DBPedias

Your Database Knowledge Community

Jen Stirrup

  1. Psychology, and its impact on Microsoft Books Online

    In case you haven't seen it, Books Online is the Microsoft online Help facility for everything that they produce. Books Online has a problem - how do they ensure that they produce fit-for-purpose material that is effective, so as many people as possible?

    I've been giving training courses for 15 years now, in a range of topics from Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, Tableau and SQL Server, for example. Training is hard work, but it can be a lot of fun if you have an engaged, interested audience. I've held precons for SQLBits, for example, and also for SQLDay in Poland. I'm also holding a training course in London on 30th May, on Data Visualisation and SQL Server 2012, and you can register here.

    In order to be an effective trainer, I try to identify people's learning styles. According to some psychological theory, such as Total Recall, by Joan Minninger, people have three different types of memory: Auditory, Visual and Kinesthetic. Basically, people learn and remember new material in different ways.

    In my experience, I broadly divide people into three groups, dependent on the way that they intake new information.

    - auditory - the listeners - Jimmy Carter, for example, preferred to take his information in verbally. His advisors would tell him what he needed to know
    - visual - Winston Churchill preferred to take his information in by reading. He would receive memos from his advisors
    - doers - people who like to take in information by doing things themselves. I learn like this. I will throw away any manual you might give me, and just ask you for the login and password. I'll give myself a task, and fish around until I've sussed it.

    Remember that I'm trying to 'hit the mark' for as many of my class as possible, since I'm only with them for a few days. This is just my rough analysis, and I realise, of course, that the same person will use different learning styles dependent on the material that they are learning.

    I think that the Books Online team at Microsoft have a difficult job. They need to produce materials that reach the widest types of learners possible; the auditory, visual and the doers. So, a video might suit the 'listeners' and some of the 'readers', but the 'doers' might not want to spend time looking at a video. I think that they produce material to try and reach all audiences, and I like some of the new look sites for Power View, for example.

    In order to provide positive feedback, I've started to give Community Content feedback back to the Books Online folks. You can also be engaged, by adding comments to the bottom of the page. I don't expect people to agree with all my comments, but I do it in the hope that it might be useful.

    I hope that this helps, and have fun reading about SQL Server!


  2. Here's why I'm travelling 4735 miles to go to SQLRally Dallas!

    I'm hugely honoured to be speaking at SQLRally Dallas on Friday May 11th. My subject is 'Business Intelligence and Azure: SSIS and SSRS Focus' and I'll be doing a demo which shows, 'end to end', how we can take some data, load it into the cloud usng SSIS, and then review it in SSRS. 

    The whole Schedule is here so I hope you'll think about coming along! There is an awesome list of speakers, and you can find the full Twitter list here. 






    Now, I'll be travelling 4735.87 miles - or 4112.63 nautical miles - or 7621.65 kilometres to travel from London to Dallas. I've never been to Dallas before, so I must admit that I'm nervous. I'm looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones!

    However, I'm travelling all that way to see my SQLFamily. I love being part of the SQLPass community. So if it is your first time at SQLRally - please come and say 'hi'! I've never been to Dallas before, so I'm new too! Please make sure to say 'hi' at the Community Corner. 

    I attended SQLRally Nordic last year in Stockholm, Sweden, and it was just an immense experience. It felt like home since there were so many people there, who were passionate about all and any aspect of SQL Server, and I would love to go again. At SQLRally Nordic, I unleashed my inner Viking. In Dallas, I'll unleash my inner Texan, and I'm looking forward to joining in all the community fun!

    There's a serious side to SQLRally too. There's a range of real experts, willing to share their knowledge and experience with you. I will share my knowledge on Azure, which I hope will help to make people's jobs a bit easier by ramping them from zero to hero in Azure, pretty quickly! I will also be learning as well; there is an awesome list of speakers and I'm really looking forward to it. 

    Without further ado, I've popped a lot of SQLRally information here for you, and I do hope you'll register. If you see a little Scottish woman looking a bit lost, please come and say hi because it will be me!

    Register by April 29 to receive the special rate of $399! 

    SQLPASS have reserved May 10-11 for the     most value-packed 2 days of SQL Server and BI training and networking you’ll find anywhere. Join over 500 SQL Server professionals and some of the best known SQL Server speakers from across North America for:
    SQLPASS are also offering these 7 deep-dive pre-conference seminars taking place prior to the conference on May 8-9 - get a sneak peek at the pre-cons in this Q&A series with our speakers.
    Precon costs $219.

