events

March 11th, 2010, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2010-03-11T23:02:00Z

This Months Sponsor:SQL Saturday

Mark Hudson presents An Introduction to Report Builder 2.0

When: March 11th, 2010, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
H. Mark Hudson

Mark Hudson has more than 10 years experience in business intelligence and data analysis. He has developed data warehouses and data presentation layers using numerous tools including both SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008. He currently serves as an architect and developer with CapTech Ventures, Inc. (mhudson@captechventures.com, http://www.captechventures.com/).

An Introduction to Report Builder 2.0
What does the fountain of youth have in common with happy, self-served BI users? Microsoft’s Report Builder 2.0 answers that question and more. Report Builder 2.0 is a report authoring tool with enhanced data layout, visualization and formatting capabilities left out of the earlier (and not widely used) Report Builder 1.0. This session introduces the audience to the dependencies and capabilities of Report Builder 2.0 and offers ways BI users might finally build those reports they always wanted.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

December 10th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-11-29T01:52:00Z

When: December 10th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
Kevin Boles

Kevin is a SQL Server expert, working exclusively with the product since
version 6.5. He holds pretty much every SQL Server certification including
MVP. His primary focus is the relational engine and his passion is
performance analysis and tuning. He teaches occasionally, is a great mentor
and has been a successful independent consultant for the past dozen years.

SQL Server and SANs - Let's dig into both the fundamentals and some details
of how SANs work and how we can best utilize them to improve SQL Server's IO
performance and reliability. The more you know about SANs the more you are
able to stand up to those bullying and very protective SAN admins! :-)

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

When: November 12th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-11-07T13:18:00Z

When: November 12th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
Kevin Viers

Database Platform Technology Specialist with Microsoft

What: SQL 2008 R2- Come learn about the new and exciting roadmap for the SQL Server platform. SQL Server 2008 R2 is the next generation of the Microsoft SQL Server database platform, planned for release in the first half of calendar year 2010. The R2 release brings significant new capabilities and enhancements that can help your business keep pace with today’s growing and changing data management needs. Increase productivity and reduce data management costs by taking advantage of an even more scalable platform with comprehensive database and application management tools. SQL Server 2008 R2 helps users to build rich analysis and reports and helps organizations improve the quality of their data.

Learn a little more about:

·Powerpivot (formerly project codemane Gemini)·Master Data Services·Application and Multi-Server management·Parallel Data Warehouse (formerly project codename Madison)·New SKUs and Pricing

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

October 8, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-09-18T13:21:00Z

When: October 8, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
Tim Ford

What: Dynamic Management Objects - With the release of Microsoft SQL Server 2005, the curious DBA had a new arsenal of tools available for indentifying performance issues, automating maintenance tasks, and documenting their environments. These tools are called Dynamic Management Objects. Join Tim Ford as he takes you on a tour through some of his favorite Dynamic Management Objects and see why you just may have found you new favorite thing about Microsoft SQL Server.

About Tim Ford

Timothy Ford has been working with Microsoft SQL Server for almost 10 years, originally as a developer in SQL Server 7.0 and Visual Basic 6; now as a DBA for the last 8 years. He specializes in mining information from the system tables for automation of administrative tasks and troubleshooting performance matters. Tim has been a volunteer with the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) since 2002, serving as a founding leader of the DBA Special Interest Groups, on the Program Committee for 5 years, on the Editorial Committee, and as the co-creator and host of the annual SIG Quizbowl presented at each of the opening receptions of the PASS Summit for the past 5 years. He is an author and blogger, writing technical articles for MSSQLTips.com, Simple-Talk, SQL Server Central, and SQLServerpedia, where he also serves as the DBA Section Editor. Tim was one of the SQL Magazine Innovators of the Year for 2008 and is featured on the cover and in the associated story in the January 2008 issue.

When not engaged in the world of T/SQL you'll usually find him with a camera or spatula in his hands as he enjoys photography and cooking.

