Ask Paula!

94 Posts | 66 Comments

SQL Server: I need to get to a remote server and management studio is broken. How can I login without ssms?

1438 views

SSIS: I get the error The column data for column "Column x" overflowed the disk I/O buffer

672 views

Visio 2010: How do I change the Title when in Borders & Titles?

589 views

SQL Server: Is there a query I can use that generates similar output to Activity Monitor?

396 views

SQL Server 2012: How do I set "Edit top" rows to a different number?

365 views

Ask Paula! ...bringing you notes from the field...

Mar 13

SQL Server: I need to get to a remote server and management studio is broken. How can I login without ssms?

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Try using osql . It can be a life saver. Here's an example of the most common usage:osql -E -S myMSSQLServerName /* This uses windows authentication to connect to a server */osql -? /* lists all the switches available to use with osql */Once you see the SQL prompt (1> ) , you can interact with the server.1> USE myDatabaseName2> GO3> SELECT ......

Posted On Wednesday, March 20, 2013 8:06 PM Practical Answers , SQL

SQL Server: Is there a query I can use that generates similar output to Activity Monitor?

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Yes! This query will return very similar information to what activity monitor returns--including the text of the query the process is running (when applicable). -- Query version of Activity Monitor SELECT SessionId = s.session_id, UserProcess = CONVERT(CHAR(1), s.is_user_process), LoginInfo = s.login_name, DbInstance = ISNULL(db_name(r.database_id), ......

Posted On Wednesday, March 20, 2013 7:13 PM Practical Answers , SQL

Mar 13

SQL Server Agent:: I Can't Edit a Job Step because of the error "Creating an instance of the COM component with CLSID from the IClassFactory failed"

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The immediate workaround to this problem is to open up a new SSMS session, then navigate to the SQL Agent Job you want to edit. At that point, you will be able to make the edit and save the changes.For more information on why this error occurs and the possible release(s) fixes, check out this url:http://connect.microsof... ......

Posted On Monday, March 18, 2013 7:05 PM Practical Answers , SQL

Mar 13

SSIS: I get the error The column data for column "Column x" overflowed the disk I/O buffer

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If you are reading a flat file, you are missing a delimiter somewhere and SSIS is trying to parse for the next value--so it thows an i/o buffer error. Look in the file for the missing delimiter. If the file is too big for that, try chopping up the file up into smaller versions until you find the line with the missing delimiter.

Posted On Friday, March 15, 2013 5:34 PM Practical Answers , SQL

Mar 13

Eclipse Project:: How do I add an external *.jar file to my project?

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1. Navigate to the project. Right-click, go to the Properties menu.
2. Go to the Java Build Path. Choose Libraries. Click the Add External JARs button.
3. Select the jar file/library to add.

NOTE: For projects you own, that you would like to add, use the Add JARs button instead.

Posted On Thursday, March 14, 2013 9:15 PM Practical Answers

Visio 2010: How do I change the Title when in Borders & Titles?

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To edit the text in a title or border in Visio 2010:

1. Look at the bottom of the document, click on the tab for background page (usually called: VBackground-1)

2. Navigate the shape that has the text you want to change; type in the new text.

Posted On Thursday, March 14, 2013 9:15 AM Practical Answers

Visio 2010: How do I change the relationship arrows in the database diagram?

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For a quick changeover, go to:

Home -> Database -> Display Options ->Relationship

Select the relationship, then Database Properties -> Miscellaneous.

Posted On Thursday, March 14, 2013 9:09 AM Practical Answers

Mar 13

SQL Server 2012: How do I set "Edit top" rows to a different number?

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right click the results or your "Edit Top 999 Rows" query in SSMS. There's an option called: "Pane -> SQL" If you look at it, this show you the sql--you can edit that and narrow down the rows you are interested in editing even further.

Posted On Tuesday, March 12, 2013 9:27 PM

Nov 11

How do I fix the error: CS1548: Cryptographic failure while signing assembly ?

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The full error in Microsoft Visual Studio on a compile looks like this: error CS1548: Cryptographic failure while signing assembly 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Samples\Analysis Services\Programmability\AM... This is likely due to a missing strong key pair value file. The ......

Posted On Friday, November 11, 2011 10:36 AM

Nov 11

How do I run (execute) a .bin file in Linux (Ubuntu) ?

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If you are on a desktop version of Ubuntu, you can right-click on the file icon, click the permissions tab and click on "allow execution". If you are on a server copy without the desktop bells and whistles (or you would rather work with a command line in a terminal window), then do the following: sudo chmod +x myProgram.bin after you enter your password ......

Posted On Thursday, November 10, 2011 8:31 PM

Nov 11

How do I remove a named instance of sql server 2008 on the same mssql server?

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; ......

Posted On Thursday, November 3, 2011 2:28 AM

Oct 11

How do I create and access another sql server db using linked server in SQL Server?

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For a full explanation and step-by-step guide to setup a linked server through Sql Management Studio (SMS), check out this reference: http://www.databasejournal.... Here it is in a nutshell: If you are setting up a linked server for another sql server ......

Posted On Monday, October 31, 2011 2:42 PM

Oct 11

How do I know what version of Ubuntu I am running?

