30 Apr 2013
By Allen
How to fix “Usage Based Optimizer” connection errors in SSAS 2012

How to fix “Usage Based Optimizer” connection errors in SSAS 2012

SSAS, , ,
The Usage-Based Optimizer can be a very powerful tool for calculating aggregations, when it works. When it doesn't work perfectly, then it can be frustrating to figure out. The devil is in the details. If you move data between environment, then you have even more details to find and fix. Just for a quick overview, in Visual Studio for 2012 (BIDS for previous versions) your project properties deployment will point at an SSAS Server Instance which in turn has to have query logging configured to point to a SQL Server database.  That database table, then logs info about the queries…
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19 Apr 2013
By Allen
START by Jon Acuff

START by Jon Acuff

Books,
Last night a friend called and invited me to attend Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership 1 Day event.  Being an entrepreneur, I'm always interested in learning more about business.  I've listened to the EntreLeadership audio book, so I just hoped to learn more of the same.  The best surprise of the day was the hour by Jon Acuff about his new book START, Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters. For about an hour Jon talked about the phases we go through in business and life. The Road to Average These are the 'typical' stages along the…
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10 Apr 2013
By Allen
Taking Flight!

Taking Flight!

Uncategorized,
This is one of the most fun and insightful business books that I've read in quite a while. It is parable about four behavioral styles (DISC profiles) that affect every interaction around us. Set in a forest called Home, there is Dorian the Dominant eagle who is doesn't chit-chat or pull any punches. The fun loving parrots like Indy are Influencers who just wants to party. The doves like Sarah enjoy the Steady life of Home and want everyone to get along. Finally, the owls like Crystal are very Compliant and need everything to be planned out and perfect. Sound…
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10 Apr 2013
By Allen
Getting SQL data into SharePoint

Getting SQL data into SharePoint

BI/DW Projects, Microsoft SQL Server, , , , ,
In March, I was invited to speak at the OKC SQL Users Group and I never got the slide deck posted. So here it is to help get you started. Sharing SQL data in SharePoint from Allen Smith Session Level:  Beginner SQL and Beginner SharePoint Session Abstract:  Microsoft SharePoint is a collaboration software that provides a web based portal for business intelligence, content management and document sharing. In this session we will start with the basics of sharing a SQL table as a 'List' in Sharepoint. Next we move on to fun stuff of integrating SQL Server Reporting Services integration.…
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04 Dec 2012
By Allen

What’s New in SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) 2012

SQL Server, SSRS, , ,
Everybody has been bloggin about the new features in SQL 2012, so I thought it would be best to just look at one part of the offering.  SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) has not gotten a much love but there are a few good improvements.  The list is so short, I covered it in one slide while presenting at SQL Saturday #125 in Oklahoma City.  Let's look at each area a little more. SSRS Data Alerts This is definitely a good improvement from the user perspective.   It allows users (OK, they may need help) to set up subscriptions based on…
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28 Aug 2012
By Allen
Syncronize Reports across SSRS Servers

Syncronize Reports across SSRS Servers

Microsoft SQL Server, SSRS
At SQL Saturday #125 someone asked me for a quick way to push a report out to multiple Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) servers. At the time I had Visual Studio open for a demo, so my first answer was to use Configuration Manager to store all the server addresses and then Deploy to each stored server. Here is a screenshot of the Configuration Manager. The TargetServerURL allows you to configure different server address for each configuration. Of course as soon as I left the session I thought of two more ways to accomplish the same thing. First, if…
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23 Aug 2012
By Allen

SQL with Celko Download Page

Microsoft SQL Server
Attendees to the 'SQL with Celko' class on August 24, 2012 should receive an email with a password for the following download. The password was emailed to all class attendees. [wpdm_file id=1 title="true" desc="true" template="bluebox drop-shadow curved curved-hz-2" ]    
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18 Jul 2012
By Allen

Measuring BI ROI begins with Business Analysts

BI/DW Projects
Calculating 'Payback Period' or 'Return on Investment' (ROI) on business intelligence projects requires information at every project stage. On a recent project expansion required my team to provide information about cost savings for the project. This process was important not just for project approval, but also for validation after the project was built. If business analysts are asked to provide this type of information, it will involve gathering and logging information from users starting at project initiation. Once the project is built, tested and in production there should be follow up with the users to validate the estimates. Project Initiation.…
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13 Jul 2012
By Allen

Bulk Update SSRS Subscription Information

Microsoft SQL Server, SSRS, ,
I have a current client who needed to update information in every SSRS Subscription on their production server. The main reason was they were moving domains.  This meant updating user names and pointing the subscriptions to a new file share server where it saves reports. This is a standalone instance of SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services, not in SharePoint integrated mode. It finally dawned on me that there is no bulk management tool for SSRS reports or subscriptions. So until I get time to learn VB.net and build a tool we needed a quick way to view and edit…
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19 Jun 2012
By Allen
Practice Exams: Transcender vs. SelfTest vs. MeasureUp

Practice Exams: Transcender vs. SelfTest vs. MeasureUp

Microsoft SQL Server,
Since I have been working on my certifications, I have bought several practice exam software packages. To expand my options, I bought a copy of the 70-448 practice exam from SelfTest last fall and have gotten pretty used to the questions. Since I'm still needing to work on the SSAS portions of the exam I decided to buy the same practice exam from Transcender. As I started the exam I noticed the questions were very familiar. Finally I realized they were exactly the same. Word for word. Question for Question. Answer for Answer. According to the license I can't reveal…
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