    Tuesday, May 08, 2012

    How to be a DBA - A Utility Belt of tools
    Database Administration (DBA)
    Tjay Belt (Imagine Learning)
    Chris Shaw (AMS)
    Storage For the DBA
    Database Administration (DBA)
    Denny Cherry (mrdenny.com)

    Wednesday, May 09, 2012

    99 Tips for Tuning and Enhancing Analysis Services
    Business Intelligence (BI)
    Greg Galloway (Artis Consulting)
    How to Perform a SQL Server Health Check
    Database Administration (DBA)
    Brad McGehee (Red Gate Software)

     
    Still need approval to attend? Check out our tips on how to justify your attendance.
    Register for SQLRally Dallas today!





    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    3. 
            
            
  3. 
                
    
                    
    
                        
    SSRS 2012 CTP Shared Datasets in SQL Azure
    
                    
    
                    
    
                        

    
In preparation for my SQLRally Presentation in Dallas in May 2012, I've been investigating SQL Azure, using the SQL Server Data Tools to create SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 reports. One issue you might encounter is that your report runs perfectly well in SSDT, but does not run when it's been deployed to SQL Azure. You might get the following error message:

    • The report server cannot process the report or  shared dataset. The shared data source '' for the report server or  SharePoint site is not valid. Browse to the server or site and select a shared  data source. (rsInvalidDataSourceReference) 
    

    The resolution for this issue is that Shared Dataset don't seem to work properly, at the time of writing. The workaround is straightforward - don't use a Shared Dataset. Here are some pointers:


     - Make sure your data source is pointing to your SQL Azure Reporting Services Report Server URL. Test your connection works, and that it is using the correct login.


     - When you create your report, don't use a Shared DataSet. Instead, once you've set up your Data Source, go straight to creating your Report by right-clicking on the Reports folder and selecting the option 'Add new report'.  


    You can then deploy the report to Azure, and it should work fine.


    As an aside, you could try your report out on a mobile device. If you need any instructions, just take a look here.


    I hope that helps! Any questions, please leave a comment.
    Jen

    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    4. 
            
            
  4. 
                
    
                    
    
                        
    Power View outside of Sharepoint Enterprise
    
                    
    
                    
    
                        

    

    I often hear requests for Power View to be made available outside of Sharepoint.  Currently, Power View does require Sharepoint Enterprise 2010 and SQL Server 2012. I see that people are starting to love Power View. I love Powr View since I think it is facilitating businesses to ask the different questions of their data. 
    


    

    
If you want Power View outside of Sharepoint Enterprise, then go and vote for my Connect case here. You can have input to the roadmap by going to the Connect case and leaving your thoughts there. I do know that the Microsoft team do listen carefully to Connect cases, but I don't see Connect being adopted widely by folks in the community to feedback their suggestions.  

    


    

    The system requirements for Power View can be found here. 
    


    

    
Personally, I love Sharepoint and I've implemented Microsoft Sharepoint Business Intelligence solutions that really deliver value to enterprises. Yes, I am a Sharepoint fan! However, I do sympathise with small customers who do not have Sharepoint Enteprise, but would love to have some of the features. 

    


    

    Power View is still 'early days' and I accept that other packages such as Tableau are much more mature. The debate of Sharepoint in Business Intelligence rages on elsewhere, and it isn't the point of this blog here; instead, I'm focusing on this particular request for Power View outside of Sharepoint, which I hear often at User Groups and via my Twitter conversations.
    


    

    Technically, Power View is a Reporting Services Add-on.  If you want more information on Power View, you can look at the Microsoft material here. I am not copying and pasting the information - I hate it when people do that to me! - so you can head over and take a look at the official Power View documentation. 
    


    

    I'd like to add that the Power View training materials are superb, so well done to the team who've carefully produced this documentation. You can look at some of my Power View posts on my blog for my presentations, articles and so on.
    


    


    


    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    5. 
            
            
  5. 
                
    
                    
    
                        
    Cross-Browser support for Power View
    
                    
    
                    
    
                        

    Currently, Power View is supported by a number of browsers: IE, Safari, and Firefox. What about Chrome? I've opened a Microsoft Connect case about this, and you can go and vote it up or down here. 

