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While setting up my SQL Server 2008 RTM image, I needed to create a demo using PerformancePoint. 

After installing PerformancePoint (by the way, I had to point it to a SQL Server 2005 instance for it's own databases, it didn't like 2008)  I went to connect to an Analysis Services 2008 data source.  I got an error, something about data source not found.  I wasn;t sure if this was going to be a problen with 2008 cubes in general.

After some investigation, I realised the problem was not with connecting to SQL Server, but rather PerfPoints own web service.  In IE, I browsed to http://localhost/WebService/PmService.asmx. There was an error message “could not system.web.extension version=1.0.61025.0.“

A couple of articles talked about some workarounds,

http://nickbarclay.blogspot.com/2007/11/pps-data-source-connection-problems.html

http://hassansyed.blogspot.com/2008/02/ms-performance-point-connection-issue.html

But they looked like a bit too much hard work.   So I tried installing ASP.NET Ajax 1.0 from

posted @ 8:04 PM | Feedback (0)

I am trying to set up two instances of SSRS 2008, one in Native mode and the other in SharePoint integrated mode.  I tried to make the default instance Native and then created a second instance in SharePoint Integrated mode.  However, there seems to be a problem with the new Reporting Services Add-in for SharePoint.  (Well for me anyway.  I'd be interested if others have had the same problem)  After installation no Report Services Integration items showed up in SharePoint Central Administration, although the new content types did appear in my MOSS site.  So I was unable to tell SharePoint which instance I wanted it to use.

Also, the add-in installation seemed to trash all my Site Collection Administration settings in all my WSS sites.  Very bizarre!  They came back on any site collections that I deleted and recreated.

So anyway I tried a couple of different things to see if I could get it working.  I switched the instances around and made the default instance SharePoint Integrated mode, and tried reinstalling the Add-In.  This still didn't seem to solve the problem.

The next thing I tried was to uninstall the RTM Add-in and install the RC0 version of the Add-In.  (Well the Report Builder 2.0 RC0 seemed to be working fine, so I thought, what the heck I'll try it)

Well, the Report Services Integration items showed up right away, allowing me to configure the thing!  Now it's all working fine with SSRS RTM, but SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Add-in for SharePoint RC0.  Not entirely sure why!  But at least it's up and running :-)

posted @ 10:26 AM | Feedback (0)

With SQL Server 2008 just released.  I was keen to see how the new standalone Report Designer (Report Builder 2.0) turned out.  Well, I found out it's not released with the RTM!  It will be available for download sometime later.  To find out more about the release plan of Report Builder 2.0 have a look here. 

At first glance, it appears that the RC0 version of Report Builder 2.0 still works with SQL Server 2008 RTM.  Search for ReportBuilder.msi and you might find an old copy of RC0 floating around.

posted @ 8:48 PM | Feedback (0)

So now I can finish my installation of SQL Server 2008 RTM!

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/products/cc533447.aspx

posted @ 12:54 PM | Feedback (0)

We'll I've been back to work now for a few weeks.  We had an amazing family holiday, driving through the US and Canada.

Click below to see the route we took (more or less)...

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=10351655480452428531,40.374590,-105.499610%3B12810270970227554526,40.554450,-106.263990%3B3924502922590039050,44.348670,-103.451740%3B15866937145172212178,46.962090,-104.189040%3B5056530365340906547,51.195420,-102.451030%3B5297887049552016546,53.084010,-105.518510%3B3632703890947654852,54.496460,-103.832680%3B7943638280868292688,51.079120,-114.184360%3B3914372709131752317,52.811520,-118.044200%3B8898398290185831071,51.240140,-116.654310%3B13306813490729550546,49.338160,-123.139960%3B240439335949052098,48.500840,-123.385460%3B1069571150544135368,48.121630,-123.430810%3B822223714608053557,47.594150,-122.320730%3B17128118707005160925,43.291360,-123.353930%3B4638331477922862822,42.437886,-124.428667%3B10115102611937038347,38.558630,-122.820180%3B10042333566949135992,37.409250,-121.878950%3B12641313789675360573,35.101280,-120.548680&saddr=Denver,+CO,+USA&daddr=N+St+Vrain+Ave%2FUS-36+%4040.374590,+-105.499610+to:CO-125+%4040.554450,+-106.263990+to:I-90+E+%4044.348670,+-103.451740+to:MT-7+%4046.962090,+-104.189040+to:HWY-16%2FTrans+Canada+Hwy%2FYellowhead+Hwy+%4051.195420,+-102.451030+to:HWY-3+%4053.084010,+-105.518510+to:HWY-106+%4054.496460,+-103.832680+to:16+Ave+W%2FHWY-1+W%2FTrans+Canada+Hwy+W+%4051.079120,+-114.184360+to:HWY-93%2FIcefields+Pkwy%2FPromenade+des+Glaciers+%4052.811520,+-118.044200+to:HWY-1%2FTrans+Canada+Hwy+%4051.240140,+-116.654310+to:HWY-1+W%2FTrans+Canada+Hwy+W+%4049.338160,+-123.139960+to:HWY-17+S%2FPatricia+Bay+Hwy+%4048.500840,+-123.385460+to:Port+Angeles-Victoria+BC+Fry+%4048.121630,+-123.430810+to:I-5+S+%4047.594150,+-122.320730+to:I-5+S+%4043.291360,+-123.353930+to:US-101+%4042.437886,+-124.428667+to:US-101+S+%4038.558630,+-122.820180+to:I-680+S+%4037.409250,+-121.878950+to:36.004673,-121.530762+to:US-101+S+%4035.101280,+-120.548680+to:lax&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=19&sz=7&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20&sll=36.394757,-119.256592&sspn=4.164597,9.492188&ie=UTF8&ll=44.339565,-99.404297&spn=29.565191,75.9375&z=4

