the data quickly, or just need to write your own, then this article will get you started.

Oracle Database 11g: Database Replay - Part 1
This article provides a primer for using Oracle 11g Database Replay to effectively predict the performance of rapidly changing applications within increasingly fluid database environments.

Support Parameterization from Analysis Services Parameter Defaults
BI Architect Bill Pearson demonstrates a straightforward solution from the Analysis Services layer - for supporting parameter defaults that represent the last periods of data entry within our cube.

DB2 9 and Microsoft Access 2007: Working with your DB2 Data in Access 2007
Part one of this series discussed using Access 2007 as a graphical front end to a back-end DB2 data server. Part two examines how to leverage DB2 as an integration layer, and demonstrates some of the business rules that Access 2007 maintains when presenting DB2 data to information workers.

SqlCredit - Part 15: The Cost of Distribution
Part 15 of this series examines what cost is paid when tables are separated into multiple databases on the same server.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 21: Using Replication Management Objects
Recent installments of this series have demonstrated SQL Server 2005 Express Edition's replication characteristics by taking advantage of replication-specific executables and T-SQL code combined with Windows Synchronization Manager and Web Synchronization technologies. This article explores another method of reaching the same goal, which involves Replication Management Objects (RMO).

Connection Strategy for Multiple Database Environments
Greg Larsen looks at one way to design your database connection strategy to simplify changing application connections so you can plug-n-play databases with less administrative overhead when the need arises.

Oracle DBA in an Oracle Applications World
Steve Callan takes a look at what is behind the smoke, mirrors, and curtains of Oracle Applications.

DB2 9 and Microsoft Access 2007 Part 1: Getting the Data
Paul Zikopoulos explores how to configure Access 2007 as a graphical front-end for DB2 data operations.

Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview - Part 2
Join Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson as he continues his subseries surrounding components of the Analysis Services dimensional model. In this article we continue our introduction to dimension attributes, focusing upon the Basic group of attribute properties.

Policy-based Management in SQL Server 2008 Part 1
Policy-base Management is a new feature in SQL Server 2008 that helps Database Administrators manage SQL Server instances by intent through clearly defined policies. This article introduces the basics of Policy-based management and shows an example of using this new feature to prevent incompliance.

UPSERT Functionality in SQL Server 2008
This article illustrates the functionality of UPSERT via the MERGE command in SQL Server 2008.

Using Microsoft Access to Query and Update Web Sites
Learn how you can use an Access Database and VBA to manipulate a Web 2 application.

Implementing a Left Join with LINQ
Learn how to implement a Left Outer Join with LINQ.

Authenticating Merge Web Synchronization
We have been discussing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition replication-specific features, investigating authentication mechanisms that are available in order to accommodate connection attempts from remote clients interacting with SQL Server-based distributor via Internet Information Services. We will continue coverage of this topic here.

Oracle Indexing - What, Where, When?
If you are new to databases, or perhaps new to Oracle, you may find the discussion on indexes and indexing strategy complicated. Don't fret. To get started it's fairly straightforward, and as long as you pay attention to the options relevant to day-to-day DBA needs, it should remain fairly simple.

Recovering from Loss of All Control Files
Follow these easy steps to restore a database when the control files haVe been lost.

Set Functions: The StripCalculatedMembers() Function
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson continues his examination of MDX functions, this time introducing StripCalculatedMembers(). In this article, we expose the function, and then lead a hands-on practice session with examples that reinforce the concepts.

Storing Images and BLOB files in SQL Server - Part 4
Part 4 of this series focuses on storing BLOBs on the Windows File System and using Microsoft SQL Server to organize them from a web page.

Measuring Disk I/OOracles ORION Tool
Oracles ORION workload tool enables architects to effectively develop a workload that can mimic and stress a storage array in the same manner as planned applications with an Oracle backend database.

Top Queries in SQL Server 2005
This article illustrates how to query dynamic management views to find the TOP queries based on average CPU and average I/O.

Understanding DB2: Learning Visually with Examples
This excerpt from "Understanding DB2: Learning Visually with Examples" covers the the history of DB2, the information management portfolio of products, how DB2 is developed, DB2 server editions and clients, how DB2 is packaged for developers and syntax diagram conventions.

Exam 70-443 Practice Test from uCertify.com
Greg Larsen reviews the M70-443 PrepKit exam software that helps you prepare for the "Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by using Microsoft SQL Server 2005" exam (70-443), which is one of the exams you need to pass as part of the Microsoft IT Professional: Database Administrator certification.

SqlCredit - Part 14: The Cost of Translation
SQL Server allows us to create a facade using views and triggers so that a table that originally had a certain design can be replaced by a view that looks like the original table to (almost) any code that accesses it. The question answered here is how this translation affects performance.

Using Vertical and Horizontal Table Structures in Oracle
Compare different ways to persist data in a database table. A vertical data layout is one option to consider, as is horizontal tables. Decide which is best for you.

Exposing a Database as a Web Service
Gain a good understanding on how to expose databases as a Web Service using Axis2.

