Mark Hudson
Mar 19 2012
ISNUMERIC() Inconsistencies
by Mark Hudson
System conversions always pose challenges. Mapping fields from the old system to the new system is challenging enough even before you factor in the necessary data type conversions. It seems every “old” system has repurposed fields. You know what I mean. That numeric value stored in that text field means you now have to code around non-numeric values in your conversion logic.
SQL Server’s ISNUMERIC() function helps that effort. ISNUMERIC() accepts a text string as an input and returns a Boolean result depending on whether or not SQL Server believes the input text string could be converted to a numeric value. SELECT ISNUMERIC('1' ) returns TRUE. SELECT ISNUMERIC('A') returns FALSE. The logic seems simple enough. One example of handling non-numeric values so your data conversion does not fail includes:
DECLARE
@NumericString VARCHAR(10)
SET @NumericString =
'A'
Tagged: data conversion, Microsoft, SQL Server, t-sql
Dec 07 2011
Logi Info Studio Risks
by Mark Hudson with Brian Cox
While describing LogiXML’s Logi Info, Brian Cox stated “there is still room for improvement on the development end of things.” If LogiXML is listening or if my developer peers wish to understand some of the risks, I will describe a few challenges I experienced.
Logi Info Studio is the developers’ tool for creating LogiXML's Logi Info reports. Since I am working with Logi Info Studio on one project and Microsoft’s Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) (i.e., the developers’ tool for creating SQL Server Reporting Services reports) on another project, comparing the two products is natural for me. Examples and descriptions from each developer interface are included.
Element Name Proofing
Consider this simple query using the SQL Server AdventureWorks2008R2
database.
Oct 24 2011
SQL Saturday #96
by Mark Hudson
On Saturday, November 5, 2011, SQL Saturday #96 will take place in Chevy Chase, MD. SQL Saturdays are free, all-day training events geared for professionals who use Microsoft’s SQL Server. SQL Saturdays occur all over the world. Each event is split into many sessions with topics ranging from technical tricks to professional tips, best practices to upcoming features. The most amazing part of any SQL Saturday is the organizers and presenters are all volunteers.
Tagged: Microsoft, SQL Saturday, SQL Server
Oct 05 2011
The Value of Certifications
by Mark Hudson
People in the business community often question the value of professional certifications. Is the cost of passing an exam worth it? Some people say yes. Some people say no. Some people qualify their position by suggesting a certification is only worthwhile if an individual lacks sufficient experience in his or her field.
As someone who owns a couple of certifications, I admit my bias toward seeing value in achieving them. With that bias in mind, allow me to explain my rationale for the value of professional certifications. I purposely use the general term “professional certifications” to include certifications for technologies, methodologies and the like because I suspect my rationale applies equally to all.
Tagged: CDMP, Certifications, MCITP, MCTS, Microsoft, PMP, Professional Development, Strategy
Jun 24 2011
Consider the Subreport
by Mark Hudson with Jessica Moss
I was recently tasked with diagnosing a slow performing report in Microsoft’s SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). The report was intended as a dashboard with multiple charts and tables showing various trending business performance metrics. Conceptually, the report was sound. The charts and tables showed exactly what the business users required. The problem was the dashboard rendered itself slower than the business desired.
My investigation showed the single dashboard viewed by users was actually multiple subreports rendered together as a single SSRS report.
SSRS supports the inclusion of subreports in any SSRS report; a subreport is simply an independent SSRS report embedded into another SSRS report. In Visual Studio BIDS, you simply drag the Subreport component from the SSRS Toolbox to the Design tab and complete the Subreport Properties. Using a subreport is easy.
Tagged: Microsoft, Reporting Services, SQL Server, SSRS, Subreport
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