Introduction to the Unified Dimensional Model (UDM)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/sql/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnsql90/html/IntrotoUDM.asp

Paul Sanders
Microsoft Corporation

Applies to:
Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Unified Dimensional Model (UDM)

Summary: This paper provides an introduction to the Unified Dimensional Model (UDM), including the basic end-user model, and a brief overview of the architecture and security models. (17 printed pages)

Using Parent Package Variables in Package Configurations

http://www.sqlis.com/default.aspx?27

By Allan Mitchell
Level Intermediate

Package configurations are now the prescribed way of being able to set values within your package from an outside source. One of the options for the source is Parent Package Variable. The name is perhaps a little misleading so this article is meant to guide you through this slight confusion and into using them. It also helps to explain a key concept in SQL Server Integration Services

Self Modifying Packages in SSIS?

http://www.sqljunkies.com/WebLog/knight_reign/archive/2005/12/31/17731.aspx

by Knight_Reign
Yeah, thought that might get your attention.

First, packages cannot modify themselves during execution. There is no package pointer passed to the tasks any longer, so you can’t traverse the package object model with the script task any longer. That is, you can’t traverse the package object model for package in which the script task resides. You CAN however open and modify other packages, including those that the parent package is about to execute with the Execute Package task. This is the same model as self modifying packages in DTS, except it’s safer because you’re not attempting to change the package as it is running.

Easy Package Configuration

http://www.sqlis.com/default.aspx?26

By Jamie Thomson
Version 2005
Level Beginner

One of the age old problems in DTS is moving packages between your development, test and production environments. Typically a series of manual edits needs to be done to all the packages to make sure that all the connection objects are pointing to the correct physical servers. This is time consuming and gives rise to the possibility of human error, particularly if the solution incorporates many DTS packages. Many companies have provided their own custom solutions for managing this problem but these are still workarounds for a problem that is inherently DTS’s.

Dynamic SQL in SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)

http://www.vsteamsystemcentral.com/cs/blogs/applied_team_system/archive/2006/05/07/71.aspx

I sometimes miss the Dynamic Properties Task in DTS. I used it for all sorts of functionality – and I’m struggling to replace some of that flexibility in complex SSIS development.

I recently developed a package with dynamic SQL serving as the data source for a Data Flow. I accepted the mission and here’s an example to demonstrate how I accomplished this:

Re-writing subqueries for faster performance

http://www.dba-oracle.com/oracle_tips_subq_rewrite.htm

January 29, 2004
Don Burleson

Because SQL is a declarative language, you can write the same query in many forms, each getting the same result but with vastly different execution plans and performance.

Get all from Table A that isn’t in Table B

http://www.sqlis.com/default.aspx?311

By Jamie Thomson
Version 2005
Level Intermediate

A common requirement when building a data warehouse is to be able to get all rows from a staging table where the business key is not in the dimension table. For example, I may want to get all rows from my STG_DATE table where the DateID is not in DIM_DATE.DateID.

The ExecuteSQL Task

http://www.sqlis.com/default.aspx?58

By Konesans Ltd
Version 2005
Level Beginner

In this article we are going to take you through the ExecuteSQL task in SQL Server Integration Services for SQL Server 2005. We will be covering all the essentials that you will need to know to effectively use this task and make it as flexible as possible. The things we will be looking at are as follows:

• A tour of the Task.

• The properties of the Task.

Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing in SQL Server 2005

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/dwsqlsy.mspx

Author: Alex Payne, Microsoft

Summary: This paper provides and overview of the enhancements to the Business Intelligence platform for Microsoft SQL Server 2005. This paper is not an implementation guide, but rather provides information about the enhancements to the Business Intelligence platform.

Getting Time Right in Analysis Services

http://www.tomchester.net

By Tom Chester
Rare is the OLAP cube that does not include a so-called Time dimension – a dimension that allows data to be analyzed over time. Though often named simply “Time”, the typical Time dimension is actually a date dimension, with a hierarchy consisting of Year-Quarter-Month-Day or the like.