SQLSaturday Atlanta #220–May 18th

I am pleased to be selected to present a session on Analysis Services at the Atlanta SQLSaturday this May 18th at Georgia State University. If you follow @SQLPass and #SQLSatAtl on twitter, you might have seen tweets about 775+ registered attendees for this event. You can still get on the waiting list if you really want to attend. So what does this mean? There are going to be lots of networking along with some of the great speakers sharing their SQL Server knowledge.

It is going to be cool to talk with Bill Pearson again, visit with Adam Machanic and Louis Davidson, plus get to sit in on sessions from Stacia Misner, Teo Lachev and Mellissa Coates. I wish I had time to go to a Brave’s baseball game, but I will instead go to the Speaker Dinner Friday night and the after-party on Saturday, then fly home.

Below is my session:

Attributes & Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012

The session explains Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012 Semantic Model. They are used to slice (filter) and dice (group) measures and dimensions used to view analytical data. The slicing and dicing of data involves fields, columns, or whatever you want to labeled them. But, in SQL Server Semantic model these are called Attributes and Hierarchies. The configuration of these slicers and dicers are important in SQL Server Analysis Services. This session will demonstrate the difference between an attribute and columns in a hierarchy in the dimension as well as the configuration of these for best performance and viewing.

T-SQL Tuesday #41 – Presenting and Loving It

Some Tuesday mornings I have bacon with eggs and an English muffin. Not today though. I am blogging about Why I Love Presenting for T-SQL Tuesday #41 hosted by Bob Pusateri. I will attempt to answer all his questions.

What was the first time you gave a presentation in front of a group and really enjoyed it?

It was probably when I worked at IEM and became a Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) in SQL Server 2000. We (me) started to do Lunch & Learns at the office where everybody brought their lunch to a conference room and listened to a presentation. We were about to upgrade to SQL Server 2000 from 7.0 and I was asked to show the .Net developers (I was a developer back then slowly becoming the Accidental DBA) what was new in SQL Server 2000. There was so much to talk about, that it took about 2 months giving a Lunch & Learn every 2 weeks to cover everything significant to developers. One thing I learned by presenting was that SQL Server 2000 included Cascade Update and Delete in foreign key constraints. I had just finished a month project coding this in triggers for a 7.0 database with 100+ tables.

Was it something that was required of you in school?

Yes, presenting at a speech class at LSU was a requirement, but I did not take it as serious as I do today. It was just school, right?

Something you did in the workplace?

Yes, see answer to first question. I also continued Lunch and Learns when I started working for Amedisys following IEM. They actually provide the lunch for the group. We were upgrading to SQL Server 2005 at this time. This eventually led to presenting at the local Baton Rouge SQL Server User group started by Patrick LeBlanc about the Performance Dashboard.

Were you inspired by other SQL community members and thought “I think I can do that too”?

After attending the second PASS Summit, this is what I started saying to myself. I noticed that some presenters were really excited (Grant Fritchey and Paul Neilsen) about a topic and I thought I could do the same. It was not as easy as I fantasized, but it was worth the time and energy.

Whatever your story is, I’d love to hear it.

From there, I presented at the local user group and started submitting to the Summit. I was not accepted the first 2 or 3 years, but after presenting at about 5-6 SQLSaturday events, I was accepted by SQLRally in 2011, then the Summit in 2011 and 2012. The Virtual Chapters of PASS really help as well and I started to volunteer to help run a VC.

By far the greatest benefit realized from presenting is learning the technology. There is countless hours I sit and read and practice the material over and over. This repetitiveness ingrains the mind with the ideas and practices of the technology. It then carries over into the day-to-day motions of being a DBA. The companies I have worked for get an experience expert.

PASS Business Analytics presents MVP Jessica Moss: Putting the Business Into Business Analytics

I saw Jessica Moss presenting at the PASS Summit a couple of years ago on Reporting Services. She has been an author to many books and has a good series on SQLServerCentral.com’s Stairway series for Reporting Services.

Please join the PASS Business Analytics virtual chapter on April 4th at noon Eastern as Jessica presents “Putting the Business into Business Analytics”. Do not forget about the PASS Business Analytics conference in Chicago April 10-12 where you can see Jessica live.

