SSIS – SQL Server Integration Services XML Configurations Tips and Tricks

Package Configurations are a very powerful feature of SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS). They enable us to handle various things dynamically at run-time.

In this tip, we will take a look at the following Tips and Tricks on SSIS XML Package Configurations:

• Formatting the XML Configuration File for Improved Readability
• Commenting Select Configurations in XML Configuration File
• One XML Configuration File for Each Shared Connection Manager

To continue reading, catch the full article here: SQL Server Integration Services XML Configurations Tips and Tricks.

SSIS – SQL Server Integration Services Connection Manager Tips and Tricks

Connection Managers and Package Configurations are among the most critical components of SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) Packages. It is very essential to have a thorough understanding of these components while working with SSIS.

In this post, we will see following tips and tricks related to Connection Managers and Package Configurations:

• Adding an “Application Name” property to the connection string
• Creating Two Connection Managers for each Database Connection
• Capturing Connection Manager details in Package Configurations

To continue reading, catch the full article here: SQL Server Integration Services Connection Manager Tips and Tricks.

• SSIS – Quickest way to add an existing SSIS Package to a Project
• SSIS – Update Properties of Multiple Tasks in One-Go
• SSIS – Define you own Keyboard Shortcuts in SSIS Package Designer
• SSIS – Ensure Consistency across Packages using Template Packages

Tips ‘N’ Tricks – Windows – Improve the System Startup Performance

Everyone who is using any of the electronic devices like Cell Phones, Tablet PCs, Laptops, and Computers etc. want their system to start really quick requiring as much less time as possible. A system’s startup depends greatly on the Operating Systems and Windows 7 has been exceptional in this aspect and provides a pretty quick system startup. However, the system’s startup depends on various other factors and many of those are under our control like the Windows Services. Managing the Windows Services is one of the ways to improve your computer’s startup performance. Let’s see how it can be done.

I had previously written an article on Starting, Stopping, and Restarting Windows Services from Command Line, wherein I had explained how effectively we can effectively manage Windows Services from Command Line or using a set of Batch Files. In this tip, we will take a step further and look at improving the system’s performance by appropriately making adjustments/settings in these services.

One of the most important settings of a Windows Service is its startup type which greatly affects how fast our system starts up and how efficiently our system performs. There have been following 3 startup options available for Windows Services till Windows XP: Automatic, Manual, and Disabled (last one is more of an enable or disable setting for a service rather than startup service). In Windows 7 (In fact this was introduced in Windows Vista), we have following four startup options: Automatic (Delayed Start), Automatic, Manual, and Disabled.

You have the following choices for improving your system’s startup time and also to improve your system’s performance after startup:

• Set the appropriate Startup Type to improve the system’s startup performance
• Set the appropriate Startup Type to improve the system’s performance after startup

We will take a look at the first one in this tip. Second option above has been explained in my previous article on Starting, Stopping, and Restarting Windows Services from Command Line.

When the system’s startup type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start), then, first the Windows Operating Systems boots up/starts (including all the essential core components of the OS) and after that the Windows Services which are set to Automatic (Delayed Start) will start in the background while you can start using your computer.

For instance, there are many Windows Services which can start after a few minutes after the system has started like Windows Services for SQL Server. Since you might be interested in starting a few other applications before you can get start with your work on SQL Server like Checking through emails etc. I personally open Microsoft Outlook as the first thing once I log into the computer since it takes a few moments to start downloading the emails while I can continue to start other applications like Internet Explorer etc. in parallel and once emails are downloaded, I can start checking the emails to define the work/action items for the day.

Following screenshot shows Windows Services for SQL Server setup with different startup types based on the need. As you can see, we can keep those services turned off (Disabled) or set them to Manual (so that they don’t start automatically), which are not required for our development/test activities. This will help in effective utilization of available resources on your computer.

There is a nice article written by Nakul Vachhrajani (Blog | Twitter) on Improving launch performance of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) in 2 simple steps, which shows how we can further improve the launch performance of various applications on Windows to save time and improve productivity. It’s a nice read.

Take a look at the other Tips and Tricks in this Series on Tips, Tricks, Techniques, and Shortcuts to Improve Productivity, and Design and Coding Skills.

Related articles

• Tips ‘N’ Tricks – Windows – Adding Toolbars for Quick Access to Frequently Used Folders, Applications, and Documents
• Tips ‘N’ Tricks – Windows – Shortcut to View the Properties of a File or Folder
• Tips ‘N’ Tricks – Windows – Run Multiple Instances of Same Application with Different Credentials
• Tips ‘N’ Tricks – Windows – Quickly Capture Screenshots using Snipping Tool in Windows 7
• Tips ‘N’ Tricks – Windows – Split Screens to View Two Active Windows Side-by-Side in Windows 7