Andy Leonard is CSO of Linchpin People and SQLPeople, an SSIS Trainer, Consultant, and developer; SQL Server database and data warehouse developer, community mentor, engineer, and farmer. He is a co-author of SQL Server 2012 Integration Services Design Patterns. His background includes web application architecture and development, VB, and ASP. Andy loves the SQL Server Community!

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• OT: Thank You, Microsoft

  cross-posted from AndyLeonard.me … Each April 1st for the past five years, I have been honored to receive an email from Microsoft informing me I have been recognized as a SQL Server MVP. Tomorrow will be different. Back in January – when I wrote this Read More... Posted Saturday, March 31, 2012 10:36 AM by andyleonard | 12 Comments Filed under: Microsoft, MVP, SQL Server Community, Values

• MVPs and the Community

  Introduction Earlier this month, David Woods decided to drop his MVP award . The move inspired some interesting comments and discussion among MVPs. David's points are: MVP Expertise Microsoft Technology Products Microsoft "Listens" Cost-Benefits for an Read More... Posted Friday, February 11, 2011 11:51 AM by andyleonard | 5 Comments Filed under: Developer Community, Microsoft, MVP

• Microsoft TechEd Session Preference Survey

  There's a Session Preference Survey live at the TechEd North America 2011 website . I like this idea a lot: getting feedback from the Community! :{> Read More... Posted Saturday, January 15, 2011 1:00 PM by andyleonard | 5 Comments Filed under: Developer Community, Microsoft, TechEd

• And The Winner Is...

  David Taylor! There were a lot of really great comments on the post titled A Visual Studio 2010 MSDN Seeding Card Giveaway Contest ! The judging was completely subjective - just me reading the comments and making a call. One suggestion was apparently Read More... Posted Friday, July 09, 2010 12:00 AM by andyleonard | 1 Comments Filed under: Developer Community, Microsoft, MSDN

• A Visual Studio 2010 MSDN Seeding Card Giveaway Contest

  I have a Visual Studio 2010 MSDN Seeding Card to give away. It's good for a year. Rather than just hand it out, I've decided to hold and judge a contest. So tell me - in the comments of this post - what cool project you would like to use the software Read More... Posted Saturday, July 03, 2010 8:00 AM by andyleonard | 19 Comments Filed under: Developer Community, Microsoft, MSDN

• Azure MSDN Roadshow - Richmond, VA - 3 Mar 2010

  Woo hoo! There's another MSDN Roadshow coming to town 3 Mar 2010! G. Andrew Duthie ( Blog - @devhammer ) is co-presenting a 4-hour session on Azure and Windows 7 (among other topics) with David Isbitski ( Blog - @thedavedev ). I plan to be there! :{> Read More... Posted Monday, February 22, 2010 8:00 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: Developer Community, Microsoft, Azure

• Vista Replaced By "Mojave"

  Microsoft has finally found a way to counter the negative publicity generated around Vista, it's called Mojave . I have to credit Glen Gordon with turning me on to Mojave - thanks Glen! Last week, Microsoft secretly unveiled Mojave to XP users in San Read More... Posted Thursday, July 24, 2008 1:58 PM by andyleonard | 6 Comments Filed under: Microsoft, I-Am-Such-A-Geek, Vista, Aiming-for-the-top-of-the-list

• Databash

  Introduction I just wrapped up an ETL With SSIS class in the Rochester, NY area and one of the students in the class pointed out "You haven't blogged in over a week!" He's right - I need to blog more and more often. I've been distracted with preparations Read More... Posted Thursday, June 26, 2008 8:55 PM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: Developer Community, Microsoft

• Windows XP and 30 June 2008

  Bye Bye, Ms. Windows XP? As of this writing Microsoft plans to stop selling Windows XP 30 June 2008. Steve Ballmer has indicated there may be wiggle room in this decision but (to my knowledge) no postponment has been announced. Back In My Day... I've Read More... Posted Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:01 AM by andyleonard | 4 Comments Filed under: Microsoft

• Getting Red

  I just now (well, when you read this it will be late last week; I write ahead sometimes) purchased a Dell XPS 1530 Red laptop with the new Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED SKU installed. Granted, it's 32-bit - mainly because it's a Dell (c'mon Dell, Read More... Posted Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:01 AM by andyleonard | 3 Comments Filed under: Microsoft, (PRODUCT) RED, Dell, Laptops

• Customer Feedback

  On the MVP Summit... Later today Christy and I leave Seattle. Our trek to my first MVP Summit was our first trip alone since Stevie Ray was born - and Stevie Ray turned five in February. We won't wait that long again. We had fun! :) Since this was my Read More... Posted Friday, April 18, 2008 7:32 AM by andyleonard | 5 Comments Filed under: SSIS, ETL, Microsoft

• SQL Server Management Studio Standard Reports

  Buck Woody has a great series going on SQL Server ManagementStudio Standard Reports . The SQL Server team did a great job developing these insightful and intuitive reports. I often show them to customers and during presentations and the response is always Read More... Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:01 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: SQL Server, Reporting Services, Support, utilities, Microsoft

• Microsoft and Open Source: This Changes Things

  There was a pretty big announcement from Microsoft yesterday: Microsoft Makes Strategic Changes in Technology and Business Practices to Expand Interoperability . To quote Steve Ballmer: Number one, we're committing to ensure open connections for our high Read More... Posted Friday, February 22, 2008 12:55 PM by andyleonard | 2 Comments Filed under: Database Developer, utilities, Microsoft

• DreamSpark: Free Software for Students

  This is cool! Microsoft is giving away software - including SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition, Windows 2003 Standard Edition, and Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 Professional Editions - to college students. It's called DreamSpark and it puts professional Read More... Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2008 12:02 PM by andyleonard | 2 Comments Filed under: SQL Server, Visual Studio 2008, Visual Studio, Microsoft

• Power Tools for Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition

  Gert and team announce the availability of Power Tools for Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition ! Cool new stuff includes a couple new test conditions, file- and XML-based data generators, and (my favorite) SQL Static Code Analysis integrated Read More... Posted Friday, February 15, 2008 2:55 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: Database Developer, Team Edition for Database Professionals, Visual Studio 2008, Database Edition, Team System, Microsoft