Putting the Business into Business Analytics

Live meeting: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/8000181573/join?id=3J2DTB&role=attend&pw=RG%2F652Wqq

Jessica Moss, BI Architect CapTech Consulting

Having analytical information is only as good as what you do with it. A key component to business analytics is incorporating your informational results back into your business to create an ecosystem of analytics that will continually improve how you run your business. This session will discuss ways to integrate your knowledge back into your business processes, using examples from several industries and subject areas.

About Jessica:
Jessica M. Moss is a well-known architect, speaker, author, and Microsoft MVP of SQL Server Business Intelligence. Jessica's expertise includes data warehouse modeling, Integration Services ETL, Analysis Services semantic modeling, Reporting Services report design, and helping customers across industries successfully implement and enhance their BI solutions. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with the central Virginia community, speaks regularly at user groups, Code Camps, and conferences, and has co-authored four technical books. You can read more on her website at http://www.jessicammoss.com.

PASS Data Arch VC presents Steve Hughes on Accounting for Windows Azure

I meet Steve this past November in Seattle at the PASS Summit. Reading his series on XMLA and Analysis Services help me understand more about SSAS. It was good to finally talk with this dude and get him to present to the Data Arch VC

His blog is Data on Wheels.

Please join us on March 21st at noon central to get some data architecture information for Windows Azure.

Steve Hughes Accounting for Windows Azure

Online Meeting URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/UserGroups/join?id=C2NPG7&role=attend&pw=x9%25%299%23Dr2

When iCal
UTC : Thu, Mar 21 2013 17:00 - 18:00
Event Time : Thu, Mar 21 2013 12:00 - 13:00 (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
Accounting for Windows Azure in Your Data Architecture

Speaker: Steve Hughes, Practice Lead - Data and Business Intelligence Magenic

Summary: As Windows Azure becomes a more significant part of the IT landscape, data architects need to understand the data technologies at their disposal. Not all data can nor should be stored in the relational database in Azure. The discussion will include the various storage types available for data in Azure and how they may fit into an architecture. Learn which data storage techniques may work best for your next project with Azure and some of the nuances of using each type within a project.

About Steve: Steve Hughes is a Practice Lead at Magenic, working with Microsoft’s SQL Server stack to deliver data and BI solutions. He has worked with technology for over 15 years and is passionate about helping customers understand that data is valuable and profitable. Over the past 6 years, he has delivered more than 30 presentations on SQL Server and data architecture. In 2010, he received Consultant of the Year honors at Magenic. Steve is also a PASS Regional Mentor for the Northeast.

Baton Rouge SQL Server User Group

Wednesday March 13th 2013, I have the pleasure in presenting to the local SQL Server User group in Baton Rouge, LA. The topic will be Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012. The flow will be from requirements gathering thru implementation in the Semantic Model.

My employer, Turner Industries, LLC, will be sponsoring the evening which includes the .Net User and Windows Phone groups in Baton Rouge. We all meet on the same night and have networking/dinner together with a lightening round for all groups. Please come join us at Louisiana Technology Park on Florida Blvd. The park is an business incubator for technology companies in Baton Rouge and Louisiana.

March '13 SQL Server User Group Meeting

Topic: Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Location: The Louisiana Technology Park

Sponsored By: TBA

Agenda:

5:45 - 6:15 pm: Networking and Refreshments

6:15 - 6:30 pm: Lightning Round Topic

6:30 - 8:00 pm: Main Topic

8:00 - until: Open Forum for questions and giveaways

Main Topic: Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012

Main Topic Speaker: Thomas LeBlanc, Turner Industries

Summary: The session explains Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012 Semantic Model. They are used to slice (filter) and dice (group) measures and dimensions used to view analytical data. The slicing and dicing of data involves fields, columns, or whatever you want to labeled them. But, in SQL Server Semantic model these are called Attributes and Hierarchies. The configuration of these slicers and dicers are important in SQL Server Analysis Services. This session will demonstrate the difference between an attribute and columns in a hierarchy in the dimension as well as the configuration of these for best performance and viewing.

Summary: Thomas LeBlanc (MCITP DBA/BI) is a Sr. SQL Server DBA @ Turner Industries & the PASS Data Architecture Virtual Chapter Chair. His specialties include normalization, performance tuning, database design, ETL-SSIS, SSAS cubes and T-SQL code. DBA work includes monitoring many SQL Server instances at Turner for performance and uptime then spends the other half of his time gathering requirements, designing, coding and presenting Data Marts using SSIS, SSAS Cubes, Excel & PerformancePoint while migrating some cubes to 2012 Tabular Model for PowerView.

