Programming Replication from Heterogeneous Data Sources

Microsoft® SQL Server™ enables third-party products to become Publishers within the SQL Server replication framework. The Replication Distributor Interface allows replication from heterogeneous databases that provide 32-bit OLE DB drivers to Subscribers running SQL Server 2000. Heterogeneous data sources include:

* Oracle databases

* DB2 databases

* Microsoft Access databases

* Other databases that comply with SQL Server ODBC or OLE DB Subscriber requirements

SQL Server 2005 Integration Services: Lessons from Project REAL

In Project REAL we are using large volumes of real data and scenarios from real companies to implement business intelligence systems using early releases of Microsoft SQL Server 2005. In the process, best practices are being developed and potential problems uncovered. This article reports some of the lessons learned while working on the data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) portion of the first phase of Project REAL.

The value of experienced coders

I was about 40 the first time I was told I should not continue coding. A well-meaning vice president at my company pulled me aside at a party and told me that I was getting too old to code. He had been a coder himself, knew that he was getting too old, and moved over to sales. He was sure that I should be moving over to another part of the business. I told him that perhaps not only did he have a problem coding when he reached 40, he probably had the same problem at 38. I said that I was perfectly happy as a coder, and had every intention of continuing as long as someone was willing to pay me.

Automatically Utilizing XML's Untapped Semantic Goldmine

A mind is a terrible thing to waste and so is the vast quantity of untapped data structure meta information available free for the using in any XML document. This semantic data available in XML is like gold lying on the ground ready to be scooped up and cashed in with little or no effort. This is meta information that can be utilized immediately to significantly increase the value of the raw XML data. By automatically utilizing this valuable structure meta information, hierarchical fourth generation languages (4GLs) can nonprocedurally process XML's complex multi-leg hierarchical structure. This significantly increases the usefulness of the data and makes it immediately available for use at its enhanced value. This article describes the semantics of hierarchical data structures and how they can be automatically utilized by 4GLs.

Dr. Tom's Workshop: Multiple-Child Aggregation

Aggregation, which is commonly used to deliver reports to users, often also delivers poor performance. To help guarantee that you're delivering the best performance possible, you should explore different versions of the query and pick the best one. This month, look over Tom Moreau's shoulder as he shows you how to work with multiple-child aggregations.

Reporting Strictly for Developers: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Serv

With the release of SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft finally makes a commitment to developer-centric reporting. They've integrated the design-time environment integration with Visual Studio and enabled report delivery through Web browsers, PDFs, Excel, and XML. Learn how to make this tool work for you.

Generate SQL Automatically Without Compromising Quality

Most database developers dread including such navigation features as paginated reports, hierarchical navigation, filtering, and full-text search because the amount of time they take to develop is not proportional to the utility or interest they create. In addition, connecting individual pages and controls to the database is mind-numbing work. Since writing SQL is non-trivial in any circumstance, it typically requires a specialist DBA's involvement.
..... As Web-based applications proliferate to bring more functionality directly to end-users, writing every SQL statement for every web-based application in your shop is likely to become a never-ending Sisyphean task for your DBA.

Using the Table Data Type in SQL Server 2000

Performing routine database maintenance such as reindexing is important for keeping your databases running at peak performance. When you use INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements to modify table data, indexes can become fragmented. Index fragmentation can happen when the logical sequence of pages is disrupted or when an index page contains less than its maximum amount of data, creating a gap in the data page or index. As indexes become fragmented, you get inefficient data reads when accessing tables and slower database performance.

SQL Building Blocks and Server Settings

This chapter covers the building blocks available to the database designer and database user to create and modify database objects and data. The SQL Data Types will be covered along with data representation as literals (constants) and expressions.

SQL Server 2005 Security - Part 3 Encryption

After discussing authentication and authorization behavior of SQL Server 2005 Beta 2 in the previous two articles of this series, it is time to look into other security-related changes. In particular, we will focus on the freshly introduced native database encryption capabilities. While some encryption functionality existed in the previous versions (e.g. involving column encryption APIs within User Defined Functions or PWDENCRYPT password one-way hash function), it was relatively limited and rarely used. SQL Server 2005 provides significant improvements in this area.