Simons SQL Blog

On so not exactly a road trip but I will be going over to Ireland on the 8th to do a Cork usergroup and then over to Dublin on the 9th for another one.

If you are interested in coming along then pop along to the site and register.

The Cork event is here http://www.mtug.ie/Home/tabid/38/ctl/Details/Mid/369/ItemID/31/Default.aspx?ContainerSrc=%5bG%5dContainers/_default/No+Container

and the Dublin event is here http://irishdev.com/Home/Events/Article.html?id=338

If you're in the area it would be great to see you.

Just been told by James Rowland-Jones that the SQL 2008 R2 editions page has been updated with more on what features are in what edition

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/R2-editions.aspx

Whats interesting is that, going against previous approaches, some new functionality is only being added to Data Centre Edition.

[Update]

Stream insight is available in all SKUs except SQL Express

http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/archive/2010/07/01/streaminsight-licensing-and-processing-q-amp-a.aspx

http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/archive/2010/06/10/streaminsight-is-in-all-editions-except-express.aspx

If you want to use Stream Insight then you have to have Data Centre edition. Why is that a problem? Well for instance getting adoption of a feature by vendors needs them to be able to implement the feature across multiple clients. DC edition is only for high end customers, with many customers using standard edition.

This means that a vendor will have to have two solutions to a problem if they want to use Stream Insight as they won't be able to use it without DC edition.

I can understand why they are trying to push things into the higher end SKUs to provide more of a differentiation but putting it in DC edition just seems too higher for functional features.

(Updated as I missed a hypen out of James' name )

Many people have been asking about when will the downloads be available. A few are already available

When_a_query_plan_goes_wrong/default.aspx
Powershell___old_tricks_for_a_new_dog_/default.aspx
Introduction_to_the_Microsoft_BI_Technology_Stack/default.aspx

More will become available as we get them in from speakers.

Thanks for your interest.

I've seen people resolve missing references very easily and quickly using some keyboard shortcut, and I've always wondered how.

I finally got round to looking up what the shortcut is. Its really easy.

Just hit CTRL + . (thats a full stop/period). and that pops up the context menu from which you can select the correct using. You can just hit ENTER and it selects the first item, which is to put a using statement in.

There are a few more shortcuts here http://www.dev102.com/2008/04/17/10-visual-studio-shortcuts-you-must-know/

We've got a SQL usergroup tomorrow night in the city.

I'm doing a session on query plans car crash queries and Christian Bolton is doing a session on Tempdb.

For more details go to www.sqlpass.org.uk

I hope to see you there

Microsoft have some free tickets available for the Friday of SQLBits.

See Andrew Fryers blog for details http://blogs.technet.com/andrew/archive/2009/11/16/sql-bits-friday-session.aspx

If the content we've got lined up isn't good enough, Thomas Kejser (Microsoft SQLCAT) has offered along with his partner in crime Henk from Unisys to partake in an informal thing on the Thursday evening.

I call it a thing because its going to be an informal gathering discussing SQL stuff. We have, a projector, some chairs, two really knowledgeable guys on SQL and importantly a bar.So it should be a blast.

I think the idea is we get some drinks and then just see what unfolds. Undoubtedly Henk will wheel out his 96 core monster and Thomas will talk about storage at some point.

So if you are there on Thursday or coming for Friday make sure you get there to come and join us.

We will be starting about 7:30, so just follow the signs.

Using the Bing maps you can now find people that are near you that have offered lifts to SQLBits.

Go to http://sqlbits.com/CarSharing.aspx click on the person you wish to contact and then just send them your details so they can get in touch with you.

I hope you find it useful.

Simon

Red Gate have kindly offered to support SQLBits by sponsoring the evening reception. So for one of the evenings of SQLBits the drinks will be on Red Gate.

Really chuffed at this as we like to have the UK companies supporting us.

So make sure you haven't booked your train for 5pm as you'll miss the fun and games we've got planned for after the sessions have finished. We've got drinks and games planned for both Friday and Saturday evenings. The games include table football, giant connect four, air hockey and more.

The agenda is now published for SQLBits you can select the day at the top.

http://sqlbits.com/information/newagenda.aspx

We've got some issues with colour coding since upgrading the the latest controls we use so sorry for all the blue.

Please remember that if you aren't going to be able to make it please cancel your registration. It costs us £50/person/day so if you don't cancel it means it makes it more difficult to support events in the future.