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Authors  >  Robert Sheldon

Robert Sheldon Robert Sheldon
After being dropped 35 feet from a helicopter and spending the next year recovering, Robert Sheldon left the Colorado Rockies and emergency rescue work to pursue safer and less painful interests—thus his entry into the world of technology. He is now a technical consultant and the author of numerous books, articles, and training material related to Microsoft Windows, various relational database management systems, and business intelligence design and implementation. He has also written news stories, feature articles, restaurant reviews, legal summaries, and the novel 'Dancing the River Lightly'. You can find more information at http://www.rhsheldon.com.
Implementing the OUTPUT Clause in SQL Server 2008
by Robert Sheldon | 22 July 2010 |  1 comment |
In retrospect, it was probably the inclusion of the OUTPUT clause in the MERGE statement that gave SQL Server 2008 its most powerful SQL enhancement.. It isn't the easiest of features to explain, but Bob does it in his usual clear and careful way. Read more...
UPDATE Basics in SQL Server
by Robert Sheldon | 21 June 2010 |  8 comments |
SQL Server's UPDATE statement is apparently simple, but complications such as the FROM clause can cause puzzlement. Bob Sheldon starts simply, and introduces the more complex forms painlessly. Read more...
SQL Server APPLY Basics
by Robert Sheldon | 24 May 2010 |  9 comments |
One of the most interesting additions to SQL Server syntax in SQL Server 2005 was the APPLY operator. It allows several queries that were previously impossible. It is surprisingly difficult to find a simple explanation of what APPLY actually does. Rob Sheldon is the... Read more...
SQL Server CTE Basics
by Robert Sheldon | 29 April 2010 |  5 comments |
The CTE was introduced into standard SQL in order to simplify various classes of SQL Queries for which a derived table just wasn't suitable. For some reason, it can be difficult to grasp the techniques of using it. Well, that's before Rob Sheldon explained it all... Read more...
Adding Actions to a Cube in SQL Server Analysis Services 2008
by Robert Sheldon | 29 March 2010 |  4 comments |
Actions are powerful way of extending the value of SSAS cubes for the end user. They can click on a cube or portion of a cube to start an application with the selected item as a parameter, or to retrieve information about the selected item. Actions haven't been... Read more...
Adding a KPI to an SQL Server Analysis Services Cube
by Robert Sheldon | 02 March 2010 |  1 comment |
Key Performance Indicators, which vary according to the application, are widely used as a measure of the performance of parts of an organisation. Analysis Services makes this KPI data easily available to your cube. All you have to do is to follow Rob Sheldon's... Read more...
Implementing User-Defined Hierarchies in SQL Server Analysis Services
by Robert Sheldon | 02 February 2010 |  1 comment |
To be able to drill into multidimensional cube data at several levels, you must implement all of the hierarchies on the database dimensions. Then you'll create the attribute relationships necessary to optimize performance. Analysis Services hierarchies offer plenty... Read more...
Five Basic Steps for Implementing an Analysis Services Database
by Robert Sheldon | 05 January 2010 |  2 comments |
To learn an application, nothing beats getting it up and running. Getting started with Analysis Services can be frustrating unless you have a clear and simple guide that gets you started quickly. In this article, the first in a quick-start series on SSAS, BI and... Read more...
Working with the bcp Command-line Utility
by Robert Sheldon | 10 December 2009 |  11 comments |
Even though there are many other ways to get data into a database, nothing works quite as fast as BCP, once it is set up with the right parameters and format file. Despite its usefulness, the art of using the command-line utility has always seemed more magic than... Read more...
Managing Transaction Logs in SQL Server
by Robert Sheldon | 12 November 2009 |  12 comments |
The Transaction Log provides the means by which either the complete set of tasks of a database transaction are performed or none of them are. It ensures that , via rollback, only valid data is written out to the database, and it allows transactions to be played... Read more...
Using Information Schema Views
by Robert Sheldon | 01 October 2009 |  5 comments |
Many seasoned database developers tuck away all the commonly-used INFORMATION_SCHEMA queries as templates. They're an indispensable supplement to sp_help and sp_helpText to get handy information about your database objects, and, even if you use SQL Prompt, they're ... Read more...