Licensing and Auditing in Oracle
Steve Callan discusses what can take place during the Oracle licensing or renewal process.

Parameterization from Analysis Services Cascading Picklists
BI Architect Bill Pearson adds refinements to Analysis Services- based parameterization within Reporting Services. In this article, we add support for cascading picklists.

Oracle: Unusable Indexes
JP Vijaykumar examines what happens to an index when it becomes unusable.

Authenticating Merge Web Synchronization
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 19: So far, we have presented a simplified scenario that illustrated Web Synchronization's basic setup and discussed several options. This article will further elaborate on this subject, by focusing on authentication settings that are available when configuring Web access for multi-tier SQL Server-based applications.

Access TreeView-ListView Basics
This article focuses on getting started with Access TreeView and ListView controls.

Using dtutil to Copy SSIS Packages Stored in SQL Server
Learn how to copy SSIS packages stored in SQL Server and their associated package roles using the dtutil command line utility.

DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows: DBA Guide, Reference, and Exam Prep
This excerpt from "DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows" introduces the DB2 family of products that run on the Linux, UNIX, and Windows operating systems.

Find Space Usage by Table, Schema in SQL Server 2005 and 2008
Learn how to identify which schemas and tables are using the most space by querying system catalogs.

The SQL Builder Development Accelerators: The Rest of the Story
Part 8 of this series rounds out the features of the SQL Builder and finishes off with a great feature that is part of the SQL Editor -- SQL templates.

Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part 1
Join Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson as he continues his subseries surrounding components of the Analysis Services dimensional model. In this article we introduce dimension attributes, and follow up with an examination of the Advanced properties of a sample attribute.

Create a Database Manually - When & Why?
Peering into the Oracle database creation process really pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of the database, allowing us to understand all of the levers, and pieces that make up a running Oracle database.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 18 - Merge Web Synchronization Setup
Part 18 of this series explores several scenarios in which the Merge Web Synchronization can be applied and describes their implementation details.

Programming with LINQ to SQL
You can use LINQ to SQL to define an Object Relational Mapping between SQL tables and then query those tables with LINQ.

Hands-on Oracle: Backup & Recovery Games
Learn what happens within the database after the loss of a control file and test it out yourself using a flash drive.

Storing Images and BLOB files in SQL Server - Part 3
Part three of this series walks you through building a web-based application for inserting images into SQL Server.

Measuring Disk I/OA Vendor View
Learn how to compare the workload of a database with the actual mechanical capabilities of individual disks.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Change Data Capture Part 4
Part 4 of this series illustrates how to generate DML [Data Manipulation language Insert, Update and Delete] statements from the history table.

A High Availability Data Synchronization Architecture
Learn how to synchronize high availability databases and set up synchronization systems without single points of failure.

Set Functions: The AddCalculatedMembers() Function
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson continues his examination of MDX functions, introducing AddCalculatedMembers(). In this article, we expose the function, reinforcing the basic concepts, as always, with hands-on practice examples.

SQL Server DBA Dashboard
This article examines a tool called the "SQL Server DBA Dashboard" that provides a number of different Custom Reports that can be used to monitor activities within a SQL Server instance.

Oracle Database 11g: SQL Plan Management, Part 2
Part 2 of this series explains how SQL Plan Management can be used during the upgrade of an existing Oracle 10gR2 database to an Oracle 11g environment, as well as during the deployment of brand new application code, to effectively limit unexpected regression of SQL statement performance.

Cascading in Oracle: Friend or Foe?
Is cascading always a good thing? Steve Callan looks at some of the more common operations where cascade is used.

Support Parameterization from Analysis Services
BI Architect Bill Pearson demonstrates a straightforward solution ? from the Analysis Services layer - for supporting parameterization within Reporting Services.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 17: Merge Web Synchronization
Continuing a discussion on the limitations of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition's replication characteristics, this article explores Web Synchronization, with SQL Server 2005 Express Edition instances operating as merge replication subscribers connecting to a publisher via HTTPS protocol.

SqlCredit - Part 13: More on Indexed Persisted Computed Columns
Part 13 of the "Developing a Complete SQL Server OLTP Database Project" series continues an examination of persisted computed columns, this month discussing performance issues and the PCC Column DataType.

DST checking with Windows Powershell
Incorrect time on a server that hosts trading databases screws up transactions and irritates end users. Yan Pan walks through a script that can be re-used every year to report the wrong time on any SQL Server host.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Change Data Capture: Part 3
Part 1 and 2 of this article illustrated how to enable Change Data Capture on a database and on a table. Part 3 continues with an illustration of what happens to Change Data Capture when the table structure is changed.

DB2 9.5 and IBM Data Studio: Part 7: The SQL Builders Development Accelerators
Paul Zikopoulos introduces his four favorite features available in the IBM Data Studio SQL Builder: SQL Assist, Content Tip, colorization, and the design-time parser.

