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April 21, 2005

1. Perspectives

  • Beta Software Goes Live!

    • 2. SQL Server 2005 Watch

  • Microsoft Announces CTP, Betas, and Educational Plans

    • 3. News & Views

  • Results of Previous Instant Poll: Application Development

  • New Instant Poll: Specialization

    • 4. Events and Resources

  • Microsoft TechEd 2005 Europe, 5 - 8 July, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  • Developing, Deploying, and Managing SSIS

  • Get The Valuable Resources You Need To Secure Your IT Environment

  • Get Ready for SQL Server 2005 Roadshow in a City Near You

    • 5. Featured White Paper

  • Converting a Microsoft Access Application to Oracle HTML DB

    • 6. Peer to Peer

  • Hot Tip: Building Dynamic IN Lists

  • Hot Article: Making the Most of the CLR

  • In a Nutshell: The Book-Writing Business, Part 3

  • Hot Threads

    • 7. Announcements

  • You Be the Judge!

  • Get the Master CD and Get SQL Server Answers

  • 8. New & Improved

  • Customize SQL Server Certification Practice Exams
  • Give .NET Developers Word-Based Reporting
  • Get a Snapshot Audit Trail

    • Sponsor: Free Disaster Recovery Toolkit for the SQL DBA
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    1. Perspectives

  • Beta Software Goes Live!

    •     by Brian Moran, brian@sqlmag.com

    On Monday, Microsoft announced the availability of Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2, .NET Framework 2.0 Beta 2, and SQL Server 2005 April Community Technology Preview (CTP). The company also announced the new Microsoft GoLive! License program, which will let customers deploy Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition applications into production now, even though the products haven't been released. Microsoft opened a public Web site where customers can apply to be part of the Technical Adoption Program (TAP) that gives select customers the right to put SQL Server 2005 Standard and Enterprise Edition CTPs into production.

    An open letter from Microsoft Senior Vice President Paul Flessner to the SQL Server community says, "Because the SQL Server 2005 April CTP is feature complete, we encourage partners, especially ISVs, to start testing against this version to tune their applications for SQL Server 2005." The letter goes on to describe the programs and SQL Server 2005's current state in more detail. You'll find the full letter and a link to the TAP nomination program at http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8306:7B3DB.

    Let's explore what this means. Microsoft is giving us the right to use beta software. "Pre-release software" sounds nicer, but a rose by any other name is still beta software. Microsoft says that the April CTP is "feature complete." That means all the features are there, but realistically, if they were all working correctly then this would be a release to manufacturing (RTM) rather than a CTP. Even RTM software doesn't always work; if it did we wouldn't need service packs.

    The GoLive! license for SQL Server 2005 Express doesn't provide any guaranteed support. Microsoft has set up newsgroups that will be monitored by Microsoft engineers and there's bound to be plenty of community support, but you can't call Product Support Services (PSS) if you get stuck. Yes, anyone can electronically accept the terms of the GoLive! license and use the Express Edition in production. And yes, the GoLive! license for Standard and Enterprise Editions offered in conjunction with the TAP program will provide PSS support, and anyone can apply to be part of the TAP program. However, note that Microsoft will engage only a select group of early adopters to work with the SQL Server Development Team on testing and deploying SQL Server 2005.

    Clearly, most customers shouldn't be using beta software in a production environment, but in some cases it could make great sense. For example, I'm working with one customer who wants to use the new data-mining features in SQL Server 2005 because SQL Server 2000's data-mining capabilities are inferior to SQL Server 2005's. The customer's data would be read-only, the mining interfaces would be exposed to internal analysts but not visible to customers, and the business wouldn't suffer catastrophic problems if the data-mining box simply stopped working for a period of time. It might not be too bad to use the beta software under these circumstances. I say might because part of me shudders at the idea of using beta software in this capacity. It remains to be seen whether the rewards will outweigh the risks.

    Why is Microsoft doing this? Honestly, I'm not sure. The GoLive! license says:

    "The pre-release software contains time sensitive and pre-release code that is not at the level of performance and compatibility of a final, generally available, product offering and may not operate correctly. Recipient's exercise of any rights under this supplemental license is at recipient's sole discretion and recipient assumes all responsibility for and risk of any and all damages that may result from or in connection with the exercise of such rights, including without limitation the loss of any data or other content."

    The license includes plenty of other legalese that lets Microsoft off the hook if you experience a problem, but Microsoft seems to be playing with fire by granting the right to use beta software in production to anyone who knows how to click "Yes, I accept." I can see the value in having a wider TAP program that's controlled by Microsoft and comes with PSS support, and I'm sure many customers will benefit from this option. But Microsoft will still face the wrath of customers who make poor decisions and get burned. What do you think?

