Eric Moreau's web site (www.emoreau.com)

Communauté .NET Montréal - Nov 17 2008 Meeting - SQL Server 2008 – New Features for Developers

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sujet: SQL Server 2008 – New Features for Developers
Conférencier: Michelle Gutzait
Note: cette présentation sera en anglais

Microsoft recently released a new version of its flagship database server: SQL Server 2008. With each new version comes a set of new features or enhancements that likely appeal to developers. In this presentation, Michelle will speak about the many enhancements in the query editor and Management Studio 2008, working with the new version of SQL Profiler and query editor's debugger, the PowerShell integration, T-SQL Enhancements and more.

Michelle is the SQL Server Team Lead at The Pythian Group (http://www.pythian.com), a remote DBA firm that offers full database support for SQL Server, Oracle and MySQL as well as System Administration services, including monitoring, reporting, and 24/7 service. She has been in the IT for over 20 years, working exclusively with SQL Server in the past decade, consulting for many and diverse clients, from small businesses to enterprise. Some of her recent clients in Montreal and Canada are: Bombardier Aerospace, SCN Lavalin, CBC-Radio-Canada, CN, Lauzon and McCain Foods. Michelle's skills include infrastructure and database design, performance tuning, security, High Availability and Clustering, consolidation analysis, Disaster Recovery, Very Large DataBases, replication, T-SQL coding and optimization, DTS/SSIS packages, administrative and infrastructure tools development, Reporting Services, Analysis Services, MIIS, developer/DBA training, and more. She also regularly writes technical articles for the Tech Target WEB site.

VistaBridge 1.3 now available

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For those who were at my presentation on the Vista Bridge at TechDays in Montréal, I told you that the version I was using was to be released very soon.

It has silently been release last week. You can now grab version 1.3 (it is in fact 1.3.1) from http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/VistaBridge.

Passing arguments to an application startup

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It is unbelievable the number of time this question is asked into newsgroups. I finally decided to write an article on that topic.

In this demo, I will show you how you can use the same application that runs a regular Windows Forms interface and can also runs without any interface when a particular argument is passed. I often use this pattern for applications that I run from a scheduler. Even if those applications run quietly through a scheduler, I always provide a Windows interface for testing and debugging purpose.

This code you can download for this article was created using VB2008 SP1.

New article: Passing arguments to a Windows application

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I just published a new article available from http://www.emoreau.com/Entries/Articles/2008/11/Passing-arguments-to-an-application-startup.aspx.

In this article, I show you how you can use the same application that runs a regular Windows Forms interface and can also runs without any interface when a particular argument is passed. I often use this pattern for applications that I run from a scheduler. Even if those applications run quietly through a scheduler, I always provide a Windows interface for testing and debugging purpose.

DevTeach / SQLTeach Montreal 2008 : Goodies bag will be full of GREAT goodies

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Every attendees will get Visual Studio 2008 Pro, Expression Web 2 and Tech-Ed DVD set in their bag!

DevTeach believes that all developers need the right tool to be productive. This is why we will give you free software when you register to DevTeach or SQLTeach. Yes that right! We are pleased to announce that we are giving over a 1000$ of software when you register to DevTeach. You will find in your conference bag a version of Visual Studio 2008 Professional, ExpressionTM Web 2 and the Tech-Ed Conference DVD Set. Is this a good deal or what? DevTeach and SQLTeach are really the training you can’t get any other way.

Visit DevTeach/SQLTeach today to register at http://www.devteach.com/

DevTeach / SQLTeach Montreal 2008 : $350 rebate for TechDays attendees

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What? A rebate of 350$? How is that possible! Well if you still have your TechDay/DevTeach rebate coupon that was in your "Techie Crunch" box, you can use it for the December Montreal event and you will get a 350$ rebate. Originally the coupon was good for 100$ rebate but we like Microsoft so much that DevTeach changed its database and the coupon you have in your hand is worth 350$! This rebate will be effective until December 2nd. So hurry, don't miss the opportunity to attend a conference with renowned speakers coming from all over the world.

If you don't have one of those coupons, I have ONE for you. So first one to request it will get it!

Don't forget to visit the DevTeach/SQLTeach web site at http://www.devteach.com/

DevTeach / SQLTeach Montreal 2008 : It's not too late to register

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

DevTeach / SQLTeach 2008 is back in Montreal December 1-5, 2008.

I have already blogged that I will be presenting a session titled “ADO.Net Synchronisation Services”. This session is about synching data between different data stores using ADO.Net. This is very useful when creating offline applications or occasionally-connected applications. Note that this session will be presented in French.

Why should you be there? Because you have direct access to well-known international speakers. If you have questions but never been able to see them face-to-face, it is the perfect occasion to chat with them. And the speakers are not hiding in a secret lounge, there with you all days long. They are even eating in the same room as you! It is almost a family party (a big family).

Get all the details from http://www.devteach.com/ and register right now.

Is LINQ to SQL dead?

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

There are many blog posts all around the Internet announcing the death of LINQ to SQL (L2S).

Tim Mallalieu (the LINQ to SQL and LINQ to Entities Program Manager) clarified the situation on the ADO.Net team blog (http://blogs.msdn.com/adonet/archive/2008/10/31/clarifying-the-message-on-l2s-futures.aspx).

Knowing what is written there, I wouldn’t start using L2S in a project today!

YourSQLDBA tool ready for download

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

If you attend the Montréal .Net Community (http://www.dotnetmontreal.com) meeting on September 22nd, you saw Maurice Pelchat presenting his tool named “YourSQLDBA”. Even if you were not at the meeting, you can still have an interest in this tool so continue to read on.

Maurice just sent me a note saying that the latest version of the scripts along with all English help files is now in placed and ready to be downloaded and used.

The official description of this tool is:
“Script file of T-SQL procedures that eases installation of a general purpose maintenance plan for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 databases. Provide automated sophisticated maintenance for sites with no DBA and can be easily customized (enhanced) by casual Dba.”

This (free) set of SQL scripts is really a must have. You will find this project at http://sourceforge.net/projects/yoursqldba/.

PDC 2008 sessions presentations available offline

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Having the PDC (almost) over now, you may be pleased to know that many sessions were recorded and are available for you to watch for the comfort of your home (or office).

Greg Duncan created great links to them which I find easier to consult then the official PDC page (https://sessions.microsoftpdc.com/public/timeline.aspx).

Greg’s links are available from http://coolthingoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/10/pdc2008-quick-video-link-list.html