Cognitive Information – Page 5 – Turning Data into Information

11 Mar 2014

How to set OLE DB Source data in SSIS

SSISMicrosoft SQL, properties, SQL, SSIS

Sometimes I have to learn things repeatedly before it sticks. I re-learned this tip from Tim Costello at last night's Oklahoma City SQL User Group presentation. We will get his presentation up soon. First, a big thank you to Tim Costello for coming to Oklahoma City to speak at our user group. Check out his site for more tips. This tip was just one tidbit from his presentation "Pro Tips: Tuning the data flow in SSIS". Watch for him at a SQL Saturday near you. Why you need to set IsSorted property on the OLE DB Source When preparing…

15 Jan 2014

By Allen

SSAS Cube Partition Slice ErrorCode=”3240034361″

SSASMicrosoft SQL, SQL SSAS, SSAS

Slices are a great way to improve query performance in a heavily partitioned SSAS Cube. The photo above shows where to add or change a Slice properties in partition properties dialog box. If you ever get the following errors when processing cubes, it has to do with the Slicer property at the partition level. The first error message tells you it is a slicer, the next few messages will indicate which partition puked. This post is sponsored by our partners Wigs <Error ErrorCode="3240034361" Description="Errors in the OLAP storage engine: The restrictions imposed on partition slice where violated." Source="Microsoft SQL Server…

29 Oct 2013

By Allen

Presenting at SQL Saturday 255 in Dallas

UncategorizedDownload, Presentations, SharePoint, SQL

Just a quick note that I will be presenting an 'Intro to SharePoint BI' at SQL Saturday 255 in Dallas this weekend, November 2nd. Looking forward to seeing everyone. The SharePoint presentation and sample code is already available, though it is getting renamed at Dallas. http://www.cognitiveinfo.com/2013/sql-2012-sharepoint-2013/

21 Oct 2013

By Allen

PASS Summit 2013 – A First-timer’s Experience

Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server, PASS, User Group

First let me say I came to Summit with a few plans, but no set expectations. After SQLkaraoke with Jason Horner in KC,MO, I learned to just show up to see what happens. I really came to learn from people who are better at their craft than I and catch up with friends I’ve made through SQL Saturdays. There were only about four sessions on my must-see list. My plans did include visits to the Microsoft Certification and testing area. Overall, I enjoyed the few sessions I attended, really loved the SQLfamily, learned from Itzik Ben Gan, met Dave…

14 Oct 2013

By Allen

Custom Chart Palettes in SSRS

SSRSReporting Services, SSRS

This article is a follow up to the Cognos article on creating a custom color palette. Custom palettes are pretty common when companies start to standardize their corporate image across all company communications. Make a copy of your report template. Name it 'MyCorp Chart Report' In the report area, add a chart Right-Click the chart object and choose Properties For Palette, choose 'Custom' In the properties window, not find the custom palette settings. A dialog box appears that allows you to select each color to include in the custom palette. Below I have set the first color in the palette…

14 Oct 2013

By Allen

Customized SSRS reporting template.

SSRSMicrosoft SQL Server, SSRS

Large reporting projects can be simplified with a good template as a starting point. Design templates can store the company header with logo, company color palette, font preference and layout. These are lessons learned while developing a reporting library for GE Oil & Gas, a company with very specific rules for their corporate image. We created one template for Portrait reports, one for Landscape and one for charts shown above (with corporate colors). GE even has their own company font. As a multi-national corporation, they normally need different logos displayed depending on the country where the report is rendered. That…

31 Aug 2013

By Allen

Sharing SQL 2012 data in SharePoint 2013

SharePointPowerPivot, SharePoint, SQL, SSAS, SSIS, SSRS

I enjoyed presenting at SQL Saturday #223 in Oklahoma City last week. If you attended, you will find the presentation and Data Solution files below. The session recording is available at UserGroupTV, thanks to Sean. Session Description: Microsoft SharePoint is a collaboration software that provides a web based portal for business intelligence, content management and document sharing. In this session get an overview of the basics of sharing a SQL table as a 'List' using Sharepoint and SSIS. Next we move on to fun stuff of integrating SQL Server Reporting Services integration. Finally we look at how to give users…

22 Aug 2013

By Allen

How to configure Reporting Services 2012 for SharePoint 2013 integrated mode

SharePoint, SSRSReporting Services 2012, SharePoint 2013, SQL Server 2012, SSRS

These are my installation notes because I did not find a clear tutorial for configuring SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 on a SharePoint 2013 server in Integrated Mode. I found lots of SharePoint 2010 articles, but SharePoint has changed and now Reporting Services is actual a Service Application within the SharePoint farm. This post is aimed at setting up a single server development environment. It assumes you have already installed the following: SharePoint 2013 SQL Server 2012 SP1 (Enterprise or Developer) SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services for SharePoint 1. Install the SSRS Service in SharePoint. This is best done through…

17 Aug 2013

By Allen

SSIS 2012 Parameters vs. 2008R2 Configurations

Microsoft SQL Server, SSISIntegration Services, Presentations, SQL 2008 R2, SQL 2012, SSIS

Update 8/17/2013: The SSIS Project downloads have been updated below. Abstract: In this session, Allen Smith, Business Intelligence consultant, compares SSIS Parameters in SQL 2012 to SSIS configurations in SQL 2008R2. The 2008R2 options allowed dynamic configuration across environments. In SSIS 2012 we review the new dynamic options, including Parameters and Catalogs. This upgrade takes SSIS from simply confusing to downright confounding. We will simplify these options so anyone with basic SSIS experience can follow along. Special thanks to our friends at GDH Consulting for hosting the December meeting of Oklahoma City SQL User Group. SQL Integration Server developers need…

06 Aug 2013

By Allen

Upcoming Speaking Events

UncategorizedSpeaking, SQL PASS, SSIS

Allen Smith will be presenting business intelligence topics at upcoming SQL PASS events. Upcoming speaking engagements: Tulsa SQL User Group When: Thursday, August 8th, 6:00 PM Topic: SSIS Parameters vs. Configurations In this session, we will review configurations in SQL 2008R2 which allowed dynamic configuration across environments. SSIS 2012 expands our choices with new options, including Parameters, Expressions and Variables. This upgrade takes SSIS from simply confusing to downright confounding. We will simplify these options so anyone can follow along. SQL Saturday #223, Oklahoma City When: Saturday, August 24 Topic: Sharing SQL Data in SharePoint Microsoft SharePoint is a collaboration…