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    2. SQL Server 2005 Watch

    Microsoft Announces Educational Plans to Support CTP and Betas
    This week, Microsoft announced educational plans to support Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Beta 2, and the SQL Server 2005 April Community Technology Preview (CTP). The new release bring the company steps closer to delivering the products to customers. Together, the products provide an integrated development and data-management platform that enables customers to utilize existing skills and familiar tools to harness data in new ways that increase productivity and efficiency. Microsoft also announced the GoLive! License program for customers interested in deploying Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition immediately. The company plans to provide customers with educational resources that will help them prepare for the launch of these two products.

    With the availability of the SQL Server 2005 April CTP, Microsoft also announced that it would adopt CTPs for the remainder of the SQL Server 2005 development cycle. By being given more interim releases, customers have the ability to experiment with the new features gradually instead of having to wait for infrequent, more cumbersome releases. The CTP provides greater predictability and the ability to manage changes over time.

    To support the availability of Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2, Microsoft Learning is offering developers who register for Beta 2 a free online Microsoft Press book about Visual Studio. Microsoft Learning will further support the Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 and SQL Server 2005 April CTP availability with Microsoft E-Learning titles planned for this summer, and will continue to support Visual Studio 2005 with training opportunities such as books in the box, free Microsoft E-Learning modules and vouchers for discounted exams. Microsoft Learning enables customers to adopt and take immediate advantage of new technologies. Hundreds of Microsoft E-Learning modules, courses, and certifications and dozens of books for Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 will be made available at all stages of the product life cycle.

    Read the full press release today at
         http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8303:7B3DB

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    3. News & Views

  • Results of Previous Instant Poll: Application Development
    • "How much time do you spend on application-development activities?" Here are the results from the 74 votes (deviations from 100 are due to a rounding error):
  •  9%   All of my time
  • 35%   Most of my time, but I also have other duties
  • 16%   Half of my time
  • 31%   Some of my time, but they aren't my primary focus
  •  8%   None

    • New Instant Poll: Specialization
    "What area of SQL Server specialization do you think is most important?" Go to the SQL Server Magazine home page ( http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8315:7B3DB ) and submit your vote for

  • Business Intelligence (BI)
  • Data Transformation Services (DTS)
  • ADO and ADO.NET
  • Programming
  • None of the above

    • 4. Events and Resources

  • Microsoft TechEd 2005 Europe, 5 - 8 July, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    • Microsoft's flagship European technical education conference for Developers and IT Professionals focusing on current and soon-to-be launched technologies. Network with industry leaders and build your own customized schedule from a choice of 400 sessions, Hands-On Labs, Chalk-&-Talks, Panel Discussions and much more. Alternatively, extend your stay and choose from one of the Pre-Conference seminars designed to accelerate your learning. Save 300 euros! Register before our 20th May Early Bird deadline at
        http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=830C:7B3DB

  • Developing, Deploying, and Managing SSIS

    • In this free Web seminar, find out the role SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) plays in Microsoft's BI strategy and learn about the important new SSIS features. You'll get a guided tour illustrating how to develop SSIS packages using the new SSIS Designer and learn how to customize those packages to run on different systems. Sign up today!
        http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82F5:7B3DB

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  • Get Ready for SQL Server 2005 Roadshow in a City Near You
    • Get the facts about migrating to SQL Server 2005. SQL Server experts will present real-world information about administration, development, and business intelligence to help you implement a best-practices migration to SQL Server 2005 and improve your database computing environment. Attend and receive a 1-year membership to PASS and 1-year subscription to SQL Server Magazine. Register now!
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  • See the complete Windows IT Pro Network guide to Web and live events.

    •     http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=830F:7B3DB

    5. Featured White Paper

  • Converting a Microsoft Access Application to Oracle HTML DB

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    6. Peer to Peer

  • Hot Tip: Building Dynamic IN Lists

    •     by Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team, questions@sqlmag.com

    Q. When I execute the query

    SELECT TOP 10 * FROM claim
   WHERE status IN ('paid, 'denied')

    I get 10 rows. However, when I try to use a variable to specify the IN list, as in the following query, I receive no rows:

    DECLARE @status varchar(20)
   SET @status='paid'+','+'denied'

   PRINT @status
   SELECT TOP 10 * FROM claim
   WHERE status IN (@status)

    Why doesn't the second query return the same results as the first one?

