Visual Studio, SQL Management Studio, and SQL Express on a Windows 8 Tablet

I recently bought a Dell Latitude 10 Essentials tablet with Windows 8, my first experience with any personal Windows 8 device.  Of course one of the first things I wanted to do was install my development tools on this 64GB tablet, but I was skeptical if it had the memory and the juice to handle the Studios and database engine service.

Side note, my tablet started with around 32GB of space free after pre-installed programs.

So I installed Visual Studio 2012, SSMS 2012, and SQL Express 2012 DB engine, and have 12 GB to spare.  Not a lot but it fits.  Now all I need is to add a 64GB or 128GB SD card to the open slot, and I will have plenty of space for database and code hosting.

So if you are considering this type of setup on a Windows 8 tablet, my one piece of advice is do not settle for 32GB of internal memory because you will be disappointed.  I would say 64GB plus SD expansion room is a minimum, and if you can get 128GB internal or better yet 256GB+ in SSD internal, the more the better.

I will post updates if anything changes after a few weeks of use.  If anyone reading this has some experience with this type of setup, please post in comments.

Using IIF instead of CASE

For years the primary means of expressing conditional logic in SQL Server has been the CASE statement, which allows for powerful set-based logic and I personally love.  However, sometimes you just have a quick two-way decision that you need to make in your data set or just with variables, and CASE syntax feels a bit overkill.  Especially if you also code in a programming language that gives you the IIF function.

Thank you SQL Server 2012.  The IIF has arrived.

Now you can (and I already have, extensively) deal with situations where if the Boolean answer to a formula is true, do this, else do that using IIF.  Here is a quick, simple example.

Declare @Value1 Int = 1,

@Value2 Int = 2

Print '@Value1=' + Convert(varchar(1),@Value1)

Print '@Value2=' + Convert(varchar(1),@Value2)

Print IIF(@Value1 = @Value2,'They Equal','They Do Not Equal')

Set @Value2 = 1

Print '@Value1=' + Convert(varchar(1),@Value1)

Print '@Value2=' + Convert(varchar(1),@Value2)

Print IIF(@Value1 = @Value2,'They Equal','They Do Not Equal')

This is not revolutionary, but it does make for a nice shortcut in true/false scenarios, and it is another step toward shared syntax with external programs.  A small but good addition to SQL 2012.

Until next time, may well defined requirements be at your back and realistic timelines lie before you.

SQL Server 2012, and the fog clears on Thanksgiving

If you have been developing databases for five, ten, or more years, you have probably been there too.  The spot where plans finally catch up to reality.  You were in the trenches with old technology (in my case Foxpro 6), trying to make it do the impossible, despondent that the day may never come when you have the ability to implement real solutions again building on a real technology stack.

And then it finally happens.

After three weeks of conversion pain, we have now implemented a complete redesign of our core system that is driven by my new best friend.... SQL Server 2012.

Oh, I still love SQL 2000, 2005, and 2008, and they will still play an important role in the spaces that they currently hold (until 2000 support ends next year).  But SQL 2012, shiny and new, full of new functionality, is the spring in our human cannonball trick.

In addition to making me want to blog again about SQL Server, it means that I can begin to turn musings in the back of my mind into concrete plans that can become reality.

While I did not have time to blog on the server setup and production installation of our SQL Server, I look forward to again being able to join my community of SQL developers in sharing successes and failures, helping others find answers that I have already found, and enjoying the benefits of the countless others that do the same things, making developing in and supporting the SQL Server platform such a joy.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

SQL Saturday #112 - Birmingham 2012

Today was another great SQL Saturday in Birmingham.  A day packed full of meeting other SQL professionals, good food, and great sessions of information.  If you have never been to a SQL Saturday and you are reading this blog, you should go.  Here is a quick run down of the sessions that I attended today.

Time Saving Tips & Tricks for SSMS 2012 - Aaron Nelson

What's New in SSIS 2012 - Christopher Price

SQL Server 2012: What's New - Bob Cheatham

Data Quality Services 2012 - Chris Price

Introduction to FileTables - Sven Aelterman

Windowing Functions: The Reason to Upgrade to 2012 - Kevin Boles

As you can tell, it was a great day for learning more about SQL 2012.  

http://www.sqlsaturday.com/default.aspx

Check the site and find a session near you.  You will not regret it.

SQL Saturday #81 Birmingham

Today I had the great pleasure of meeting other SQL Server professionals from all over the Southeast, and listening to some great presentations on everything from design and statistics to the upcoming SQL "Denali".

We had five different sessions to choose from in each of the six time slots. My choices today were

Database Design
SQL "Denali" High Availability
SQL Statistics
Building a Professional Development Plan
Table Partitioning
Advanced DW Scenarios in SSIS

It was not just informative. These events are about networking and being a part of a community centered around the SQL Server product. Plus, on top of great sessions and door-prizes, we were provided with coffee, doughnuts, sodas, and a nice box lunch. If you have not been to one, I highly recommend it.

Upcoming SQL Saturday in Birmingham, AL

It is time for year three of the incredible FREE training day on SQL Server in Birmingham, AL.  This event has grown each year across the country, and this year will be no exception.  If you are anywhere in the Southeast region, I recommend you make the trip to Birmingham on July 30th.  Otherwise, please go to the main site and find a SQL Saturday closer to you.  You owe it to yourself to take advantage of these free events to continue your professional development and take advantage of networking with other SQL Server professionals.

http://sqlsaturday.com/81/eventhome.aspx

Send Email in SQL 2008 Express

No Email functionality in SQL Express? No problem. This is a nice article on using CLR to send email in SQL 2008 Express.
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/SQL+Express+2008/71341/