    For the full list, please take a quick look at the Microsoft documentation. I've taken an excerpt from the original Microsoft 'Planning for Reporting Services Browser Support' article, and here is the table below:
    










    

    Browser
    		  
    Windows   7
    		  
    Windows   Vista
    		  
    Windows   Server 2008 R2
    		  
    Windows   Server 2008
    		  
    Macintosh   OS 10.6 
    – 10.7 (Intel-based)
    		 
    

    

    Internet   Explorer 9
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    Not   supported
    		 
    

    

    Internet   Explorer 8
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    Not   supported
    		 
    

    

    Internet   Explorer 7
    		  
    Not   supported
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    Not   supported
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		  
    Not   supported
    		 
    

    

    Firefox   7
    		  
    32-bit
    		  
    32-bit
    		  
    Not   supported
    		  
    32-bit
    		  
    Not   supported
    		 
    

    

    Safari   5
    		  
    Not   supported
    		  
    Not   supported
    		  
    Not   supported
    		  
    Not   supported
    		  
    32-bit,   64-bit
    		 
    
    

    

    Chrome isn't listed as one of the supported browsers. So, if you try and use Chrome for Power View, then it wouldn't be supported and you may run into issues. This does not mean that it doesn't work, and you might try it out and find that it works perfectly.

    However, I have run into issues at a client site in using Sharepoint, where the default browser was Chrome rather than IE. The issues were easily resolved by switching to a supported browser.

    I guess that the technical authors don't list out unsupported browsers since it might be 'chartjunk' to do so. In other words, in order to keep the document as straightforward as possible, they've just listed out the browsers that they do support, rather than the plethora of browsers available that they haven't tested for Power View. Other browsers include SimplePie, Lightning, Rockmelt, to name a few. Then you might also want to include 'preview' browsers as well, such as Bing Preview, whereby you 'preview' a page before you link on it. It would be nice to do this in Power View as well.

    In order to assess the requirement for Chrome, I've opened a Connect case here. If you've got a need for Chrome and Power View together, then you can vote and comment at the case.   As always, you're welcome to comment here, too, or over on Twitter.
    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    6. 
            
            
  6. 
                
    
                    
    
                        
    Is Power View meant to replace ReportBuilder?
    
                    
    
                    
    
                        

    

    At first glance, it could be easy to confuse Power View and Report Builder. This blog is aimed at helping you to understand the 'why' of these packages, so that you and your business can get the best out of these complementary reporting packages.
    


    

    I do hear complaints now and again, that the Microsoft Business Intelligence reporting packages can offer similar functionality, so it isn't clear to users whether they are using the best option available to them. The reporting packages, such as Excel, Reporting Services and so on, are aimed at specific users with specific needs. The answer to 'which package is right for you?' will depend on the user and the requirements for building and delivering the report, and it is good that there is more than one option.
    


    

    One way of looking at the 'Do I use Power View or Report Builder?' debate is to look at the distinction between a puzzle and a mystery, as specified by Outliers author Malcolm Gladwell. A puzzle can be viewed as a defined question with a defined answer; when all the pieces of the puzzle are in place, then the puzzle is solved. A mystery, however, is more uncertain; we do not have all of the information in place, and the answer can involve surfing lots of ill-defined information in order to get an answer.
    


    

    

    Report Builder is aimed at business users who have puzzles i.e. they have the information in place, and the data will give them the answer in the form of a designed chart. A puzzle could be a straightforward question, such as 'What was our sales for the last quarter, for a specific product?'
    


    

    Power View is aimed at business users who have a 'mystery' to solve. The question could be ill-defined i.e. 'how do I find out the characteristics of the data?' or 'are there any anomalies in the data?' The question could start off as a puzzle, answered quickly in Power View- but then it could spawn mysteries. So, we go from 'what' to 'why?' by looking at the data from different angles. 
    


    

    


    


    

    My perspective in this is that options are always a good thing, particularly if it means an opportunity to learn something new. I'm aware that Power View is a new package for people, given that it's available in SQL Server 2012. I've written this blog in order to help people to understand the 'positioning' of Power View in relation to its older cousin, Report Builder.
    


    

    Power View
    


    

    Power View is easy to use, and quick. It involves very little typing, and assumes that the underlying data model is correct. It does not require programming language.
    


    

    Instead, it simply requires you to drag and drop, and it means that you are only ever a few clicks away from the data representation that is available to you. It is easy for data analysts to produce reports that help you to  produce 'ad hoc' reports. In other words, it does not require you to know a 'set' question to answer, before you start. It helps you to work with an unknown query definition, or workload. The point is that it helps you to 'surf' the data without a need for structured reporting requirements.
    