Adding RDL-Resident Code to Reporting Services Reports
Sometimes, it's just easier to use your Visual Basic skills to incorporate complex logic in a report expression.

Dimensional Model Components: Dimensions Part 2
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson continues his subseries surrounding components of the Analysis Services dimensional model. In the second half of this article, we extend our focus on dimensions to include property settings for Cube Dimensions.

Migrating MySQL to Oracle: Part 2
This two-part article discusses all of the steps involved in migrating a database and its attendant applications. Part 2 covers moving production data to development systems, Oracle Migration Workbench, database application migration and more.

Access Paired Forms
Nearly every Access developer will admit to having learned much about user interface design from the Northwind sample database but in time most of us look for ways to improve upon, or deviate from, the template we know so well. My latest idea makes its dbut in this month's article: Paired Forms.

Secrets of the MySQL Client Command Line
Uncover some of MySQL's little-known client features and manage your data more effectively than ever!

Keywords in Oracle
Some words in Oracle can be categorized as reserved words and keywords. Within the keywords category, context comes into play because a word isn't always reserved. Read on to learn how to distinguish between the two.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 16 - Transactional and Merge Replication
Marcin Policht provides a step-through sample implementation of transactional and merge replication.

Measuring Disk I/O
Oracle has a variety of I/O types that ultimately need to be mapped, sampled, and related to storage. This article looks at extracting various I/O statistics so that you can monitor and determine just how well your disks are doing.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Change Data Capture - Part 2
Part 2 of this article illustrates how to enable Change Data Capture on a database, on a table and how SQL Server tracks the data changes of the CDC enabled table.

DB2 9.5 and IBM Data Studio: Building an SQL Statement
Part six of this series discusses how to leverage the SQL editor in IBM Data Studio to quickly and easily build an SQL statement.

MDX Numeric Functions: The Min() Function
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson introduces the numeric Min() function, and leads hands-on practice examples of its use.

Storing Images and BLOB files in SQL Server - Part 2
Part two of this article focuses on using the SQL Server Binary data type to store small image files.

Parameter Support Objects - Part 2: Support OLAP Parameter Defaults with Datasets
Join BI Architect Bill Pearson as he continues his examination of parameterization within Analysis Services reports. In this article, we provide a solution for supporting parameter defaults that represent the last periods of data entry within our cube.

Building Custom Reporting Services Reports for SQL Server Management Studio
Learn how to build Custom Reports, without installing Reporting Services, using a new feature found in Microsoft Service Pack 2 (SP2) for SQL Server 2005.

Oracle Database 11g: SQL Plan Management - Part 1
This article - the first in this series - provides a primer to SQL Plan Management principles and offers a simple demonstration of its performance tuning capabilities.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 15: Snapshot Replication
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition's replication characteristics' feature set has been significantly restricted compared with its predecessor and full-fledged counterparts. This article examines the practical implications of these restrictions by illustrating the process of setting up a snapshot replication.

SqlCredit - Part 12: Exploring Indexed Persisted Computed Columns
Part 12 of the "Developing a Complete SQL Server OLTP Database Project" series quickly hits the basics of persisted computed columns and then moves on to performance comparisons and other interesting details.

Dimensional Model Components - Dimensions Part 1
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson launches a new subseries surrounding components of the Analysis Services dimensional model. In this two-part article, we introduce dimensions, and focus upon property settings for Database Dimensions.

Managing Oracle's Undo Tablespaces
With the advent of Automatic Undo Management (AUM), Oracle abstracts the management of undo space for you. Read along as Steve Callan explains the intricacies of undo tablespaces.

MS Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 WMI Providers - Part 2
Part 2 of this series covers the WMI Provider for Server Events explaining how to monitor DDL and trace events in a SQL Server instance by leveraging this provider and Windows PowerShell.

Multiple Selection Through Bitmasks
Ever wish you could store multiple selections to a single table column? The solution, Bitmask Fields, have been in use for decades. Follow along as Danny Lesandrini shows you how to unlock the power of two.

Oracle RAC 64 bit for Windows: Preparing the Virtual Environment
Part 4 of this series covers installing Oracle 11g RAC on a 64 bit Windows system using Windows 2003 Service Pack 2.

Reporting Services: Customize Automatically Created Parameter Support Objects
Join BI Architect Bill Pearson as he continues his examination of parameterization within Analysis Services reports. In this article, we create basic report parameters using the graphical user interface, and then customize automatically created support objects to remove the All selection that appears in picklists by default.

Oracle Security: The Big Picture
This book will help the DBA to assess their current level of risk as well as their existing security posture. It will then provide practical, applicable knowledge to appropriately secure the Oracle database.

Oracle 10g Backup Guide: A Small County Government Approach
This document offers one approach to database backups for Oracle 10g databases on Windows 32 and 64 bit servers.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Change Data Capture - Part 1
Part one of this series illustrates how to enable Change Data Capture on a database, and on a table, and how to keep track of Data Definition Language changes on a table.

