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Tag Archive: SQLBits

  • Why you should start presenting at conferences

    August 17th, 2014 in Blog, Community

    Have you presented a session at a user group or a conference? No? then read on to find out why you need to change that. Many of the readers of this blog will be active members of the SQL Server community, reading/writing blogs themselves, going to conferences or user groups, partitipating in webinars, etc. We’re fortunate in the UK to have the most active SQL Server community in the World. Yes there are physically more user groups and…

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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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  • SQLBits X talk – Loading Data Warehouse Dimensions

    February 20th, 2012 in Blog, Community

    I’m thrilled to have been asked to present another session at SQLBits X, especially so as it’s set to be the biggest and best Bits yet. It’s the official UK launch of SQL Server 2012, and as such there’s an impressive collection of Microsoft folk attending and presenting, alongside the MVPs and internationally renowned speakers that we now come to expect at SQL Bits. The Saturday is now sold out, but (as of writing this)…

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  • PowerPivot Vs QlikView 101 – SQLBits Video

    November 10th, 2011 in Analysis Services, Blog, Business Intelligence, PowerPivot, QlikView

    PowerPivot Vs QlikView 101 – SQLBits Video The video is now available from my PowerPivot and QlikView talk at SQLBits 9 in Liverpool in September 2011. You can download or watch the video here. In this 1 hour session I create interactive dashboards from scratch in both PowerPivot and QlikView, showing how to set up the data model, overcome common pitfalls and build the dashboards. I create almost identical dashboards in both systems and…

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  • SQLBits 9 Session – PowerPivot and QlikView 101

    October 15th, 2011 in Blog, Business Intelligence, Community, PowerPivot, QlikView, SQL Server

    Thank you to the SQLBits committee, speakers, helpers and attendees, for making SQLBits 9 one of the best yet. What a great example SQLBits is of the power of the SQL Server community coming together to help each other, and enjoy a few beers in the process! I was delighted to have my “PowerPivot & QlikView 101” session chosen by the committee, which I presented on Saturday afternoon. Thank you to all those who attended, great to…

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  • Midlands SQL Server User Group now a PASS chapter

    August 17th, 2011 in Blog, Community

    Back in September 2010 I spent another evening with the Cardiff SQL Server User Group, run by Adam Morton. Having got so much out of the Cardiff group since its inception, both as an attendee and as a regular speaker, it struck me as a shame that there wasn’t a group represting the SQL community in my area of the UK, the Midlands. Following a few conversations with Adam Morton, Tony Rogerson, Chris Testa-O’Neil and others, Hollie (my…

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  • SQL User Groups and SQLBits

    June 22nd, 2011 in Blog, Business Intelligence, Community, SQL Server

    SQLBits 9 It only seems like yesterday since the SQLBits crew put on their awesome 8th conference in Brighton. The next conference has just been announced, SQLBits will move to Liverpool for SQLBits 9 – “Query Across The Mersey” (…Really?!) between September 29th and October 1st. Registration’s not yet open, but you can find out more at www.SQLBits.com I’ve already submitted two sessions to present, “PowerPivot & QlikView…

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  • Video: Automating SSAS OLAP Cube documentation

    May 26th, 2011 in Analysis Services, Blog, Business Intelligence, Reporting Services

    Automating OLAP cube documentation – SQLBits presentation For anyone that missed my presentation at SQLBits 8 in April, the video is now available here. In this 1 hour session I present a method of automating the creation of documentation for SSAS OLAP cubes by using DMVs (dynamic management views) and spatial data, querying the metadata of the cube in realtime. The results include the BUS matrix, star schemas, attribute lists, hierarchies…

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