    

    Report Builder
    


    

    Report Builder is also easy to use, and is aimed at producing reports quickly and easily. Again, it is not aimed at report writers with programming knowledge. Instead, it is aimed at information users and analysts who require reports quickly. Report Builder helps you to work with known query definitions, or workloads, to produce a defined report. Report Builder can help you to surf the data to a degree, too, but it is mainly for structured reporting.
    


    

    Although Report Builder has been available since SQL Server 2005, there are some interesting new features added in SQL Server 2012 RC0 for Report Builder. It's no surprise, for example, the Word and Excel renderers are compatible with the latest version of Excel and Word 2010. This will only work, however, if the Microsoft Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel and PowerPoint pack is installed.
    


    

    Report Builder is part of SQL Server 2012 RC0, and earlier versions can be found in SQL Server 2005 and 2008. In 2012, it comes in two versions: stand-alone, and ClickOnce, which is available in both SSRS native and Sharepoint integrated mode. In the stand-alone method, it needs to be installed on the computer, and it can be downloaded from here. The ClickOnce version is installed as part of the SQL Server 2012 RC0 installation sequence, and can be started from within Sharepoint or via Report Manager. In Sharepoint, it is nice to see that Report Builder reports are just seen as 'Documents' and you'll be able to create one by selecting 'New Document' from the Sharepoint library.
    


    

    On the other hand, Power View is solely part of Sharepoint Enterprise and SQL Server 2012. 
    


    

    To summarise, both applications:
    

    Easy to Use
    

    Aimed at Information Workers
    


    

    Report Builder:
    

    Can be obtained from outside Sharepoint
    

    Emphasis is on a straight reporting tool rather than an analysis tool
    


    

    Power View:
    

    Is only available in Sharepoint Enterprise
    

    Is only available in SQL Server 2012

    To answer the question, the packages support and complement one another; Report Builder isn't meant to be replaced by Power View, but offers a slightly different perspective on easy-to-access structured reporting.

    I hope that helps. As always, any questions, please do leave a comment. 
    


    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    7. 
            
            
  7. 
                
    
                    
    
                        
    Data Visualisation Sample Slide Deck
    
                    
    
                    
    
                        

    

    If you attended the fantastic SQL Saturday 105 in Dublin, you might be interested in these slides.

    We've presented on Data Visualisation in the UK, Europe and in the US. Here is a sample slide deck. As always, these are subject to change as we develop our presentations in response to community requests for a different perspective, or in response to an update in technology, for example.

    Here is an example of one of my Data Visualisation presentations:

    
Sql pass business intelligence chapter bi and data viz in sql server 2012  
    

    



    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    8. 
            
            
  8. 
                
    
                    
    
                        
    SQL Server 2012 Virtual Launch Event and Download Info
    
                    
    
                    
    
                        

    

    The SQL Server 2012 Virtual Launch Event is starting on 7th March! As part of a global team on March 7th, I'm answering questions on the SQL Server 2012 Virtual Launch Event, which is being held online. Register here:  If you're not sure what the fuss is about, take a look at the video here:
    


    

    


    


    

    
In the meantime, if you can't wait that long, you can download an evaluation of SQL Server 2012 - not RC0! - then please visit this link. If you're interested in a preview about SQL Server 2012 and private cloud, please visit Ross Mistry's article here. 

    


    

    The Virtual Event is a global, online SQL Server Virtual Launch Event event will allow you to get the latest information on Microsoft SQL Server 2012. You can interact directly with:
    


    

    

      

    • Microsoft Product Teams
      • 

    • Select customers who are part of the SQL Server 2012 story
      • 

    • Microsoft Partners
      • 

    • Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals 
      • 

    


    

    There are over thirty separate sessions which focus on new mission-critical capabilities, data visualisations and performance benefits. For example, here are some of the sample sessions where you can learn:
    


    

    

      

    • Why Oracle DBAs should learn about SQL Server
      • 

    • Performance Increases with the Column Store Index
      • 

    • Unstructured Data search
      • 

    • Unlock the value of Big Data with SQL Server
      • 

    • Self-Service Analysis with Power View
      • 

    


    

    Best of all, since this is a community virtual launch, you'll get to meet, online, the people behind SQL Server 2012. In my opinion, you should take advantage of this unique opportunity to interact with Microsoft Product team, and other experts who want to share their enthusiasm with you.
    


