Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2005

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Microsoft has recently released the Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2005. The Feature Pack is a collection of standalone components that complement SQL Server 2005 offering. For example, the latest version of ADOMD.NET is included in the pack, as well as data mining control samples and Upgrade Advisor (a tool that assist you to ugprade Reporting Services, Analysis Services, and DTS to SQL Server 2005).

In search for scalability

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Just to let you know that I am aware that my website (prologika.com) is dog slo-o-o-w. I can hear my aging web server is praying for mercy from a mile. The good news is that I’ve just ordered a new Dell server. It sure will make a difference. It will take a few days to get and configure the server. I hope I will be able to scale before Thanksgiving.


So please be patient!

My blog address has changed

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I have to apologize for the late news. I thought that I can get .Text and Community Server co-existing peacefully on the same machine, so I could post a notice of the blog address change through .Text once I am done installing and switching to the Community Server. Alas, .NET Framework 2.0 and .Text didn’t go along very well… Oops!


 


If you read this, you already know my new blog address but for whatever it is worth, please update your readers accordingly. The next time I will be less excited with upgrades J

SQL Server 2005 LoadFest

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Atlanta.mdf is hosting a LoadFest event to celibrate the launch of SQL Server 2005. They asked me to stop by and answer tough Business Intelligence questions.. Time permitting, I may do a demo or two.

You may also put in your calendar my next presentation for Atlanta.mdf on 9/1/2006 when I will talk about Analysis Services 2005.

 

See ya there!

SQL Pass 2005 slides and code

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SQL Pass 2005 was a great show. It had about 2,000 attendees, which is great si nce you don’t feel disconnected in the TechEd crowd of 13,000 people. I did a “RS Tips, Tricks, and Gotchas” presentation with Bruce L-C whom I finally had a chance to meet. I think the presentation went very well. I’ve uploaded the slides and the sample code to my website. Among other things the code demonstrates:




  • Excel export scenarios


  • CSV export


  • External images streamed from a web service


  • Expression-based connection strings


  • CLR stored procedures


  • HTTP handler for intercepting the incoming traffic to the server


  • And more…

Happy reporting!

To the summit

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If you are attending SQL Pass event next week in Grapevine, TX and you would like to know more about Reporting Services, stop by to my presentation. I am teaming with Bruce Loehle-Conger (MVP – SQL Server) to present the Reporting Services Tips, Tricks and “Gotchas” session.


 


I have some cool demos that demonstrate retrieving images from a web service, dynamic connection string from configuration file, Analysis Services integration, using CLR stored procedures, and more… If you are not coming, I will upload the code demos on this site after the event.


 


See you in Texas!

SQL Server September CTP reloaded

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In addition to my previous post about installing CTP, here are some additional notes: 




  1. After you uninstall the previous version of SQL Server, make sure to delete all database files in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data. The setup program will comlain about them.


  2. If you are upgrading a previous CTP and you are running into performance issues, try the Registry Mechanic. It found 500 registry issues on my machines and it fixed an issue with the ASPNET account not having enough permissions (I don’t have the exact event log entry).

SQL Server September CTP and VS.NET RC are here!

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 If you are subscribed to Microsoft Beta, you can downoad the SQL Server September CTP and Visual Studio Release Candidate (plan for a day or two given the 30K connection speed) from the Microsoft betaplace website.


Here are the steps I was taking to install both SQL Server CTP and Visual Studio.NET RC that you may find helpful. I had SQL Server 2005 June CTP and Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 installed prior to installing the new bits and the upgrade went fine for me. You may not need to be so reboot-oriented but I like to start from a clean state just in case J. 



  1. Uninstall SQL Server 2005 by running the Cleanup Wizard (Setup Tools\Build Uninstall Wizard\sqlbuw.exe on the SQL Server 2005 CTP CD). Make sure to select .NET 2.0 and Native Client (Microsoft SNAC) options.
  2. Reboot
  3. Remove all files from the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data folder.
  4. Uninstall VS.NET 2005.
  5. Reboot
  6. Go to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and remove the rest of the VS.NET 2005 and SQL Server 2005 components, including:



    • MSDN Product Documentation
    • Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Office System 2005 Runtime Beta 2
    • Microsoft Device Emulator 1.0 Beta 2
    • Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 2.0 Beta 2
    • Microsoft SQL Mobile 2005 Development Tools
    • Microsoft Visual J# Redistributable Package 2.0 Beta 2
    • Microsoft Visual J# Language Pack 2.0 Beta 2
    • MSXML 6.0 Parser and SDK
    • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 64bit Prerequisites Beta 2 (Only on 64bit)
    • Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 SDK Beta 2 (Only on 64bit)
    • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 64bit Remote Debugger Beta 2 (Only on 64bit)
    • Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 SP1 (Only on Windows 2000)


  1. Install SQL Server 2005 CTP September Server components (D:\Downloads\SQL Server\CTP Sep\Servers\Setup.exe)
  2. Install SQL Server 2005 CTP September Server components (D:\Downloads\SQL Server\CTP Sep\Tools\Setup.exe)
  3. Reboot
  4. Install VS.NET 2005 RC
  5. Reboot
  6. Install Visual SourceSafe 2005 from the VS.NET DVD.

There are only a few breaking changes I have come across so far with the previous release. The VS.NET Unit test namespace have changes and the WinForm Report Viewer has dropped some properties.

SP2 Hotfix available

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Microsoft has released a hotfix for SP2 that fixes a few items in SP 2. Specifically:



  • HTML Viewer Style Sheet Configuration Property Missing from Service Pack 2.

  • Incorrect line breaking or random formatting issues with MHTML.

  • Leaving and returning to the Schedule Page from the Subscription Properties page causes dependent report parameters to be disabled, then reset to the first or default value.

  • Tables exported to CSV may lose the first row of data.

Download the hotfix here.

Do more with less!

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As you probably know, Microsoft has made a great effort to scale down the SQL Server 2005 components and provide more features at a lesser cost. Here are some links worth checking.


 


SQL Server 2005 Feature Comparison


http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2005/productinfo/sql2005features.mspx


 


SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services Enhancements


http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/2005ssrs.mspx


 


SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services Features Matrix


http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2005/productinfo/rsfeatures.mspx


 


As far as Reporting Services is concerned, here are a couple of important points.


 


1.      Reporting Services 2005 will run on the Express Edition of SQL Server 2005 (previously known as MSDE in SQL Server 2000). What it means to you is that you can build and distribute reasonably feature-rich reporting solutions for free. This could be nirvana for many software vendors and integrators. Now you can build a report enabled-application and distribute the SQL Server components at zero cost to the client.


2.      Different editions support different feature sets. The last link provides a detailed comparison about supported reporting features. Extensibility and several export formats are not supported on Express and Standard editions.


 


Aren’t you excited? It is really do more with less!


 


Happy reporting.