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From the terminal type:

lsb_release -a

Posted On Wednesday, October 26, 2011 4:47 PM

How do I get a listing of all DB instances and table names where a column name occurs in MS SQL Server?

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I've been there! You are at a client site and you know you need certain data elements but aren't certain how many databases on a given server ...or ... which tables the data elements you are interested in might appear. Here's a single statement when executed from any SMS query connection that will get you there: EXEC sp_msforeachdb ' DECLARE @pattern ......

Posted On Wednesday, October 26, 2011 3:46 PM

Sep 11

How do I get access to DB2 from my .NET applications?

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You have at least 2 choices: Source 1: SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack http://www.microsoft.com/do... ... this includes Microsoft OLEDB Provider for DB2 Source 2: Available from IBM, is the IBM I Access pack http://www-03.ibm.com/syste... Remember, whichever one you use, you will need to specifiy which ......

Posted On Tuesday, September 13, 2011 2:08 PM

Why Won't the Relationship Lines in Visio 2010 Connect to Anything?

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That is a very good question..to which only Microsoft has the answer!:-) In the meantime, suffice it to say that every once in awhile, Visio loses track of your Glue/SnapTo settings which you'll need to restore. Here's what to do: 1. In Visio, navigate to "Home", open "View", expand "Visual Aids"2. Once in "Visual Aids", Check or Re-Check the "Glue"box. ......

Posted On Tuesday, September 13, 2011 1:14 PM

Aug 11

SQL Server: UPDATE Statement Basics

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The last thing anyone wants to do is mess up an UPDATE statement! Here's a quick refresher for those of you using SQL Server: Simplest case (a single row, in a single table with a single known value in a column): UPDATE YourTableName SET Column1 = ‘NewValue’ WHERE SameOrOtherColumn = ‘OldValue’ Most common case (multiple rows, using another table as ......

Posted On Monday, August 29, 2011 3:30 PM

SQL Server: How Can I search for a specific text value in all the stored procedures?

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To quickly look through your stored procedure objects for a text value in a database instance, do the following: use [Metro] go SELECT ROUTINE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.ROUTINES WHERE ROUTINE_DEFINITION LIKE '%whatyouarelookingfor%' AND ROUTINE_TYPE = 'PROCEDURE' Now, this is no replacement for a configuration management repository, but it will do ......

Posted On Monday, August 29, 2011 3:01 PM

Jul 11

How do I restore a SQL Server database from a backup *.bak file?

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If you aren't sure what is actually in the backup file, or even if you think you are sure--execute this statement from a fresh query window: RESTORE FILELISTONLY FROM DISK = 'X:\MDD\Clients\Lg\H4\H4L.bak' The information about the mdf/ldf files will show up looking like this: In this example, I was restoring a client's database to one of my servers--so ......

Posted On Monday, July 11, 2011 7:34 PM

Jul 11

Why does Eclipse say Another Transaction is Already in Progress when I Deploy my Google Application?

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The message may also say something line: Unable to update app: Error posting to URL: https://appengine.google.co... 409 Conflict Another transaction by user Your.Name is already in progress for app: your-appName, version: x. That user can undo the transaction with "appcfg rollback". Basically ......

Posted On Saturday, July 2, 2011 9:32 PM

Jun 11

Why does my browser take me to Scour.com? (redirect virus)

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The "scour" or Rootkit.Win32.TDSS virus has a long history which can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik... Here is the primary symptom: after searching for something in your web browser using google, one of the results that you click on redirects you to scour.com. If you've executed ClamWin, Malwarebytes, McAfee, Norton, etc. to find and ......

Posted On Wednesday, June 29, 2011 7:58 PM

Jun 11

What happened to my Entity Framework (edmx) File?

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If you're like me, you've probably clicked/clacked, docked/undocked the window with the edmx file while you were working on it in visual studio without intending to--and now, the entity diagram is gone and you are unable to open the file again from the solution window! Luckily, the edmx file is just another visually displayed xml file. From the solution ......

Posted On Tuesday, June 14, 2011 6:33 PM

Why do I get the error: Specified Named Connection is either not found in the configuration for the EntityClient Provider?

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The chances are pretty high that you are creating a multi-tiered application with a solution that may be calling several different projects, one of which is the ADO.NET Entity Framework DAO-layer. In order for the entity frame work to work outside the immediate project that its been created under, you'll have to import the connection string built by ......

Posted On Tuesday, June 14, 2011 4:22 PM

Jun 11

System.Data.OracleClient is missing or has been depricated. How do I fix this?

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Yes, Microsoft is getting quite a reputation for abandoning or deprecating it's data access products/libraries. One thing you can do is download a 3rd party product called dotConnect by DevArt. The express edition is free. http://www.devart.com/dotco... ... however, if you are working in a shop that doesn't like its development ......

Posted On Tuesday, June 7, 2011 5:26 PM

Jun 11

Why is Vista so Slow when Browsing (Surfing) the Web?

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Vista has an auto tuning feature which is hit and miss, depending on what network appliances/cards/devices you've got hooked up. Try this: 1. Navigate to Start>Programs>Access... Command 2. Type: netsh interface tcp show global 3. Look the line for receive window auto tuning. If it says highlyrestricted type this command (all on one line): ......

Posted On Saturday, June 4, 2011 12:44 AM