Migrating MySQL to Oracle - Part 1
This two part article discusses all of the steps involved in migrating a database and its attendant applications, questions to ask yourself, what to watch out for, and how to perform the whole thing within a limited window of downtime.

More on Using Tools for Tracing
There is more than one approach or tool to use in a tuning opportunity. Part two of this article covers Tracing and TKPROF.

DB2 9.5 and IBM Data Studio: Using OLE DB to Integrate Data
Part 5 of this series introduces the OLE DB function capability available in IBM Data Studio.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 14: Replication Support
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition's small footprint and free-of-charge use has some negative implications, imposing restrictions on functionality available in the Standard or Enterprise editions. This is especially conspicuous in the case of replication, which we will explore starting with this installment.

Storing Images and BLOB files in SQL Server
This article explores the data types and methods used for storing BLOBs (Binary Large Objects), such as images and sounds, inside SQL Server.

Oracle Library CachePart 2
Part two of this article looks at issues that arise in the Library Cache, how to find those issues and offers solutions to fix them.

New datetime datatypes in SQL Server 2008
Older versions of SQL Server had only one datatype to store both the date and time values. In SQL Server 2008, Microsoft introduces a set of new datatypes that store date and time individually, and both date and time together.

RMAN Tablespace Point in Time Recovery
A user deletes data from a table and commits it. How do you retrieve that data? RMAN tablespace point in time recovery (TSPITR), of course!

MDX Numeric Functions: The Max() Function
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson introduces the numeric Max()function, and leads hands-on practice examples of the basic concepts.

SQL Server 2005 - Hacking password Encryption
Part 2 of this article discusses how to hack/de-cipher the data that has been encrypted by passphrase.

DB2 9.5 and IBM Data Studio: Overview Diagrams, Continued
Part 4 of this series finishes a tour of overview diagrams and introduces some features you can use with them to make them even more useful than simple, quick visuals.

Disk Space Usage and SQL Server Performance
Every extra byte of space you waste in your database causes a performance hit to your application. This article looks at disk space usage and how it affects performance.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 13: ClickOnce Deployment and Security
In order to fully understand all aspects of ClickOnce publishing parameters, it is important to become familiar with security mechanisms that affect its outcome. The main purpose of this article is to present their overview.

Oracle Database 11g: SQL Performance Analyzer - Part 3
This article - the final one in this series- explores how the SQL Performance Analyzer can effectively analyze changes in SQL statement performance due to modified database initialization parameters.

Oracle Library Cache - Part 1
Gaining an understanding of internal Oracle structures is essential to becoming better DBAs and servicing our end user community. Oracle's library cache is one such internal structure that can help eliminate some very nasty denial of service requests originating from application users. Read on to learn more.

BACKUP compression in SQL Server 2008
Learn how to take Full, Differential and Transactional log backups with and without compression, and how to enable compression as a default.

Migrating Access Apps to SQL Server
The final article in this series covers Optimizing Client Server Queries.

Manage Unknown Members in Analysis Services 2005 - Part 2
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson continues his hands-on introduction to managing Unknown Member scenarios within Analysis Services 2005.

Eight Ways to Hack Oracle - Part 2: Vulnerability, System Commands and Security
Part 2 of this series covers four vulnerable areas, the Oracle Listener, privilege escalation to get more access from a less privileged login we already have, executing operating system commands, which can be very powerful, and under appreciated, and lastly filesystem security.

Oracle Tuning Using Tracing, STATSPACK, AWR and Toad
Learn the pros and cons of different tools, Oracle-owned or otherwise, that can be effective in helping a DBA solve a performance problem.

Open Source Virtualization: Oracle VM Manager Installation
Part three of this series covers how to install the Oracle VM Manager on your Workstation skeleton.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 12: ClickOnce Deployment and Updates
Part 11 of this series presented the publishing options of ClickOnce-capable applications that involve User Instance-based databases. This article takes a closer look at the deployment process, demonstrating the impact of your selections on its characteristics.

Set Functions: The .AllMembers Function
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson introduces the useful .AllMembers function, reinforcing the basic concepts, as always, with hands-on practice examples.

Data Encryption in SQL Server 2005 - Part 1
SQL Server 2005 provides four methods of encryption. Part one of this article covers encryption and decryption by passphrase.

DB2 9.5 and IBM Data Studio - Behind the Story
Paul Zikopoulos shares the vision and the ideology behind the new IBM Data Studio toolset.

Installing SQL Server 2008
This article highlights the steps involved to install SQL Server 2008.

Scheduling Jobs in the Database
Learn about the Oracle job queue sub system and its usage in scheduling and executing PL/SQL routines at predefined times and/or repeated job execution at regular intervals.

Snapshot Reports II: SQL Server Management Studio Perspective
BI Architect Bill Pearson concludes his subseries surrounding Caching Options, examining the use of SQL Server Management Studio to configure / manage Snapshot Caching.

