Year end special request: Say NO to plastics that don't go away.

You might not have heard of plastic waste that has been accumulating between California and Texas which has attained the veritable size of the state of Texas.


Please, refrain from using plastics that are hard to remove or destroy. Perhaps the human destiny is really controlled by the 2nd Law of thermodynamics.

Say NO to plastics. Tax the plastic manufacturers and the users.

Try out EnterpriseDB and get a taste of Open Source DB

You want to experience the use of an enterprise class of a relational database, try out EnterpriseDB which packages the latest version of PostgreSQL, a popular open source database which has been improved to address all deficiencies compared to the other popular database MySQL. Now what you have is a high reliability scalable database with superior performance that has encouraged many users to move out of Microsoft SQL Server according to some polls conducted. Download EnterpseDB and enjoy.

You have a user friendly management studio that you can use to get all that you need to work with Postgres.

Power fluctuation and computer display resolution

The power was interrupted more than once this morning (Dec 22,2008) in this area [Central NJ] and curiously when the voltage level dipped the display resolution of the computer suddenly got reduced on my Toshiba Satellite lap top from 1440 x 900 to 1024 x 768.

Toolbar properties of Report Viewer Controls

There are two Report Viewer Controls that are part of the Visual Studio (versions 2005 and 2008). They do not require SQL Server nor a license to redistribute. They are used to embed reports into windows desktop and intranet web applications.


They are both similar execept one is meant for Windows Applications and the other for web applications.

They both come equipped with a configurable toolbar, configurable both in design as well as at run time. The default settings of these controls are as shown here.

For Web applications

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For Windows Applications
 

Oracle SQL Developer Tool 1.5 with SQL Server 2005

Oracle SQL Developer Tool

Oracle SQL Developer Tool is a stand alone program that connects to Oracle as well as third-party databases which can be used to perform a variety of tasks from running simple queries to migration of databases from third party vendor products to Oracle. Please review the following articles on the earlier versions 1.1 and 1.2: MS Access Queries with Oracle SQL Developer 1.2 Tool and Migrating MS Access 2003 Data using the Oracle SQL Developer 1.2.

Oracle SQL Developer Tool 1.5

While the default installation is ready to connect to Oracle and Access databases the other third-party products such as SQL Server 2005, MySQL and Sybase require additional JDBC drivers. This article describes how you may connect to SQL Server 2005 and SQLExpress servers using the JDBC drivers.

Go ahead and read it...

http://www.packtpub.com/article/oracle-sql-developer-tool-1.5-sql-server-2005

Northwind Database with SQL Server 2008

I have been using TestNorthwind, a copy of the Northwind database that got shipped with SQL Server 2000 in many of my articles and my book. Some of my readers have asked me how to get this database.

With each new version of SQL Server Microsoft has been providing new sample databases such as pubs, Northwind, Adventure Works etc. In recent versions Microsoft does not provide a sample database during installation of the server but provides a link to download the sample database. A variety of methods can be used to install the databases. Two most common ones being; running the SQL script files or, using the attach/detach methods.




The sample databases PUBS and NORTHWIND can be downloaded from this link:
 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=06616212-0356-46a0-8da2-eebc53a68034&displayLang=enhttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=06616212-0356-46a0-8da2-eebc53a68034&displayLang=en

This .msi file installs both Northwind and Pubs database MDF/LDF files as well as instwnd.sql and instpubs.sql files. Make sure you read the ReadMe files.

The Important steps for attaching the Northwind database are shown here.

Step 1: Run the installer program. This is just one screen from the installation.

The files are installed to C:\SQL Server 2000 Sample Databases

Step 2: Connect to SQL Server 2008 and start the Attach wizard

Connect tot SQL Server 2008 and expand the nodes. Right click Databases folder and choose Attach...
The Attach Databases window gets displayed as shown.

Step 3: Click on Add...button. Browse to the C:\drive and click on the NORTHWND.mdf. You can provide a different name using the AttachAs option.

Step 4: Click on the OK button. Northwind database can now be found in the Databases folder. The owner will be the account name of the machine owner in this Windows XP Installation.






















Which database to use and where?
This largely depends on the purpose the database will be used. I have used Northwind many times as it is sufficient to demonstrate most aspects of relational databases. I have used it in the past as a backend database for demonstrating Analysis Services, Reporting Services and Integration Services demos. Adventure Works is another excellent sample database well suited for OLTP and OLAP demos. Actually I keep all of them on my servers for testing.

Compact Fluorescent Lamp Claims

CF for short, they are indeed efficient. They have environmental problems since they have a small quantity of mercury, shiny but nasty stuff.

This posting is about other problems noticed in the past couple of months.

1. Unstable operation resulting in flickering which seems to stabilize after a while. While it flickers it is very unpleasant.

2. Claims of long life is over inflated. I have about three of them Kaput in the last couple of months. These Chinese made Sylvania lamps are supposed to last for 7 years. They went poof in less than 3 months.

But go ahead and use them. There are always bug fixes even for hardware.

MsAffe', you have been warned. Shame on you

I don't know what troubles McAffe'. They have tried to throw mud on my blog. This is the second time I have chosen to protest. Here is the troubling annotation,




Here's what I wrote the last time,

You will be ill advised to believe McAffe's Site Advisor. I have seen the following in the emails and the least McAffe' can do is to apologize for spreading advise which is incorrect and damaging.

http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2008/11/do-not-believe-mcaffes-site-advisor.html