Links:
http://www.ford-it.com/sqlagentman
http://www.mssqltips.com/author.asp?authorid=13
http://sqlserverpedia.com/wiki/Editors#Timothy_Ford.2C_Database_Administration_Editor

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

Thursday, August 13th 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-07-27T00:15:00Z

When: Thursday, August 13th 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
Andy Leonard

What: SSIS Design Patterns

"Design Patterns" is more than a trendy buzz phrase; design patterns are a way of breaking down complex development projects into manageable tasks. They lend themselves to several development methodologies and apply to SSIS development. Chances are you're using your own design patterns now! In this presentation, Andy Leonard defines design patterns applicable to SSIS.

About Andy:

Andy is a SQL Server database and business intellgence developer. He owns a car. His favorite color is blue and he prefers cyberpets to the real thing. If this sort of humor appeals to you (along with talks about database development), join Andy at Richmond SQL Server Users Group!

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

Thursday, July 2nd 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-06-26T11:59:00Z

When: Thursday, July 2nd 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
Steve Jones

What: Self promotion in today's market

Abstract: Steve Jones, founder of SQL Server Central talks about how to update your resume to fit into today's modern world, and take advantage of the tools offered by blogging, social networking, and more.

About Steve:

Bio: Steve Jones has been working with SQL Server for over 18 years in a variety of industries and companies. After serviing as a DBA for many years, Steve founded SQLServerCentral and currently serves as editor.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

Thursday, May 14th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-05-05T14:50:00Z

When: Thursday, May 14th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
Steve Fibich

What: SSIS Scripting and SSRS WebServices

So we have all moved a little data from point A to point B in SSIS or DTS but what else can we do? What about web services? Have you ever pointed the control flow web services component at a WSDL only to be told “This version of the Web Service Description Language is not supported”? I’ll show you how you can handle it (or at least the web services related to Reporting Services) using script tasks in SSIS. This presentation focuses on getting web service into a data flow using a scripting task and calling web services from a control flow script task. This presentation is from the DBA perspective not an experienced .Net programmer’s perspective.

About Steve:

Steve Fibich currently works in Richmond VA at PFGC as the Systems Architect on a Master Data Management project utilizing SQL Server 2005 and SSIS 2005 pulling data from iSeries, Unix, VAX, and SAP for a massive system integration effort. He has been working with SQL Server since 6.5 building Data Warehouses, building integration systems for third party product integration, creating Master Data Management systems , and doing general DBA work for the past 10 years.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-05-05T12:00:00Z

When: Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Change In Plans!

Who:
Andy Leonard

What: Database Development
Andy Leonard demonstrates obvious and not-so-obvious techniques of SQL Server database development.

About Andy:

Andy Leonard is not Donald Farmer. :) Andy is, however, a SQL Server database and business intellgence developer. He owns a car. His favorite color is blue and he prefers cyberpets to the real thing. If this sort of humor appeals to you (along with talks about database development), join Andy at Richmond SQL Server Users Group!

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-03-26T12:28:00Z

When: Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
Donald Farmer

What: Tackling the future with Microsoft BI
There is no denying that the global economic situation is challenging. Is your company prepared to weather the storm? Microsoft business intelligence is uniquely positioned to help you find profitable customers & inefficiencies, and save money. This session features guidance on new ways to find value from your existing Microsoft business Intelligence investments, but it also includes a preview of what is to come in the future: New technologies for self-service analysis and self-service reporting that will change the way in which you think about BI. We will outline the major enhancements that SQL server is making for BI in the SQL Server Kilimanjaro release, including the exciting new Project Gemini.

About Donald:
Donald Farmer has worked in the Microsoft Business Intelligence team for 7 years, with experience in both the Analysis Services and Integration Services product teams. Donald is now a Principal Program Manager for SQL Server Analysis Services, working to build a new generation of analytic technology. Mr. Farmer is a popular speaker at international events for both business and technical audiences, with a wide range of interests including data integration, information quality, metadata intelligence, master data management and predictive analytics. He is a Guest Professor at the College of Software and Information Science, Southwestern University at Chongqing, China and is the author of a number of books and articles. Prior to joining Microsoft, Donald worked not only in Business Intelligence but in fields as varied as medieval archaeology and fish-farming.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

Thursday, March 12th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-03-06T13:37:00Z

When: Thursday, March 12th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:
Brian Knight and Tom Robinson