Oracle Database 11g: SQL Performance Analyzer - Part 2
This article - the next in a series on new Oracle Database 11g SQL performance improvement features - discusses how to use the SQL Performance Analyzer to evaluate a SQL workload generated from an Oracle 10gR2 database to detect potential performance issues for that workload if it were executed within an Oracle 11g database system.

Advanced Active Record Validations with Rails
Use Rails' Active Record validation callbacks to exercise greater control over user input.

SQL Server Security Model
Greg Larsen discusses the different options available within SQL Server 2005 for managing security.

Saving Time by Reusing Storage
While truncating a table to remove data is faster than deleting the same data, there are subtle differences that when taken into account, can help improve the overall performance of a job or process. Read on to learn the advantages and disadvantages of each.

SqlCredit Part 11: Change Tracking Using History Records
Change tracking is an important requirement of most OLTP systems. If the PrimaryCardHolder on an account was updated, you should be able to tell who made the change, when they made it, and what the old and new values are. This article discusses tracking these changes in three different types of history records.

UNIQUE Column with Multiple NULL Values
Learn how to maintain uniqueness on a column while still allowing multiple NULL values.

Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 WMI Providers: Part 1
Learn how to perform administrative tasks by accessing the SQL Server 2005 WMI Providers using Window PowerShell.

SQL Server 2005 Express: Deployment and Maintenance Options
Part 11 of the series focuses on the process of deploying and maintaining user instance-based applications that employ ClickOnce technology.

SQL Server Reporting Services: Getting Started
Explore SQL Server Reporting Services and see how to get started quickly.

Avoiding Data Corruption with Rails' Active Record Validations
Use Rails' Active Record validations feature to filter user input with ease.

File Management with Scripting Object
Once you get familiar with the File Scripting Object (FSO), managing files in Access is not so bad--getting started is the painful part. To help you along, this month's download includes sample code for both Access (early bound) and VB Script (late bound).

Manage Unknown Members in Analysis Services 2005, Part 1
Manage members for which no underlying data exists to populate dimensional attributes. Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson provides hands-on guidance in handling these Unknown Member scenarios within Analysis Services 2005 through setting associated properties.

Product Review: Oracle PL/SQL Tuning
Books on PL/SQL, like books on other topics related to Oracle, range from the just so-so to what can be called bible status. With respect to PL/SQL, tuning included or not, Tim Halls book is one of those high return on investment purchases.

DB2 9.5 and IBM Data Studio - Part 3: Overview Diagrams - The Basics
Part 3 of this series examines more deeply the overview diagrams introduced in part 2.

Installing Oracle 11g RAC on VMware ESX 3i - Part 1
This article covers installing Oracle 11g RAC on the VMware workstation in ESX 3.x compatibility mode, in anticipation of the release of ESX 3i.

Building a BizTalk Pipeline Content Enricher with SQL Server 2005
Learn how to implement the Content Enricher integration pattern using BizTalk 2006 R2 and SQL Server 2005.

Custom Pipeline Component for the DB2 Adapter
Discover how to use BizTalk custom pipelines to more effectively pull data from the DB2 adapter.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 10: Embedded Databases
Part 10 of our series offers more insight into the design and distribution of applications when implementing applications with embedded databases that support XCopy deployment (and depend on user instance technology).

Application Handling of Database Timeouts and Deadlocks
Learn how to minimize the occurrence of database transaction locking and how to handle situations when your database does return error codes that constitute deadlocks and timeouts.

MDX Essentials: Set Functions: The MeasureGroupMeasures() Function
Join Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson as he leads a hands-on introduction to the MeasureGroupMeasures() function. Put MeasureGroupMeasures() to work in your own scripting or reporting environment to exploit a list of all measures in the specified measure group.

Eight Ways to Hack Oracle
As with any computing system, there are ways to hack it, and Oracle is no exception. This series discusses some of the ways that you can get at data you're not supposed to, and how to defend against those attacks.

DB2 9.5 and the IBM Data Studio
Part 2 of this series delves into some of the enhanced and new features of the Database Explorer View in DB2 9.5, focusing on the options available from a live database connection object.

Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO - Part 11: Redirection
Learn how to use PowerShell cmdlets in conjunction with the SQL Server client and output redirection to export to a text file or XML file.

SQL 2008 Data Types
This article introduces the new Date and Time data types found in Microsoft SQL Server 2008, such as DATETIME2, TIME, and DATE. The traditional data types that have been carried forward from previous versions will also be reviewed.

Administering SQL Server 2005 Integration Services
This excerpt from "SQL Server 2005 Management and Administration" covers What's new in Integration Services with Service Pack 2, understanding, managing and administering Integration Services and command prompt utilities.

How to Build a Profile Script to Monitor SQL Server off Hours
Learn how to build a Profiler script that can be launched using a SQL Agent job that is scheduled to run during off hours.

Choosing the "Right" DBMS Engine
Picking the "best" database engine is not always (okay, it's rarely) easy.

Database Isolation Levels
Learn the concepts that every database programmer needs to know to develop applications that allow multi-user access to the database: Isolation levels.

