Derek Comingore Blog

Derek Comingore's Microsoft Business Intelligence Blog

MSFT Exam 70-455

This morning I passed my next exam, 70-455. This exam is the upgrade to SQL Server 2008 for existing MCITP BI professionals on SQL Server 2005. The exam's corresponding study guide can be found here: http://www. Read more →

The Importance of Planning in BI

Business Intelligence projects (like software development projects) are prone to bad or completely absent planning prior to their start. Most of us that work in the technology industries are busy professionals that can never seem to find enough time. Read more →

SQL Server 2008 RTM Today

My friends over at SQL Server Magazine posted this today...SQL Server 2008 RTM! http://www.sqlmag.com/Article/ArticleID/99953/99953.html Microsoft continues to up the 'ante' in the Business Intelligence space, cheers. Update: Official Press Release: Read more →

SharePoint for BI Suggestion Topics

One of my favorite things to do each month is write SQL ServerMagazine's Essential BI column. I write two posts for the column each month. About a month ago I started to focus on SharePoint for Business Intelligence (BI) topics. Read more →

So you want to be a Microsoft DW/BI Pro

As a follow up to some recent feedback (actually a question) here is some more in depth information on becoming proficient in the Microsoft Data Warehousing/Business Intelligence stack. Get the terms straight Business Intelligence or BI is an umbrella term for various business processes, tools, and methodologies which support improved organizational decision making. Read more →

SQL Server 2008: RC0 New Features

Well, the new SQL Server2008 build Release Candidate 0 (RC0) has been available for a bit now and I have had some time with the new build. The word "build" brings up a good point actually, before we go any further I want to review the last few SQL Server 2008version numbers. Read more →

SQL Server 2008: Release Candidate 0 (June) Available!

Fellow SQL Friends, a colleague of mine notified me today of SQL 2008 (June) RC0's availability at: SQL Server 2008 RC0: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=35F53843-03F7-4ED5-8142-24A4C024CA05&displaylang=en SQL Server 2008 RC0 Feature Pack: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=089A9DAD-E2DF-43E9-9CD8-C06320520B40&displaylang=en Cheers Read more →

SQL Server 2008: Deprecated & Discontinued Features!

With the impending arrival of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 come several new enhancements. These enhancements can be categorized as new capabilities, old constraints removed, and improvements in scalability. In the SQL Server community (including this blog) you can find numerous amounts of information on the new features found in SQL Server 2008…however you seldom see much on deprecated features. Read more →

SQL Server 2008: PowerShell (PSH) Integration

Before I get into this new SQL Server 2008 feature I want to briefly review why we have a new command-line in the Windows platform…In the current Windows ‘landscape’ we have a variety of technologies that can be used to programmatically administer various Windows data stores: 1. Read more →

SQL Server 2008: SSIS Data Profiler Task

Finally, we have a Data Profiling Utility w/SQL Server !!! With SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 2008 you will have access to the new Data Profiler task. The SSIS 2008 Data Profiler Task is an easy and effective method to profile your target source systems (tables & views) prior to building ETL solutions consuming their data. Read more →

Full-time MCTs…Less Value?

Do you find that fulltime MCTs (and other teachers) are somewhat limited in their value to students? To me...all teachers should be practicing in the REAL WORLD what they are educating others on! Read more →