SQL

Import Excel files with SQL Server Integration Services on a 64-bit server

Davy Knuysen — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:46:59 GMT

Today I deployed some SSIS packages to a test environment. These packages needed to import some excel files to a certain database. Testing the packages resulted in the following error:

Error 0xc0202009: {F1B3B35C-FAE3-48F6-A169-4E4D8D99F9B6}: An OLE DB error has occurred. Error code: 0x80004005.
An OLE DB record is available. Source: "Microsoft JET Database Engine" Hresult: 0x80004005 Description: "Unspecified error".

Error 0xc020801c: Data Flow Task: The AcquireConnection method call to the connection manager "DestinationConnectionExcel" failed with error code 0xC0202009.

It seems there just isn't an 64-bit version of the JET OleDb driver for Excel and because the test server was a 64-bit, this caused the Excel-import to fail.

To make the package work using BI-studio you need to change your project debugging properties: Set Run64BitRuntime to False
To make the package work when started from a SQL Server Agent Job, you need to execute the package using the 32-bit version of DTExec.
To do this create a Operating System Job Step and type the command to execute the package using DTExec in the 32-bit folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\90\DTS\Binn\

An easy trick to retrieve the command to execute the package is copying it from Execute Pacakge Utility:

The complete commmand will be something like this:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\90\DTS\Binn\dtexec.exe /DTS "\MSDB\Import" /SERVER "." /MAXCONCURRENT " -1 " /CHECKPOINTING OFF /REPORTING V

Good luck!

Intellisense in MDX Studio

Davy Knuysen — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:12:51 GMT

The newest version of MDX Studio, now also has intellisense!

With Visual Studio and other modern IDEs, Intellisense became a must have tool in the developer’s toolset, boosting productivity. MDX developers have asked for it, but full, context-dependant intellisense wasn’t available. Until now. MDX Studio now features comprehensive support for intellisense. The first version with usable intellisense support is 0.4.4....

More info: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/mosha/archive/2008/08/22/intellisense-in-mdx-studio.aspx

Download: http://cid-74f04d1ea28ece4e.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/MDXStudio/v0.4.4

Microsoft releases SQL Server 2008

Davy Knuysen — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:56:18 GMT

REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 6, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the release to manufacturing of Microsoft SQL Server 2008, the new version of the company’s acclaimed data management and business intelligence platform. This version of SQL Server provides powerful new capabilities such as support for policy-based management, auditing, large-scale data warehousing, geospatial data, and advanced reporting and analysis services. SQL Server 2008 provides the trusted, productive and intelligent platform necessary for business-critical applications.......

Kimball University: Microsoft SQL Server Comes of Age for Data Warehousing

Davy Knuysen — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:28:59 GMT

I justed wanted to share this interesting article:

With new compression, partitioning and star schema optimization features,
Microsoft's SQL Server 2008 is catching up with the state of the industry in data warehousing.
Here's why these three capabilities are crucial for scalability and performance on any platform.

By Warren Thornthwaite

Read the full article here.

MDX best practices analysis

Davy Knuysen — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:49:50 GMT

Want to check your MDX for best practices?

You should! Check this MDX Analysis tool: MDX Studio (0.4) by Mosha

Belgian Community Day Webcasts

Davy Knuysen — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:54:30 GMT

Community Day 2008 was again a great succes!

You can watch the recorded sessions under the download category Sessions on www.communityday.be

Belgian Community Day 2008

Davy Knuysen — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:01:17 GMT

The Belgian community has a very strong reputation internationally with many individuals making their mark in their fields of expertise. Lots of individuals, just like you, are hungry for more information about the many Microsoft products and technologies. In addition to the technical information, there is also very often the need to just socialize with other persons within the same domain of expertise. The many user groups that were started the last couple of years are doing a great job trying to address these needs with monthly meetings.

Eight of them, Belgian Dynamics Community, Biwug, IT-Talks, Pro-Exchange, SQLUG, Visug, Winsec, and XNAbug have decided to combine their efforts again to organize another joint-event just before summer starts. So if you are eager to learn, get answers to your questions and meet your peers, come and join us at the premises of SemCom in Keerbergen on Thursday, the 26th of June 2008.

More here.

Next SQLUG-evening on Thu, May 29

Davy Knuysen — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:52:16 GMT

"Managing, monitoring and troubleshooting SQL Server using Free tools" given by Dirk Gubbels (Microsoft)

Abstract:
Out of the box, SQL Server 2005 offers nice tools for managing and monitoring servers and databases. If you want to get an even richer experience and a broader toolset, there are a lot of hidden gems out there, free for you to download and to make the life of the DBA easier. This practical and demo-driven session will show you how to make best use of some of these. Topics include: Extending Management studio with custom reports, Performance dashboard, Sqlio, Dmvstats, RML Utilities and more...

Level: 300

Date: Thu May 29, 2008

Agenda:
18:00 - 18:30 Welcome with a drink & sandwich
18:30 - 20:00 Part 1
20:00 - 20:30 Pause
20:30 - 22:00 Part 2
22:00 - ... networking

Location:
The event-sponsor is Global Knowledge in Mechelen:
Zandvoorstraat 1
2800 Mechelen

A route description can be downloaded here.

Registration is needed and is open.

Registration will be closed on May 26

SQL Server 2005 SP3 - coming soon

Davy Knuysen — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:49:39 GMT

Microsoft will release SQL Server 2005 SP3 before the end of this calendar year: read more about it here.

What's new in Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Davy Knuysen — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:34:07 GMT

Microsoft released a free course about SQL Server 2008:

Title: Clinic 7045: What's New in Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008

Course Type: Self-paced Course

Available Offline: Yes

Estimated Time of Completion: 2 Hours

Language: English

Description:
In this clinic, you will learn about the new and enhanced features included in SQL Server 2008. You will explore the new data types and the data management features. Additionally, you will learn about the enhanced Integration Services, Analysis Services, and Reporting Services included in SQL Server 2008. This online clinic is composed of a rich multimedia experience.

More here