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  • Querying dimension members in MDX

    November 30th, 2012 in Analysis Services, Blog

    Today we’re back looking at MDX with a quick how-to. How do you extract a list of dimension members using MDX? This could be used for example to populate a user interface/parameter of a report/dashboard. Let’s look at two scenarios; normal dimensions, and then hierarchies. All the queries here use the “Adventure Works DW 2008 R2” “Adventure Works” cube. Standard dimension attributes So how do we get a list of…

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  • Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock

    October 5th, 2012 in Blog, Community, SQL Server

      I want to share with you some genius level work by Phil Quinn (blog | twitter), who is furthering the boundaries of SQL Server.   Phil has taken the spatial drawing code from an earlier Frog-blog and used it to create a fully functional Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock game, just using the power of SQL Server. Not even the brightest boffins at Microsoft could ever have imagined that SQL Server would be able to provide such an awesome…

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  • Find first order date in MDX

    September 3rd, 2012 in Analysis Services, Blog

    I had an interesting question the other day; “how do I find the date of the first order/activity for a given customer/employee/product etc in MDX”? Well you’ll be pleased to know that it’s pretty simple. The sample code bellow will work with the AdventureWorks DW 2008R2 cube. First of all we need to filter the date dimension to contain only those with orders. Then take the first item of the resulting set, then find its…

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  • Still time to register for SQL Saturday 162 in Cambridge

    August 28th, 2012 in Blog, Community

    Just a quick reminder, if you haven’t registered already then get yourself to the SQL Saturday website and register for the UK’s first ever SQL Saturday, in Cambridge on Sept 8th 2012. The presenter/session line-up is awesome – check out the schedule here. I’ll be presenting a talk at 3:50pm on a better way to load data warehouse dimensions. I’m also proud to say that Purple Frog are sponsoring the event. There…

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  • Speaking at SQL Saturday 162 in Cambridge

    August 1st, 2012 in Blog, Community

    I’m thrilled to have been selected to speak at the UK’s first SQL Saturday event – A big thank you to the organisers, I’ll already buzzing about it! SQL Saturday #162 is being held in the fabulous city of Cambridge, with two days of awesome content. Pre-Con Training Day: Friday 7th September 2012 Free SQL Saturday: Saturday 8th September 2012 Full details on the SQL Saturday website here. I’ll be reviving my talk…

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  • MSc Dissertation – Performance of Loading SCDs in SSIS

    July 20th, 2012 in Blog, Business Intelligence, Integration Services, SQL Server

    Well after 3.5 years, I’ve finally completed my MSc Business Intelligence – hoorah! And to reward the time, effort and increased grey hair, they saw fit to give me a merit as well. During the last year I’ve been writing a thesis investigating the performance characteristics of loading data into data warehouse dimensions. Specifically loading Type 2 SCDs using SSIS. For those who have followed the previous posts and my…

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  • SQLBits X Video available

    June 19th, 2012 in Blog, Business Intelligence, Community, Integration Services, SQL Server

    SQLBits X Video Now available The video of my talk at SQLBits X is now available on the SQLBits website here. The talk was focused on presenting the results of my MSc Business Intelligence dissertation, comparing the performance of different methods of using SSIS to load data warehouse dimensions, specifically type 2 SCDs. The talk also covers a comparison of the performance between traditional hard disks and solid state storage systems such as…

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  • SQL Relay Agenda Announced

    April 19th, 2012 in Blog, Community, SQL Server

    SQL Relay: Free, Full Day SQL Server Events If you’ve not heard the news yet, then where have you been hiding?! With SQLBits X such a phenomenal success, but already a distant memory, we’re all looking for the next SQL Server community event to learn, network and enjoy. The 2012 SQL Relay, following on from the great inaugural events last year, have now been announced and registration is open. Where are they? Monday 21st May –…

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  • Automating T-SQL Merge to load Dimensions (SCD)

    April 6th, 2012 in Blog, Business Intelligence, Integration Services, SQL Server

    This is the 3rd post in the Frog-Blog series on the awesomeness of T-SQL Merge. Post 1: Introduction to T-SQL merge basics Post 2: Using T-SQL merge to load data warehouse dimensions In this post we’ll be looking at how we can automate the creation of the merge statement to reduce development time and improve reliability and flexibility of the ETL process. I discussed this in the 2nd half of a talk I gave at the UK technical launch of SQL…

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  • Map Postcodes in SSRS Reporting Services

    March 5th, 2012 in Blog, Reporting Services

    I was asked the other day for some help on how to plot data by postcode on an SSRS spatial map. I’ve done this a few times, initially for a presentation I gave back in 2010 and most recently a couple of weeks ago when I wanted to analyse the SQLMidlands membership. It occurred to me that despite posting a number of blogs using spatial data, I’ve not done one on the basics of plotting postcode data. So here we go… Scenario You…

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