  • Read the answer to this question today at

    •     http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82FF:7B3DB

    Hot Article: Making the Most of the CLR
    The integration of the common language runtime (CLR) in SQL Server 2005 opens up so many new possibilities that a developer might not know where to start. In his May focus article "Making the Most of the CLR," Vinod Kumar gives you three ways you can begin taking advantage of SQL Server 2005's enhancements.
        http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82FE:7B3DB

  • In a Nutshell: The Book-Writing Business, Part 3

    • In this week's blog "The Book-Writing Business, Part 3," Kevin Kline finishes his discussion about the process of writing technical books. Once your manuscript is finished and lands on bookshelves, you still have work to do. Build a contact database of everyone who can help market your book, including influential bloggers, user group leaders, magazines and Web sites that post reviews, and conferences and local user groups where you can speak (and plug your book!). Then have your editor or publisher's marketing manager send review copies to ALL these people. Have friends and colleagues post reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders online. Engage in any and all marketing activities that will encourage your book to flourish. Not all publishers have a strong marketing arm, so it will fall to you to make your book a success. Do you have any helpful advice to add to Kevin's book-writing series? Has it helped you with a book you're currently writing? Let Kevin know what you think today at
         http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8304:7B3DB

    Hot Threads: Check out the following hot threads, and see other discussions in our 30 SQL Server forums.
        http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8308:7B3DB

    Administration: Checking Remaining Disk Space
    http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82FD:7B3DB
    Performance: Query Performs Much Slower on SQL 2000 than SQL 7.0
    http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82F8:7B3DB
    Replication: "The process could not bulk copy into table 'table_name'" Error
    http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82FB:7B3DB
    T-SQL: How to Copy Related Tables with Identity
    http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82FC:7B3DB
    Administration: Backup Failures Not Reported in Maintenance Plan History
    http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82FA:7B3DB
    Security: Login Audit
    http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=82F9:7B3DB

    Hot Spot

  • DB Ghost For SQL Server

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    7. Announcements

  • You Be the Judge!

    • Your favorite products are on trial in the SQL Server 2005 Readers' Choice Awards. Cast your vote now and you could win an iPod Shuffle or a SQL Server Magazine T-shirt. Voting ends May 15, so don't miss out!
        http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8307:7B3DB

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    8. New & Improved
        by Dawn Cyr, products@sqlmag.com

  • Praise a Product, Get a T-Shirt!

    • Have you used a product that saved you time or made your job easier? Tell us about it! If we print your story in the Hands On department, we'll send you a SQL Server Magazine t-shirt. Send your product success story to handson@sqlmag.com.

  • Customize SQL Server Certification Practice Exams

    • Transcender announced that its exams now run with a new test engine that lets users customize their practice exams to fit their study needs. The new test engine offers users the choice between two study modes. The Optimize Exam Experience mode lets users customize their practice test with six controls, set learning preferences, and determine how to access answers. The Preset Exam Experience mode gives a timed practice test that accurately simulates the real test environment so that users can assess their readiness for the certification exam. A new Item Optimizer feature helps users focus on weak areas and skip material they already know. For pricing and information about specific exam-preparation packages, contact Transcender at 866-639-8765, 678-277-3200, or support@transcender.com.
        http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8314:7B3DB

  • Give .NET Developers Word-Based Reporting

    • Windward Studios announced Windward Reports 3.0, a reporting engine that lets users create in Microsoft Word reports that access SQL, XML, or custom data sources. The product feeds data into a Word report template to create a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) report that users can deliver in PDF, RTF, HTML, TXT, or multipart-MIME email format. Available as a Java library, the product runs as a stand-alone application or in an enterprise environment. The latest release integrates with .NET, providing reports to .NET clients through an API that communicates with the server over the network. You can access the client, which is written in C#, with any .NET language. Other new features in this release include the ability to automatically insert and validate tags with AutoTag, the new tag editor; write Java Beans that perform final processing on the output of a tag; use a new tag, , that performs functions including sum, average, max, min, and count; and call Windward Reports directly from Java or over the network from a Java or .NET client. Pricing for Windward Reports starts at $495 for a low-volume server, and a free 1-month evaluation license is available. For more information, contact Windward Studios at 303-499-2544 or sales@windward.net.
        http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8311:7B3DB

  • Get a Snapshot Audit Trail

    • General Entropy Software announced HindSight 2005, a database history snap-in for SQL Server 2000. The system captures database operations as they occur, writing a complete audit trail to an alternate history database. The product provides details about database changes and also adds a simple SQL-based interface for viewing the result set of a query in time. A typical T-SQL statement might produce a list of employees; a similar statement in HindSight 2005 produces a list of employees at an exact point in time. You can join or aggregate snapshots just as you would normal T-SQL statements. The product provides access to historical information through direct T-SQL statements, so you don't need external tools or APIs. You can open the product's console as a standalone MMC snap-in or as a child branch under a server in Enterprise Manager. Other features include automatic schema verification, customized purging, and system metrics. Pricing for HindSight 2005 starts at $475 for a single-server, single-CPU license, and a free trial is available for download. For more information, contact General Entropy Software at 800-487-7760 or sales@generalentropy.com.
        http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=8312:7B3DB

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