James works at Microsoft as a big data and data warehousing solution architect where he has been for most of the last eleven years. Before that he was an independent consultant working as a Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence architect and developer. He is a prior SQL Server MVP with over 40 years of IT experience. Check out his book Deciphering Data Architectures: Choosing Between a Modern Data Warehouse, Data Fabric, Data Lakehouse, and Data Mesh.
When using SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) to build a cube, you may start out with one fact table, but then decide to add another fact table. You are then faced with a decision: Do you add that fact table … Continue reading →
After upgrading to SQL Server 2012 SP1, I ran into a bug in Master Data Services (MDS) that applies only to models that are deployed or created after SP1 is applied (models deployed or created before SP1 is applied are … Continue reading →
The Master Data Management (MDM) hub is a database with the software to manage the master data that is stored in the database and keep it synchronized with the transactional systems that use the master data. There are three basic styles … Continue reading →
When installing Master Data Services (MDS) in SQL Server 2012 or installing SQL Server 2012 sp1 (and possibly a CU), you might see the message “The Microsoft SQL Server license has expired” when trying to pull up the MDS web … Continue reading →
If you are interested in viewing the recorded sessions for the PASS Summit 2012, you can order them on a USB flash drive or view them online. You can purchase the Regular Summit Sessions as well as the Pre-Conference Sessions. However, if … Continue reading →
Thanks to everyone who attended my “Introduction to Microsoft’s Master Data Services (MDS)” for the Data Architecture Virtual Chapter. The recording of the session is available here. Here is the PowerPoint presentation: Introduction to Microsoft’s Master Data Services (MDS) I had some … Continue reading →
All the videos for the sessions at PASS SQLRally Nordic 2012 are available for free. Lot’s of great BI info. Check the videos here. Enjoy!
Continue reading →Visual Studio has a project type called “Database Project” that is used to manage a database schema and allows for easy integration with source control. Visual Studio Database Projects have been known by a few different names down the years … Continue reading →
I will be presenting the session “Introduction to Microsoft’s Master Data Services (MDS)” at the Data Architecture Virtual Chapter on Thursday, Dec 20th, at Noon CST. Below is the abstract. It will be a remote presentation that you can join online. Details … Continue reading →
SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) has a new update: VS 2010: December version: 10.3.21208.0, November version 10.3.21101.1, September version: 10.3.20905.0, initial version: 10.3.20225.0 VS 2012: December version: 11.1.21208.0, November version: 11.1.21101.1, September version: 11.1.20905.0, version shipped with VS 2012: 11.1.20627, initial version: … Continue reading →
The script task in SSIS 2012 is a great tool when you need to use C# or VB code to perform a function that is not possible with the other SSIS built-in tasks. It uses Visual Studio Tools for Applications … Continue reading →
SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) that was released with SQL Server 2012 obviously works with the BI stack (SSIS/SSAS/SSRS) for 2012. But does it also work with the BI stack from SQL Server 2008 R2? Can you use it with … Continue reading →
SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) has a new update: VS 2010: new version 10.3.21101.1, September version: 10.3.20905.0, initial version: 10.3.20225.0 VS 2012: new version: 11.1.21101.1, September version: 11.1.20905.0, version shipped with VS 2012: 11.1.20627, initial version: 11.1.20225.0 Download it here. Also updated is … Continue reading →
Microsoft has made a big push the last few years to have all its end-user BI tools integrate with SharePoint, which is great if your company is using SharePoint. Not so great if your company is not using SharePoint or … Continue reading →
Microsoft introduced an interactive data exploration, visualization and presentation experience called Power View with SQL Server 2012. Power View can only consume data from tabular models. At the PASS Summit (see PASS 2012 Announcements) it was revealed that you would soon be able to … Continue reading →
As exciting as SQL Server 2012 is, with its multitude of new features, it’s not always possible to upgrade right away. Here are some reasons that may cause you to delay your upgrade: Training – Your developers and dba’s will … Continue reading →
The following is a guest post by Tim Morgan from Sullexis in response to a resent blog of mine: Thanks for letting me reply to your last post, “Should a placement firm tell you what they are billing the client?”. This … Continue reading →
In Master Data Services (MDS), I received an error when using C# code in the script task in SSIS 2012 to call the MDS web services API: To fix this, I had to edit the web.config in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL … Continue reading →
Some announcements and notes from the SQL PASS Summit 2012 last week (If you don’t know what PASS is, check out What is SQL PASS?): PASS Summit 2012 had 3,894 delegates – up 13% from last year’s previous record attendance – and 1,717 pre-conference … Continue reading →
Thanks to everyone who attended my “Data Warehouse Architecture” presentation to the South Florida PASS chapter. Here is the PowerPoint presentation: Data Warehouse Architecture Data Warehouse Architecture – comparing Kimball and Inmon methodologies You’re a DBA and your boss asks you to … Continue reading →