Transact-SQL Formatting Standards (Coding Styles)
by Robert Sheldon | 25 August 2009 |  54 comments |
How should SQL code be formatted? What sort of indentation should you use? Should keywords be in upper case? How should lists be lined up? SQL is one of those languages that will execute anyway however you treat whitespace and capitalization. However, the way SQL is... Read more...
Defragmenting Indexes in SQL Server 2005 and 2008
by Robert Sheldon | 31 July 2009 |  3 comments |
Rob Sheldon tackles the subject of Index Defragmentation in SQL Server 2005 and 2008, using the sys.dm_db_index_physical_stats system function. He shows how to analyze indexes and, if necessary, how to go about reorganizing or rebuilding indexes. He makes the point... Read more...
Working with Precedence Constraints in SQL Server Integration Services
by Robert Sheldon | 07 July 2009 |  4 comments |
In SSIS, tasks are linked by precedence constraints. A task will only execute if the condition that is set by the precedence constraint preceding the task is met. By using these constraints, it is possible to ensure different execution paths depending on the... Read more...
Using the FOR XML Clause to Return Query Results as XML
by Robert Sheldon | 27 May 2009 |  21 comments |
The FOR XML clause in SQL Server causes a lot of difficulty, mainly because it is rather poorly explained in Books-on-Line. We challenged Bob Sheldon to make it seem simple. Here is his sublime response. Read more...
XML Data Modification Language Workbench
by Robert Sheldon | 28 April 2009 |  7 comments |
XML Data Modification Language (XML DML) allows you to modify and update XML data. When working with SQL Server Databases, this is the most efficient way to modify elements in an XML column, yet the techniques of using XML-DML have not been well, and simply,... Read more...
Working with Property Expressions in SQL Server Integration Services
by Robert Sheldon | 16 March 2009 |  5 comments |
Property Expressions in SSIS packages are assigned to a property at run time. This allows parameters to be passed to a package every time they are run, making them far more versatile. Despite their obvious usefulness, they are not well known. Hopefully, Bob's... Read more...
Full-Text Indexing Workbench
by Robert Sheldon | 02 February 2009 |  3 comments |
Robert Sheldon continues his guide to Full-Text Indexing, by putting down his pen and reaching for SSMS for a practical workbench on Full-Text indexing. There is nothing like trying things out to make ideas click. Read more...
Understanding Full-Text Indexing in SQL Server
by Robert Sheldon | 29 December 2008 |  8 comments |
Microsoft has quietly been improving full-text indexing in SQL Server. It is time to take a good look at what it offers. Who better to give us that look than Robert Sheldon, in the first of a series. Read more...
SQL Server Index Basics
by Robert Sheldon | 25 November 2008 |  32 comments |
Given the fundamental importance of indexes in databases, it always comes as a surprise how often the proper design of indexes is neglected. It often turns out that the programmer understands detail, but not the broad picture of what indexes do. Bob Sheldon comes to... Read more...
SQL Server Data Warehouse Cribsheet
by Robert Sheldon | 03 November 2008 |  6 comments |
It is time to shed light on Data Warehousing and to explain how SSAS, SSRS and Business Intelligence fit into the puzzle. Who better to explain it all then Robert Sheldon. Read more...
Using Powershell to Generate Table-Creation Scripts
by Robert Sheldon | 04 October 2008 |  11 comments |
For all of us who learn best by trying out examples, Bob Sheldon produces a PowerShell script file for SQL Server that can be used in either SQL Server 2005 or 2008, has error handling and prompts for user-input, is easily extended and, does something useful. He... Read more...
SQL Server 2008- SSIS Data Profiling task
by Robert Sheldon | 10 September 2008 |  4 comments |
By using SQL Server 2008’s new Data Profiling task, you can do a lot to ensure that data being imported via SSIS is valid, and you can develop a system that can take the necessary steps to correct the commonest problems. Bob Sheldon shows you how to get started with it Read more...
SQL Server 2008 SSIS Cribsheet
by Robert Sheldon | 05 August 2008 |  10 comments |
SSIS has achieved several new and interesting features in SQL Server 2008. And who better to guide you through them and explain them but Robert Sheldon. Read more...
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