Snapshot Reports 1: Report Manager Perspective
BI Architect Bill Pearson continues his subseries surrounding Caching Options, examining the use of Report Manager to configure Snapshot Caching.

SqlCredit - Part 10: MAC Performance and Updating SqlCredit
This month's installment of "Developing a Complete SQL Server OLTP Database Project" covers MAC performance results, a summary of encryption findings, and comments on updating the SqlCredit code based on those findings.

Oracle Database 11g: SQL Performance Advisor - Part 1
This article the first in a series on new Oracle Database 11g SQL performance improvement features reviews how to set up and utilize these features and provides a simple simulation of how SQL Performance Advisor can detect changes to an Oracle 11g database system.

Hashing in Oracle
Hashing is but one of many cleverly implemented functions embedded in Oracle. Learn all about it, what it is and how to use it.

Partitioning a Non-Partitioned Oracle System
Learn how to bring back manageability and responsiveness using Database Partitioning on your current Non-Partitioned system.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 9: Managing User Instances
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition's unique functionality allows you to distribute and implement single-user databases, without the dependency of having administrative privileges or the need for a cumbersome configuration. This article illustrates the practical use of this feature, known as XCopy deployment.

DB2 Viper II and the IBM Data Studio Developer Workbench
In part 1 of this new series, Paul Zikopoulos introduces the Database Explorer that's part of the new IBM DS DWB in the DB2 Viper II open beta.

Using Oracle 10g Tuning Utilities
Starting with 10g, Oracle introduced Advisors, which are part of the ADDM (Automatic Database Diagnostic Monitor) and run in the background. This article discusses some of the more common ADDM utilities used and how they can help troubleshoot and tune the database.

Oracle RAC Benchmarking with SwingBench 2.2
Tarry Singh discusses why benchmarking is important and offers an overview of SwingBench 2.2, a free Java based utility, to stress test Oracle databases.

MS Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO: Part 10
This installment of the series illustrates how to use PowerShell scripts in conjunction with SMO and parameters to Generate an SQL Server Script.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 8: XCopy Deployment
Part 8 of our series provides an overview of User Instance model (also known as Run As Normal User or simply RANU) and automatic database connectivity, which serve as two primary enablers for XCopy deployment, facilitating distribution of single-user databases.

Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL Feature Comparison - Part 2
In the last piece of our database comparison, we hit upon various areas such as triggers, views, and stored procedures. This time around, we'll discuss some areas where the platforms differ more significantly, most importantly in their handling of complex SQL and optimizing choices.

Transportable Tablespaces: Why the Platform Matters
Steve Callan discusses why the platform matters when using transportable tablespaces.

String Functions: The .Properties Function - Part 2
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson continues his hands-on introduction to the .Properties function. In this article, we examine the use of the TYPED flag within the .Properties function to deliver a strongly typed value using .Properties.

Whats New in SQL Server 2008 - Part 3
Don Schlichting highlights some of the new features and benefits found in SQL Server 2008. Covered in Part 3 of this series is new Data Integration features, enhancements to Analysis Services, Reporting Server additions, and Office integration.

Troubleshooting ASM problems on VMware ESX 3.x: Part 2
Tarry Singh looks at some problems that can be encountered during ESX 3.x Oracle RAC setup, and how to fix those problems.

Microsoft Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO - Part 9
Learn how to use PowerShell in conjunction with SMO to Generate an SQL Server Script.

Preparing for the M70-444 Exam
Are you considering becoming a Microsoft Certified DBA? Where do you start? How do you prepare for getting certified? This article reviews one set of practice tests for the Microsoft M70-444 exam that is provided by "uCertify.com".

Report Execution Caching 2: Report Manager Perspective
BI Architect Bill Pearson resumes his Caching Options subseries, examining the use of Report Manager to configure Report Execution Caching.

SqlCredit Part 9: Message Authentication Codes
This month's installment of "Developing a Complete SQL Server OLTP Database Project" covers searching encrypted data, dictionary attacks, and look-ups by hashed value.

Oracle Database 11g: Automatic SQL Tuning
This article delves into a new Oracle Database 11g feature that significantly extends this powerful 10g feature by providing the ability to implement improved execution plans automatically within DBA-specified boundaries.

The Dictionary in the Data Dictionary
Take on a trip into Oracles data dictionary, specifically, the dictionary part or aspect of it.

Manage Your MySQL Database with Rails' Migrations
Manage your MySQL database with incredible ease using Rails' migrations feature.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 7: Post Installation Configuration Tasks
Previous articles have described activities that enable remote connectivity and enhance security through encryption of network traffic between the database engine and its clients. In this installment, we will look into a few other options intended to simplify the handling of administrative responsibilities.

XML-Enabled Applications - Part 2: Building PHP Applications on Oracle
Oracle XML DB allows you to perform SQL operations on XML data as well as XML operations on relational data, thus bridging the gap between the SQL and XML worlds. You can choose between several storage options and achieve required levels of performance and scalability.