PASS Data Arch VC presents: Neil Hambly’s Think You Have The Right Data-Type?

Please join this Thursday Feb 24th 2013 at noon central for Confio SQL Server expert Neil Hambly talking SQL Server Data-Types. This seemingly simply feature is the heart of tables and data in SQL Server, so you do not want to miss Neil sharing implications of not knowing the details to Data Types.

Online Meeting URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/UserGroups/join?id=7BTR84&role=attend&pw=s%26Q2H%2B%3A%263
RSVP URL: DataArch.SQLPass.org

This month Confio DBA Neil Hambly presents Think you have the right Data-Type? He will talk about selecting the right Data-Type (DT) for data is key to efficient data storage, retrieval and processing, with over 30 different DT to choose from this isn’t as straight forward as you might think. Join us Feb 28th 2013 at noon central for a talk about data type design and decisions.

When

iCal
UTC : Thu, Feb 28 2013 18:00 - 19:00
Event Time : Thu, Feb 28 2013 12:00 - 13:00 (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
Your Local Time: 2/28/2013 12:00 - 13:00

Think you have the right Data-Type?

Speaker: Neil Hambly, Database Administrator Confio Software

Summary: Selecting the right Data-Type (DT) for data is key to efficient data storage, retrieval and processing, with over 30 different DT to choose from this isn’t as straight forward as you might think, have your also considered the usage pattern of the data in addition to its storage requirements This session explores the various data-types now available, we look at conversion’s between different DT’s as well as index sizes & effectiveness, compression and other factors can that influence these decisions, we finish off by discussing different approaches on ‘migrating’ a DT to a different DT, throughout the session we consider any performance considerations, such as when implicit conversions occur and more

About Neil: Neil Hambly is a SQL Server veteran of more than 14 years, with expertise in SQL Server from Version 6.5 to the latest 2012 edition. He's held database roles at major organizations, including the BBC, ABN AMRO, and Accenture, as well as at a number of market-leading companies. Currently a Senior DBA at Confio Software, he’s held prior roles as a DBA, developer, and architect. Leader of the PASS London Chapter, Neil can frequently be found speaking at UK and international events.

PASS Data Arch VC presents: Intro to Master Data Services by James Serra

Please join this Thursday Dec 20th 2012 at noon central for Business Intelligence expert/consultant James Serra talking Master Data Services. This new feature of the Microsoft BI stack is sure to help elevate your skills with data in SQL Server 2012.

Introduction to Microsoft’s Master Data Services (MDS) by James Serra

Online Meeting URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/join?id=4HQDRK&role=attend&pw=p%7E%29%7B%22X%2B4h
RSVPURL: http://dataarch.sqlpass.org/

 

When  iCal
UTC : Thu, Dec 20 2012 18:00 - 19:00
Event Time : Thu, Dec 20 2012 13:00 - 14:00 Eastern Standard Time
Your Local Time: Thursday, December 20, 2012 12:00 - 13:00

Where http://dataarch.sqlpass.org/

Featured Presentation

Introduction to Microsoft’s Master Data Services (MDS)

Speaker: James Serra, BI/Data Warehouse/MDM Architect and Developer Serra Consulting Services

Summary: Companies struggle with consolidating the same set of data from multiple systems to accurately report on critical business information. For example, having customer lists in multiple systems that often have the same customer in more than one list, sometimes with a different spelling. Master Data Services is bundled with SQL Server 2012 to help resolve many of the Master Data Management issues that companies are faced with when integrating data. In this session, James will show an overview of Master Data Services 2012, including the out of the box Web UI, the highly developed Excel Add-in, and how to get started with loading MDS with your data.

About James: James is currently a Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence/MDM architect and developer with over 25 years of IT experience. James started as a software developer, and then was a DBA for 12 years, and for the last six years he has been working extensively with Business Intelligence using the SQL Server BI stack (SSAS, SSRS, and SSIS). James has been at times a permanent employee, consultant and contractor. James is a noted speaker, blogger, and contributing editor for SQL Server Pro magazine.