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.

SQL Server 2012 – SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) – A New IDE – Learning Resources

SQL Server 2012 – High Availability Enhancements – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – Database Engine Enhancements – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – Transact-SQL Enhancements – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – Data Quality Services (DQS) – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – Integration Services (SSIS) Enhancements – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – Analysis Services (SSAS) Enhancements – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – Reporting Services (SSRS) Enhancements – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – Power View – A New Self Service BI Tool – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – PowerPivot – Enhanced Self Service BI Tool – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) Enhancements – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) – A New IDE – Learning Resources
SQL Server 2012 – Other Features & Enhancements – Learning Resources

---

SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is a brand new Integrated Development Environment (IDE) released as part of SQL Server 2012 Release of SQL Server. It is basically a replacement for Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) which was used in earlier versions of SQL Server for development of ETL Packages, OLAP Cubes, and SSRS Reports etc. Following are some of the salient features of this brand new IDE:

• It uses Visual Studio 2010 Shell and hence, you no more need Visual Studio 2010 and BIDS running side by side as you can create all types of projects in SSDT.
• Comes with Visual Studio Database Project Template (with quite a few enhancements).
• Comes with Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) Templates like SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS Project Templates etc.
• Contains some functionality of SQL Server Management Studio or SSMS (Mostly development related). This can be accessed/viewed in a dedicated window called SQL Server Object Explorer.

Following are some of the links, references, and learning resources for SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT).

Articles/FAQs/Case Studies

• SQL Server 2012–SQL Server Data Tools
• Convert VS 2010 Database Project to SSDT and Automate Publishing with Jenkins – Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
• SQL SERVER 2012 SERVICE PACK 1 AND SSDT AUTOMATIC UPDATE FEATURE
• Schema Comparison in SQL Server using SQL Server Data Tools

Blogs/Sites/Forums

• SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) Books Online
• SQL Server Data Tools Team Blog

Videos

• A First Look at SQL Server Data Tools
• Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools
• Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools: Database Development from Zero to Sixty

Related articles

• Tips ‘N’ Tricks – Windows – Split Screens to View Two Active Windows Side-by-Side in Windows 7
• Tips ‘N’ Tricks – Internet Explorer – Quickest way to Close a Tab in Web Browsers, SSMS, BIDS, Visual Studio, and Similar Tools

SQL Server – Suggestions on Books for Learning SQL Server Business Intelligence

Recently few folks approached me asking for suggestions on some good books which they can refer for learning SQL Server Business Intelligence, basically SQL Server and all its components. Below I have listed some of the good books which I have come across so far and these are really some of the good ones to get you on-boarded to SQL Server Business Intelligence Platform. These books are really useful for learning SQL Server, SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, MDX, and other related tools/technologies in the SQL Server BI Space.

• SQL Server BI (End-to-End):

Concepts Covered: Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, SSIS, SSAS, MDX, Data Mining, SSRS, and Microsoft Excel Pivot Tables/Charts etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Delivering Business Intelligence with Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Concepts Covered: Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, Master Data Services (MDS), SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, PowerPivot, Microsoft Excel, and Office SharePoint etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit, 2nd Edition: With SQL Server 2008 R2 and the Microsoft Business Intelligence Toolset

Concepts Covered: Business Intelligence (Life cycle), SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, MDX, DMX, .NET Custom Coding/Integration (Building Custom Objects), Microsoft Excel, and Office SharePoint etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Smart Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008

• SQL Server/Database Engine:

Concepts Covered: Functioning of SQL Server, Database Management, Functioning of Query Optimizer, Isolation Levels, Concurrency, and so on. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Internals

Concepts Covered: Installation, Basics of Core Components & Tools, Data Management, Database Management, High Availability Features, Overview of SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Step by Step

• Transact-SQL:

Concepts Covered: Fundamentals of Transact-SQL Language, Different Types of Statements, Logical Query Execution/Processing, SQL Server Joins, Different Types of Queries, Pivoting and Grouping, Locking & Blocking Scenarios, and Data Manipulation etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 T-SQL Fundamentals

Concepts Covered: Fundamentals of SET Based Logic (against Procedural Logic/Language), Query Tuning/Optimization, Data Manipulation, Partitioning, Efficient Querying, Different Types of Queries, and Logical Puzzles etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Inside Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008: T-SQL Querying

Concepts Covered: T-SQL & CLR based User Defined Functions, Stored Procedures, Triggers, Types etc., Transactions, Concurrency, & Error Handling, Working with Temporary Objects, Cursors, Dynamic SQL, Working with Date/Time, Spatial/Geometry/Geography, XML, XQuery data, Feature like Extended Events, Auditing, Change Data Capture (CDC), and Service Broker etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Inside Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008: T-SQL Programming

• SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS):

Concepts Covered: Overview of Integration Services, Tasks, Containers, Source/Destination Adapters, Transformations, Expressions/Variables, Tuning, Source Control, Software Development Life Cycle, DTS 2000 Migration, Error & Event Handling, .NET Custom Coding (Programming), Administration, and Case Study etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Integration Services

• SQL Server Analysis Services (SSRS):

Concepts Covered: Fundamentals of SSAS, Building an End-to-End OLAP Solution (Data Sources, Data Source Views, Dimensions, Facts, Partitions, and so on), Implementing Security, Deployment, Different Wizards (Cube, Aggregation etc.), Exploring Core SSAS Capabilities, and Dynamic Management Views etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Analysis Services Step by Step

• SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS):

Concepts Covered: Installation & Configuration, Report Designer & Report Builder, Building Interactive Reports with Filters/Parameters, Drill-Down, & Drill through etc., Visualizations (Charts, Gauges etc.), Deployment (to Office SharePoint Server), Creating & Managing, Subscriptions, .NET Custom Coding etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Reporting Services Step by Step

Concepts Covered: Advanced Reporting Techniques, Business Reporting Terminology/Paradigms, Report Design Concepts, Report Design Essentials, Columnar & Grouped Reports, Business Intelligence Dashboards & Elements, Chart & Gauge Reports, Filtering, Parameterization, and Games etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Recipes: for Designing Expert Reports

• Multidimensional Expressions (MDX):

Concepts Covered: Building & Executing MDX Queries, Working with Tuples, Sets, & Expressions, Building Aggregations, Navigating Hierarchies, Time-Based Calculations, SSAS Cube Customization using MDX, Implementing Dynamic Security using MDX, and Building MDX Based SSRS Reports etc. Visit the following URL for more details on this book: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 MDX Step by Step

Do you know of any other good books for learning SQL Server Business Intelligence? Do share your experience and journey in learning SQL Server and its components.

Note: These suggestions are based on what I have heard or come across so far. Do sufficient research before you buy any books. Also, note that, I have made these suggestions in the interest of my blog’s readers and I am not associated with the publishers of any of the above books and I do not get any kind of benefits (direct/indirect) by making these suggestions.