Anyway, since SQL Server 2008 RTM'd last week, I've been putting together a virtual machine image that I intend to use for a pre-conference session that I am delivering at Tech Ed, here in Australia.

Unfortunately, there is a bit of a snag in that, if you are going to use Business Intelligence Studio - there is a dependency on Visual Studio 2008 SP1, which won't be released until later this week!

So, because of deadlines for this image, I will have to stick with RC0....

posted @ 2:39 PM | Feedback (0)

I'm taking a few weeks off after working at Tech Ed for the last couple of weeks.

I have seen some great stuff already this trip, like the Space Shuttle launch in Orlando, a great air show in Quebec City, the Colorado Rockies, and today Mount Rushmore.  I'll post some pictures when I get a chance.

posted @ 2:26 PM | Feedback (0)

I'll be teaching a one-day workshop on the SQL Server 2008 BI platform in Sydney and Brisbane in May.  Check here for dates/details and to register if you're interested.

https://www.local.microsoft.com.au/australia/events/register/home.aspx?levent=941039&linvitation

posted @ 4:20 PM | Feedback (0)

I'm always looking for these:

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GenericList = 100
DocumentLibrary = 101
Survey = 102
Links = 103
Announcements = 104
Contacts = 105
Events = 106
Tasks = 107
DiscussionBoard = 108
PictureLibrary = 109
DataSources = 110
WebTemplateCatalog = 111
UserInformation = 112
WebPartCatalog = 113
ListTemplateCatalog = 114
XMLForm = 115
MasterPageCatalog = 116
NoCodeWorkflows = 117
WorkflowProcess = 118
WebPageLibrary = 119
CustomGrid = 120
DataConnectionLibrary = 130
WorkflowHistory = 140
GanttTasks = 150
Meetings = 200
Agenda = 201
MeetingUser = 202
Decision = 204
MeetingObjective = 207
TextBox = 210
ThingsToBring = 211
HomePageLibrary = 212
Posts = 301
Comments = 302
Categories = 303
Pages = 850 (thanks to Anders Jacobsen for this one)
IssueTracking = 1100
AdminTasks = 1200

Thanks Mike Smith - http://techtrainingnotes.blogspot.com/2008/01/sharepoint-registrationid-list-template.html

posted @ 5:00 AM | Feedback (2)

Clayton, on his first trip to the US, had the time of his life at the Office Developer Conference.  In fact he won the major conference prize of an Guitar Hero guitar signed by the keynote speaker, Bill Gates himself!

Clayton explains all here:

http://claytonj.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/what-a-week-in-silicon-valley/#comment-7070

I have a feeling this is only the first 15 minutes of Clayton's fame :-)

posted @ 8:50 PM | Feedback (0)

If you've ever tried to use OPENQUERY to perform a passthrough query in SQL Server to a linked server, you have probably come across the limitations of this function.  It is VERY clunky if you are trying to pass variables or to get return parameters, etc:

Have a look at this article for some examples:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314520

A better method is described at the bottom of the article, which is to use sp_executesql.  This is really important if you need to assign values to a variable and then use that variable in the local server context.  Since there are no built-in global variables in T-SQL you would need to create a temp table and really hack a solution.  sp_executesql gives a much tidier method:

DECLARE @RoomDesc varchar(100)
EXEC linkedserver.master.dbo.sp_executesql
     N'SELECT @RoomDesc = eqnum
    FROM maxprod.dbo.equipmentspec
    WHERE orgid = ''XXX''
    AND siteid = ''YYY''
    AND alnvalue = ''Y''
    AND eqnum = @RoomKey',
     N'@RoomDesc VARCHAR(100) OUTPUT, @RoomKey INT',
     @RoomDesc OUTPUT,
     @RoomKey

UPDATE t
SET RoomID = @RoomKey,
RoomName = @RoomDesc
FROM mylocaltable t
WHERE t.EmployeeNo = @EmployeeNo

posted @ 12:20 PM | Feedback (1)