Migrating Access Apps to SQL Server
Danny Lesandrini introduce some home-made tools that may be useful to your migration process, and explain a few of the "gotcha's" associated with the move from a Microsoft Access database to SQL Server 200x.

Tuning an Oracle Procedure
Join JP Vijaykumar as he tunes a procedure that is running for eight hours, bringing the run time of the procedure down to 37 minutes.

MS Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO: Part 8
Part 8 of our series illustrates how to use PowerShell in conjunction with SMO to display object properties of all SQL Server Objects.

Troubleshooting ASM problems on VMware ESX 3.x
Several errors may be encountered when setting up ESX 3.x on Oracle Rac. This article covers some of those errors and how to fix them.

Report Execution Caching I: SQL Server Management Studio Perspective
BI Architect Bill Pearson continues a three-part sub-series on Caching Options within Reporting Services 2005. In this article, we focus upon Report Execution Caching, and its configuration from SQL Server Management Studio.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 6: Post Installation Configuration Tasks (Encryption)
Part 6 of this series continues the discussion of network-based configuration tasks, describing other activities that alter default connectivity settings applied during standard installation, focusing in particular on encryption.

Oracle's Transportable Automatic Workload Repository
Oracles Automatic Workload Repository provides a whole new way of gathering, comparing and storing statistics. Read on to learn how AWR differs from the old statspack reports.

Making Database Administration Easier with Freeware
Cygwin, an OpenSSH application, helps relieve the stress of more commonly seen administration problems, including not being able to get a GUI tool (e.g., Oracle Universal Installer) to display and not being able to have it display at the correct location.

Alternatively Sorting Attribute Members in Analysis Services 2005
Go beyond sorting attribute members based upon their own name or key value. Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson provides hands-on guidance in sorting attribute members by the name or key of a secondary attribute in Analysis Services 2005.

Whats New in SQL 2008 - Part 2
Don Schlichting highlight some of the new features and benefits found in SQL Server 2008. Covered in Part 2 of this series is Development changes, new Business Intelligence features, Integration additions, and new Data Types.

Using Orion Calibration to Check I/O Numbers
Orion is an I/O metrics testing tool, designed specifically to simulate the I/O workload before installing Oracle RAC on the hardware. It is ideal for capacity planning and checking DAS, SAN or NAS storage.

MS Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO: Part 7
Part 7 of our series illustrates how to use PowerShell in conjunction with SMO to display SQL Server Objects.

String Functions: The .Properties Function
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson introduces the basic .Properties function, within the first of a two-part article surrounding this important member of our MDX toolsets.

Setting Up Delegation for Linked Servers
Learn how to set up delegation on your SQL Server instances, so you can use the impersonate options when setting up the security properties of linked server definitions.

Product Review: HyperBac for Oracle
A relatively new product called HyperBac provides an excellent alternative to Oracle 10gR2 compressed backupset methodology without the need to modify any RMAN backup, restoration, and recovery scripts. This article provides an overview of HyperBac features that nicely complement Oracle 10gR2's enhancements to database backups and exports.

SQLite: The Sensible Database Solution
Take a look at SQLite, a fully featured relational database which, at just 250KB, is by itself able to easily fit on a floppy disk yet capable of managing terabyte-sized databases. You also will see how it works with PHP.

Report Session Caching in Reporting Services 2005
BI Architect Bill Pearson begins a three-part sub-series on Caching Options within Reporting Services 2005. In this article, we focus upon Report Session Caching.

SQL Server: Post-Installation Configuration Tasks
Part 5 of our series continues exploring post-setup tasks, focusing on network specific tasks.

SqlCredit Part 8: Comparing Encrypt/DecryptByCert and Encrypt/DecryptByKey
Having seen in Part 7 of this series that the performance impact of using EncryptByCert and DecryptByCert was unacceptable for any high-volume, transactional data, this month we'll compare that to EncryptByKey and DecryptByKey.

Bring Your Forms to Life With JavaScript
In this article you'll learn how to prevent errors in your forms. This method validates the form and provides immediate feedback to the user. If the form has been correctly filled out, the submit button is enabled, if not, the button remains grayed out.

Clearing Alerts in Enterprise Manager
Using Oracle Enterprise Manager can be one of the most frustrating experiences in Oracle because of OEMs non-intuitive, disjointed interface and OEMs inability to clean up after itself. Follow along with Steve Callan as he delves into the mystery of how to clear alerts in Enterprise Manager.

Stitching Up Time Zones
Performing brain surgery on the Registry need not be fatal.

Programming SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition with ADO
Learn how to use ADO.NET to connect to the SQL Server Compact Edition database as well as how to read, update, and merge the changes back to the SQL Server Compact Edition database in this excerpt from "Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition".

Introduction to Linked Objects in Analysis Services 2005
Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson overviews Linked Object options that debut with Analysis Services 2005.

Browser Style Form Navigation
This article series features a demo app affectionately named Something Not Entirely Unlike Access, which employs a variety of methods to obfuscate the "Accessian" features. Last month, we discussed how to automatically resize subforms, the way some browser frames work. This month, we'll tackle navigation.