What: Microsoft PerformancePoint Server 2007 - Monitoring ServerAbstract:
Microsoft has recently announced a significant change in their business intelligence strategy. They will discontinue the planning component of the PerformancePoint Server 2007 and will fold the “monitoring and analysis” component into Office SharePoint Server Enterprise with the release of SharePoint 14 in late 2009. This presentation will cover architecture and application concepts for the Monitoring Server component of PerformancePoint Server 2007. The primary focus of the presentation will be an introduction to the Dashboard Designer; the main dashboard development component. The key concepts and functionality covered in the presentation are expected to apply to SharePoint PerformancePoint Services.
About Brian:

Brian Knight is a business intelligence consultant with Ironworks Consulting in Glen Allen, VA. Brian specializes in the design and development of large-scale data solutions using Microsoft technologies, specifically SQL Server 2005 and 2008. Previously, Brian was a Manager of Database Services at Crutchfield Corporation in Charlottesville, VA. He has a particular interest in developing comprehensive IT infrastructures and services around an ITIL-based framework. Brian currently holds the MCITP: Database Administration and MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certifications.

About Tom:

Tom Robinson lives in Mechanicsville, VA and is currently a business intelligence consultant with Ironworks Consulting in Glen Allen, VA. As an Ironworks consultant, Tom has worked primarily on BI solutions involving SQL Server Analysis Services and SQL Integration Services. Prior to Ironworks, Tom was a Director of IT for Data Services at a finance company where he implemented business intelligence solutions including dashboards. Tom is a former CPA who switched to Information Technology in the early 90s to later become a Microsoft consultant with MCSD and MCDBA certifications.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

IRONWORKS

Thursday, February 12th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2009-02-02T13:02:00Z

When: Thursday, February 12th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:

Rick Todd

What: Supporting RDBMS

Abstract:

Having supported a variety of customers through the years (insurance, banking, ski resorts, historic sites, hotels, ecommerce, etc.) one thing has been consistent: when you get a report that the database-based system is having problems, be it an outage or slowness, it’s best to have a plan of attack. Having recently had to support a non-SQL Server RDBMS performance issue, it became even more apparent that the approach that should be taken across almost any type of business or whatever the RDBMS should be the same. This presentation will cover a guideline for supporting your applications. It will start with the phone ringing in whatever support environment you have, and move from general concepts helpful for any RDBMS into specific things to run on a windows-based SQL Server 2005+ environment. Even if you don’t adopt the approach presented, if you decide to come up with your own process to follow I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished what I wanted. Please be prepared to share suggestions as to how you support your own DBs as I hope this will be a meeting where everyone gets involved in the discussion.

About Rick:

Rick Todd has been a database developer for 9 years. Initially as a private consultant in Chicago for the health care industry, the Federal Reserve Bank, and various smaller customers. From there he went on to be a Database Architect for Resort Technology Partners, LLC of Vail then Avon Colorado. At RTP Rick was responsible for design and development of various OLTP systems for the #1 ski resort software developer in North America. After 7 years at RTP, Rick visited the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation after they purchased RTP’s software and flew him out for training on the database. Rick moved to Williamsburg and started the Data Warehouse project for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation last year in May.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

This Months Sponsor:

Thursday, January 15th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2008-12-29T17:53:00Z

When: Thursday, January 15th, 2009, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:

Steve Fibich

What: SQL 2005 Database Mirroring

Abstract:

SQL Server 2005 introduces a number of new features, one of which is Database Mirroring. This is the 2nd out of the box technology from Microsoft for SQL Server that allows native configuration of a Hot Standby Server. It has a completely different configuration than its cousin SQL Clustering and opens up a whole host of secondary possibilities for the resourceful DBA. Come by and take a look as we kick the tires on this new but seldom used solution.

About Steve:

Steve Fibich currently works in Richmond VA at PFGC as the Systems/Database Architect on a Master Data Management project utilizing SQL Server 2005 and SSIS 2005 pulling data from iSeries, Unix, VAX, and SAP for a massive system integration effort. He has been working with SQL Server since 6.5 building Data Warehouses, building integration systems for third party product integration, creating Master Data Management systems , and doing general DBA work for the past 10 years.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

Thursday, December 11th, 2008, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2008-12-23T12:59:00Z

When: Thursday, December 11th, 2008, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 PM!