    

    The SQL Server 2012 Virtual Launch event is global, and lasts for 24 hours. I'll be online to help answer your questions and chat between 2200 and 2400 UK Time, which is 2PM PST (UTC -8 hours) or 5PM EST (UTC -5 hours) but I'll be participating throughout the day too. I cannot wait!
    


    

    I look forward to meeting you in the Virtual Lounges or online on Twitter. Come and join in the fun, you never know whom you might meet! See you there!
    


    


    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    9. 
            
            
  9. 
                
    
                    
    
                        
    SQLPass Business Intelligence Virtual Chapter References and Slides
    
                    
    
                    
    
                        

    

    Thank you to everyone who attended my SQLPass Business Intelligence Virtual Chapter webinar! I have lots of questions to follow up, from both during and after the event. Please watch this space for more responses to questions over the next few days, and I will try to ensure that I answer every question. The slides are at the bottom of this blog post.
    


    

    I've provided references below to some of the Data Visualisation people and material that I mentioned today. I hope that these are useful to you.
    


    

    Ben Schneiderman - Ben's Eight Golden Rules of Interface Design is an interesting read. In the presentation, I refer to one of Schneiderman's essays, "The Eyes have it." The guideline is summarise -> zoom and filter -> details-on-demand, and is known as the 'Visual Information-Seeking Mantra'. 
    


    

    Stephen Few - Stephen has written a number of books, which you can find at his site - there is a wealth of information there! If you're a fan of data visualisation, then you should consider his blog, Perceptual Edge, a must-read. In particular, I'd like to shout out the following books:
    


    

    



    

    Malcolm Gladwell - Malcolm has a great deal of interesting things to say on a whole range of topics, and I'm never going to be able to introduce him properly. 
    


    

    
Hans Rosling - What I love about Rosling's work, is that he highlights health and social factors, poverty and health. This is data visualisation in action, to help people in poor circumstances - the sort of people who cannot always read what is written about them. He promotes a 'fact-based' world view on these issues. The YouTube video of Rosling's data visualisation is below, which was made by BBC4. 



    

    


    

    


    I should add that I'm not in any way associated with this video - but I get asked about it a lot, so I've embedded it here from YouTube. 


    Here are the slides from today. I look forward to your comments, and I will answer the remaining questions in due course.


    -J

    

    
Sql pass business intelligence chapter bi and data viz in sql server 2012
    

    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    10. 
            
            
  10. 
                
    
                    
    
                        
    Poland SQL Day 2012 Women in Technology Panel Event
    
                    
    
                    
    
                        

    

    In May, 25th and 26th May, wewould like to invite all of you for a ‘Women in Technology’ Panel at SQL Day2012 in Wrocław (Poland). We are looking forward to meeting you at SQLDayPoland in May 2012. I will be participating in the Panel, and I'm very excited about it!
    


    

    
The SQL Day 2012 conference is agreat opportunity to make friends and learn with fellow SQL Family members in Poland. Therefore, we would like to add to theSQLDay fun! We are holding a 'Women in Technology' (WIT) panel meeting SQL Day2012 in Wrocław (Poland) on 25th and 26th of May. We will have a team of women,who will swap ideas and discussions. We look forward to hearing your ideas too!The Panel will be held in Polish and English.

    


    

    We will talk about the followingtopics. We are also keen to hear your ideas, too!
    


    

    1. Keeping women in IT by mentoring, networking and careeradvice
    2. How to attract younger women in IT
    3. Career - what are the best ways to progress?
    

    Men in Technology are alsoinvited to the 'Women in Technology' panel meeting. Men are very welcome to thePanel too. It would be good for men to share their ideas, too. 
    


    

    Although the panel members are women, these are 'people' topics in which everyone can learn something about career advancement.
    


    

    The 'Women in IT' panel isarranged for the first day of the conference. If you would like more information, please emailus on WiTPanel@plssug.org.pl  You can also find us here:
    


    

    http://ewity.pl/sqlday-2012-wit-panel
    http://sqlday.pl/women-in-technology-panel
    Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Women-in-Technology-Panel/222338211190377
    Our Twitter name: https://twitter.com/#!/SQLDayPLWIT 
    


    

    We look forward to meeting you!
    

    

    

    
     

    


                    
    
                    
                
    
            
    11. 
            
        

        
        
        
    
            
  1. 1
  2. Next ›
  3. Last »
    4.