Clustering Oracle RAC Virtual Machines Across Physical and ESX Hosts
Part 4 of this series examines various possibilities for building clusters across several physical and ESX hosts and takes a quick look at upgrading clustered Virtual Machines in all the three scenarios.

Microsoft Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO - Part 6
Part 6 of "Microsoft Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO" illustrates how to use PowerShell and PowerShell script to backup databases.

Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL: Working with SQL Server
This excerpt from Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL in 10 Minutes discusses how to connect and log into SQL Server, how to issue SQL Server statements, and how to obtain information about databases and tables.

DB2 9 and Microsoft Excel 2007 - Part 4: Creating a Pivot Table
Part 4 of this series examines how to leverage the framework created in part 3 and how to create and populate (with DB2 9 data) one of the most important and capable data analysis tools around: pivot tables.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 4: Surface Area Configration
This article demonstrates how you can use Surface Area Configuration utility in order to modify some of the security-related settings that have been applied during installation of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

Hierarchical TableAdapters 301
Are you having problems setting up a TableAdapter that can be fed from stored procedures instead of base tables? Here is a road map to guide you to success.

Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL feature comparison - Part 1
Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL obviously have a lot of features, and different solutions for the same problems. This article looks at the major features, such as stored procedures, views, snapshots, table datatypes, transactions, and so on, to discover which ones do what you need.

Learning Oracle by the Numbers
It's hard enough mastering Oracle 10g, let alone trying to devote time to learning the nuances of an older version. Steven Callan offers advice on how to overcome a step or two backwards with respect to Oracle.

Logical Functions: IsGeneration(): Conditional Logic within Filter Expressions
Use IsGeneration() to support conditional logic within filter expressions. BI Architect Bill Pearson looks beyond employing IsGeneration() in calculations, and provides hand-on practice in its use within the MDX Filter() function.

DB2 9 and Microsoft Excel 2007 Part 3: Building Your Own Queries
Learn how to use the Microsoft Query function that's part of Excel 2007 to customize the data that's retrieved from the STAFF table as opposed to the entire data that's retrieved when using the DB2STAFFTABLE connection object that we built in Part 1 of this series.

What's new in SQL 2008 - Part 1
SQL Server 20008 will be released approximately February of 2008, along with a new version of Visual Studio and Windows. This article will highlight some of the new features and benefits found in SQL Server 2008.

Oracle RAC: How shared storage works on VMware - Part 3
Our previous article looked at the clustering possibilities on the ESX Server. In this article, we will examine the various possibilities for building clusters across several physical ESX hosts and the clustering possibilities across ESX hosts and physical machines.

Setting up a Linked Server for a Remote SQL Server Instance
Learn how a linked server can be used to seamlessly provide an application access to data on a different instance of SQL Server.

RMAN Disk to Disk Backup Methods
Disk to disk backups are becoming the norm. This article takes a 1,000 foot view to help evaluate your options.

SqlCredit Part 7: Performance Impact of EncryptByCert and DecryptByCert
Part 7 of our "Developing a Complete SQL Server OLTP Database Project" discusses performance issues resulting from using EncryptByCert and DecryptByCert. Read the article and download the code to run the test yourself.

Oracle RAC: How shared storage works on VMware - Part 2
Part two of this series discusses creating clustered virtual machines on VMware's ESX 3 Server.

Oracle Database 11g Release 1 New Features Summary - Part 2
Oracle Database 11g Release 1 was launched in mid-July 2007. This second article in a two-part series takes some tantalizing glimpses into the upcoming improvements to database performance and database management that expand even further the revolutionary concepts introduced in Oracle Database 10g.

DB2 9 and Microsoft Excel 2007 - Part 2: Working with the DB2 Data
The last article of this series discussed how to get DB2 data into Microsoft Excel 2007 worksheets, some nice formatting capabilities in Excel 2007 and how to apply them to your DB2 data. This article examines some additional advanced features, and analysis capabilities that are part of Excel 2007.

Perform SQL Queries Using Google-Style Syntax
How would you like to enable searching of your SQL Server data using Google-style syntax instead of Transact-SQL? Because of the commonality of the Google search syntax, most web users find it simple to construct a query using it. This article will show how to implement a .NET class library to perform a full-text search on a SQL Server table using Google-style syntax.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 3: Installation
Part 3 of this series describes the installation process of different versions of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition in more detail, including changes introduced in its Service Pack 2.

Using Non-Standard Port for SQL Server
Greg Larsen examines setting up SQL Server to listen on a different port number than 1433.

Oracle Database: Rotating Tables
Learn how to rotate a table to present the one to many relation between two tables as a one to one relation and present all the matching records in a single row.

Auto-Resize Access Subforms
Last month's article introduced an application called 'Something Not Entirely Unlike Access', which simulates some aspects of a web browser in Microsoft Access. This month's article focuses on the process of resizing subforms on the main form.