Featured Article(s)
Troubleshooting SQL Server 2008 XML Problems
In this article, Alexander Chigrik explains some problems that you can have when you work with SQL Server 2008 XML. He also tells how you can resolve these problems.
Webcast: Basics of Administering Databases for The Layman – Part 3
Okay, so you’ve gotten your data into your database. Did you do it right? Do you have too much data? Do you have the right data? Can you actually get the data out that you want? Now how do you get it out? This session will take you through some examples of why you want to have less data in a database to be more accurate (normalization), how that’s done, and how it makes the data in your database more accurate. It also explains why, in certain circumstances, it could be beneficial not to do that. Topics included will be indexes: what, why, and how to use them, what the benefits are, what the tradeoffs are. Also, different ways to maintain them and why you want to do that, and why some of Microsoft’s canned maintenance plans can be a problem and where to look for solutions to those problems.
Presented by: Tom Roush
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> Live date: 4/21/2010 at 12:00 Pacific
What Is Your Favorite Script?
I’ve been spending a lot of time lately going back through old scripts and tossing stuff that doesn’t apply as much any more with new releases of SQL Server (or just aren’t as applicable) and looking for more killer scripts to get out to everyone. I thought I’d put out a call for scripts, but wanted to make it interesting too.
So, here’s the deal.
For every script you post to the library, I’ll activate or extend your account by a month (yes, for each one submitted, so submit early and often). Just add your script to the script library, then send me a quick note and let me know when it’s done. Please make sure you put in the description so everyone knows what it does.
Then, from those submitted, we’ll pick a best-of script. That best-of script will receive both a 1 year membership on SSWUG and a 1 year (2-conferences!) pass to our Virtual Conferences. Not a bad deal!
Get those scripts submitted, and if you’re not yet a member, just drop us a note – we’ll activate your account for a few days so you can post and then of course from there you’ll have an active account from the scripts you post!
Here’s a link to the script libary…
We’ll run this contest for the next 10 days (ending Friday April 30 at midnight).
Can’t wait to see your favorites! We’ll post the contest winner’s names here to let everyone know you’re famous!
Webcast: Avoid Slow SSAS Queries: MDX Query Troubleshooting
Do you have SSAS queries that you feel should be faster? Multidimensional Expressions, or MDX, is the language used to work with Analysis Services. Similar to SQL for the relational engine, MDX is a language for queries and DDL statements on multidimensional cubes in Analysis Services. Troubleshooting slow MDX queries is often challenging because the level of support provided by the tools and the Analysis Services engine is not as mature as that found in the relational engine. This session covers the methods for examining slow queries using the SQL Profiler and Performance Monitor to determine the need for aggregations, caching problems, memory constraints, and so forth. Best practices for optimizing MDX will be examined, and various server properties will be discussed as necessary to help correct query issues. Attendees will leave armed with a practical approach to locating bottlenecks and strategies for speeding up queries.
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> Live date: 4/28/2010 at 12:00 Pacific