Who:

Andy Leonard and Jessica Moss

What: SSIS Scripting

Overview of Presentation:

Can't find an SSIS Task that does what you need? Script it! The Script Task and Script Component in SSIS are extremely powerful and flexible. In this session you will learn how to customize SSIS functionality using Script objects, best practices for script development, script troubleshooting techniques, and script lifecycle management.

About Andy:

Andy Leonard is a Solid Quality Mentor, SQL Server database and Integration Services developer, SQL Server MVP, and engineer. He is a co-author of Professional SQL Server 2005 Integration Services , Professional Software Testing with Visual Studio 2005 Team System: Tools for Software Developers and Test Engineers , MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-441): Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 , and the upcoming e-book Mastering Visual Studio Team System Database Edition . Andy founded and manages VSTeamSystemCentral.com and maintains two blogs there: Applied Team System and Applied Business Intelligence . He also blogs for SQLBlog.com. Andy's background includes web application architecture and development, VB.Net, ASP, and ASP.Net; SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS); data warehouse development using SQL Server 2000 and 2005; and test-driven database development.

About Jessica:

Jessica Moss is a Microsoft SQL Server MVP, a business intelligence mentor with Solid Quality Mentors, and an MCDBA and MCTS: SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence. She has been working with SQL Server 2005 since its release and has participated in many warehousing and reporting solutions. Jessica enjoys working with the local community and is a regular speaker at user groups, code camps, and conferences. You can read about her work on her blog, http://jessicammoss.blogspot.com.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]

Register: Click here to register!

Thanks to our Sponsors

Thursday, Novemeber 13th, 2008, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

2008-10-15T11:47:00Z

When: Thursday, November 13th, 2008, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 AM!

Who:

Jessica Moss

What: Building Reports in SQL Server Reporting Services 2008

Overview of Presentation:

Using SQL Server Reporting Services can simplify designing reports, but how do you handle complex report requirements? This session will discuss how to handle these complex scenarios by using the new features of SSRS 2008. We will walk through building reports to showcase these situations. This session will be friendly to people who have experience in either SSRS 2005 or SSRS 2008.

About Jessica:

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]
Register: Click here to register!

Thanks to our Sponsors

Thursday, October 9th 2008, 6:30PM -8:00PM

2008-10-15T11:46:00Z

When: Thursday, October 9th, 2008, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Social Time starts at 6:00 AM!

Who:

Michael Coles

What: SQL 2008 Full-Text Search, Filestream Storage, and Fuzzy Searching

Overview of Presentation:

* New Integrated Full-Text Search (iFTS) in SQL Server 2008 - full-text search is highly integrated with the SQL Server query engine in SQL Server 2008. This makes administration easier, improves performance significantly, and increases scalability.

* The new filestream data type attribute in SQL Server 2008 - takes advantage of Windows NTFS transactions and streaming to improve performance and provide greater manageability for binary large object (BLOB) data.

* SQL Server 2008 provides several new dynamic management views and functions, and new catalog views, to make full-text search processing fully transparent to developers.

* I'll also give a survey of alternative fuzzy-search techniques including Soundex, NYSIIS, n-grams, ternary search trees, and regular expressions.

* Also we'll talk about how to quickly and easily create a Google-style search interface for your SQL Server 2008 iFTS-enabled databases.

About Michael:

Michael Coles is a Microsoft MVP (SQL) with over 15 years' experience designing and administering SQL Server databases. A prolific writer on all aspects of SQL Server, particularly on the expert use of T-SQL, Michael has written dozens of published articles and several books including Pro SQL Server 2008 XML, Pro T-SQL 2008 Programmer's Guide, and Accelerated SQL Server 2008. Currently he is contributing chapters to a Microsoft MVP charity book project and working on a project to detail SQL Server 2008 encryption technology.

Where: Location: Markel Plaza
4600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060 [map]
Register: Click here to register!

Thanks to our Sponsors