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• SQL Server vNext CTP 1.1 is Available!

  Click here for an overview of updates included in SQL Server vNext CTP 1.1 and click here to download the bits for Windows. :{> Read More... Posted Saturday, December 17, 2016 10:17 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: SQL Server, Business Intelligence, Azure, Analytics, SQL Server vNext

• SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) v16.5.1 Now Available

  An updated version of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) for SQL Server 2016 (v16.5.1) is now available . :{> Read More... Posted Wednesday, December 07, 2016 6:30 PM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: SQL Server, SSMS, SQL Server 2016

• SQL Server vNext Evaluation Edition Now Available

  You can download SQL Server vNext Evaluation Edition here. Today! :{> Read More... Posted Wednesday, November 16, 2016 4:24 PM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: SQL Server, vNext

• Use Biml to Remove Spaces from Flat File Column Names

  I hate a space in a database column name. Kent Bradshaw and I are updating our demo for loading National Provider Index (NPI) file data (We plan to present on this soon… more later…). The NPI files currently have 329 fields and almost every one of them Read More... Posted Wednesday, July 06, 2016 1:19 PM by andyleonard | 2 Comments Filed under: SSIS, SQL Server, BIML, BimlScript, Biml Studio, Best Practices

• SQL Server Developer Edition is FREE!

  I’ve blogged about the value of SQL Server Developer Edition for years. It’s Enterprise Edition with a End User License Agreement (EULA) that states you cannot use the SKU for production. Developer Edition used to sell for around $50 USD, but it is now Read More... Posted Friday, April 01, 2016 9:45 AM by andyleonard | 1 Comments Filed under: Database Developer, SQL Server, SQL Server 2014, Developer Edition

• November 2015–Learn SQL Server and Visual Studio

  A reader emailed to ask what I recommend for learning current software and database development. I responded with these links: VirtualBox Windows 2016 Server TP3 SQL Server 2016 CTP 3 Visual Studio 2015 I believe the software is all free, though it is Read More... Posted Monday, November 16, 2015 8:00 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: Developer Community, SQL Server, Visual Studio, Learn to Code

• Precon - SSIS Design Patterns and BIML: A Day of Intelligent Data Integration–8 Jan 2016, Alpharetta Georgia

  I’m excited to announce I will be delivering a precon 8 Jan 2016 in Alpharetta Georgia for SQL Saturday 477 – Atlanta BI Edition titled SSIS Design Patterns and BIML: A Day of Intelligent Data Integration ! This Read More... Posted Thursday, November 12, 2015 2:29 PM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: Design Pattern, SSIS, Agile, SQL Server, ETL, Business Intelligence, ETL Instrumentation, Elegant Design, SQL Saturday, Presentations, Data Warehouse, SQL Server Community, SSIS Frameworks, Community, SSIS 2012, BIML, SSIS Catalog, BimlScript, Precons, SSIS 2014, SSIS Performance, SSIS Design Patterns, DILM, SSIS Administration, DevOps, Executing SSIS, Automation, Data Integration, SSIS 2016, BimlHero

• SQL Formatting Matters…

  … to some folks more than others. We likely all have stories about working with folks who care a lot about the format of their SQL statements. I’ve worked with a lot of database developers and analysts. I cannot say SQL formatting distinguishes the good Read More... Posted Monday, July 20, 2015 1:43 PM by andyleonard | 15 Comments Filed under: SQL Server, Doing Software Right, Automation, SQL, T-SQL

• Database Design: 3-State Bits

  I can hear you thinking, “Andy, you’re off your old rocker. There are only two states for bit values!” And you are correct. Almost. What if I’m storing a truly binary value – a value that possesses only two possible states – but there’s the possibility Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 06, 2015 7:45 PM by andyleonard | 1 Comments Filed under: Database Developer, database design, SQL Server

• Getting Started with SSIS: Get the Software and Tools

  People often ask me for tips on getting started with SSIS. My advice is always the same: Get a copy of SQL Server Developer Edition. At the time of this writing, the current version of SQL Server is SQL Server 2014. If you work in an organization that Read More... Posted Thursday, January 01, 2015 8:01 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: SSIS, SQL Server, #BY15, Develoer Edition, SSDT-BI, Getting Started SSIS

• It’s That Time of Year to Think About Your Career

  If you work with SQL Server (or want to work with SQL Server), this is a good time of the year to think about your career. Why? It’s the holiday season and you should have some time off… unless you have a Crappy Job . You can use some of this time to Read More... Posted Friday, December 05, 2014 2:00 PM by andyleonard | 1 Comments Filed under: SSIS, SQL Server, SSIS 2014, SQL Server 2014

• Repost for 2014: Come to the PASS Summit

  I originally posted this five years ago. It’s about my first PASS Summit ten years ago. I’ve made a couple edits and added some links. I hope it will encourage you to attend the PASS Summit 2014. :{> "What's the big deal about the PASS Summit, Read More... Posted Friday, October 03, 2014 6:54 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: Developer Community, SQL Server, SQL Server Community, PASS Summit 2014

• You Need a DBA

  This post was inspired by a recent conversation with a DBA followed by reading The Curse of Relational Databases (especially the comments) posted at Grant Fritchey ’s SQL Server Central blog . I have two points to make: As of mid-2014 a physical person Read More... Posted Tuesday, June 24, 2014 8:00 AM by andyleonard | 3 Comments Filed under: DBA, SQL Server

• RichmondSQL Meeting Tonight! (12 Dec 2013) - Az Arunachalam on Extended Events

  When: Thursday, December 12th, 2013, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Social Time starts at 6:00 PM! SQL Server Extended Events Microsoft is deprecating Trace and Profiler, a staple for monitoring SQL server since forever, in favor of Extended Events, introduced in Read More... Posted Thursday, December 12, 2013 7:30 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: Database Developer, Developer Community, SQL Server, SQL Server Community, RichmondSQL

• SQL in the City Event Dates Announced!

  Red Gate rocks. If you didn’t know that already, you know it now. The latest evidence to support this claim is the publication of the schedule for US SQL in the City events. They are: 9 Oct – Pasadena 11 Oct – Atlanta 14 Oct – Charlotte Registration for Read More... Posted Saturday, May 18, 2013 3:00 AM by andyleonard | 0 Comments Filed under: Software Business, Developer Community, SQL Server, SQL Server Community, Community