If you’re anywhere from the southwest to the deep south, you’re probably aware of the impending winter weather bearing down on this large area.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature has temporarily claimed a significant victim: This weekend’s SQL Saturday event has been postponed until April 10, 2010.

For more information, visit the… Read more

This weekend, I’ll be headed for the east coast to speak at the SQL Saturday in Richmond, VA on Saturday.  I’ll be presenting my session on SSIS package configurations and expressions as part of the BI track.  As of last week, the event registration was cut off because they’d reached… Read more

Last weekend (January 15-17) found me at the third annual GiveCamp Dallas event, known locally as We Are Microsoft.  This event pairs developers and other technical professionals with charities who are long on need but short on funds for technology.  Most if not all of the projects are web-based,… Read more

So for the latest database geek meme, Paul Randal started this thing off and tagged Tom LaRock, who enlisted Grant Fritchey, who finally tagged me.   This one simply asks, “What 3 things or events brought you to where you are today?”

The Eyes

Barely a year out… Read more

So the question came up earlier today about the RIGHT() and LEFT() functions in the SSIS expression language.  Like the Transact-SQL functions, one might assume that these functions would exist in SSIS expression language to snatch a specified subset of a string.  That assumption would be only half right.

Don’t… Read more

I got the opportunity to present to the PASS DBA Virtual Chapter today, discussing the properties and practical uses of SSIS expressions and package configurations.  Thanks to Greg Larsen and the other members of this virtual chapter for allowing me to present.  We had a good turnout, about 40 people,… Read more

Join me tomorrow at 1:00pm CST as I present "Dynamic SSIS: Using Expressions and Configurations" for the PASS DBA virtual chapter:

In this session, we'll review the use of expressions and configurations that can help make your SSIS packages more dynamic and flexible. We'll cover the basics of the SSIS… Read more

So I’d planned to already have this done and published before the new year rolled around, but life got in the way…  and I mean that in a good way!  I’ve said this before but it bears mentioning again that creating and sharing a list of goals helps to serve… Read more

The new year is less than 24 hours old and I’ve already been blessed with two different honors.  I shared earlier this morning that I received word of my selection as a Microsoft SQL Server MVP for 2010.  Just four hours later, I was notified that I have been elected… Read more

I received a notification e-mail earlier this morning that I’ve been selected as a Microsoft SQL Server MVP for 2010!  I’m both surprised and honored by this distinction.  This is my first MVP award, so I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, but one thing is for certain… Read more

Late last year, I blogged about some goals I had set for myself to accomplish during 2009.  No goal-setting session is complete until you spend some time reviewing your completion of, or progress toward, those goals.  To that end, I’ll address those goals and how well I did for each… Read more