1) Start New DMX Query

2) Execute Script

SELECT * FROM $system.DBSCHEMA_CATALOGS

3) Returning Specific Columns

Similar to Transact-SQL you just specify the columns you want; however, you need to wrap up the column names with brackets [column].

SELECT [CATALOG_NAME] FROM $system.DBSCHEMA_CATALOGS

Pretty simple.

The method I use the most is the following because it only returns information about databases that currently exists. I really do not need to see information about what used to exist, but I will also show that example as well. Before I go on you might want to understand the anatomy of both the master.sys.databases catalog view and msdb.dbo.backupset table.

/* GET LAST BACKUP DATE FOR ALL EXISTING DATABASES */
SELECT d.name, MAX(b.backup_finish_date) 'Last Backup Date'
FROM master.sys.databases d
	JOIN msdb.dbo.backupset b ON d.name = b.database_name
	WHERE (b.type = 'D' OR b.type = 'I')
GROUP BY d.name
ORDER BY d.name	 

The results indicate (104 row(s) affected). So I have 104 databases on this particular instance.

This is the example of returning the history for the last backup date which may contain information about past databases which depends on your maintenance for backup history. So this may vary.

/* GET LAST BACKUP DATE FROM BACKUPSET */
SELECT database_name, MAX(backup_finish_Date) 'Last Backup Date'
FROM msdb.dbo.backupset
WHERE (type = 'D' OR type = 'I')
GROUP BY database_name
ORDER BY database_name

The results indicate (108 row(s) affected) so between the two statements you can see there is a difference of four rows which is why I avoid using the msdb.dbo.backupset as the only source of record.

The easiest way to determine which databases no longer exists is to execute the following.

/* RETURN NON EXISTING DATABASE NAMES */
SELECT DISTINCT database_name 
FROM msdb.dbo.backupset
WHERE 
	(
		database_name NOT IN
			(
				SELECT name FROM master.sys.databases
			)
	)

The results indicate that (4 row(s) affected) and the names of the database that are not current.

With a little research and some musical chairs with keywords I stumbled upon the following post: Visual Studio team System 2008 Database Edition FAQ which pinpointed the solution. You’ll need to scroll down a bit till you see “I have installed the GDR, but now I see duplicate commands on the menus in the IDE.”

Resolution Steps

1) Be sure to exit out of all the visual studio sessions
2) Open a command prompt
3) Within the command prompt navigate to %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\DBPro\

Execute the following:

DBProRepair.exe RemoveDBPro2008

You will not see a confirmation message after running the above statement. To verify launch BIDS and click on Data. It should now look like the following.

If you need to determine if it is enabled then this is how you go about it.

Using SSMS connect Analysis Services for that instance. Once connected right-click on the instance and select “Properties” and in the name column just about the 13th row down you will see “Log \ Flight Recorder \ Enabled”

You’ll notice I changed most of the temp tables to table variables with the exception of the #paramlist. I suspect the table variable loses it declaration when using it within a cursor (not 100% positive on that). The oddity was that the results were still returned but I received the “Msg 1087, Level 15, State 2, Line 1 Must declare the table variable @paramlist” error repeatedly. So I changed it back to a temp table and now all is well.

The Thread

The point of this was to return linked server information as well as the provider properties, specifically Allow Inprocess. I blurred out some details to protect the innocent.

The Results

The Query

SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE @provider_name AS SYSNAME, @property_name AS SYSNAME, @property_value AS BIT

DECLARE @providers TABLE
(
	name NVARCHAR(100) PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED
	,guid NVARCHAR(100) NULL
	,description NVARCHAR(100) NULL
) 

INSERT INTO @providers EXEC sys.sp_enum_oledb_providers  

CREATE TABLE #paramlist
(
	property_name SYSNAME PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED
	,property_value INT
)  

INSERT INTO #paramlist (property_name) VALUES ('AllowInProcess')  
--INSERT INTO #paramlist (property_name)  VALUES ('DisallowAdHocAccess')  
--INSERT INTO #paramlist (property_name)  VALUES ('DynamicParameters')  
--INSERT INTO #paramlist (property_name)  VALUES ('IndexAsAccessPath')  
--INSERT INTO #paramlist (property_name)  VALUES ('LevelZeroOnly')  
--INSERT INTO #paramlist (property_name)  VALUES ('NestedQueries')  
--INSERT INTO #paramlist (property_name)  VALUES ('NonTransactedUpdates')  
--INSERT INTO #paramlist (property_name)  VALUES ('SqlServerLIKE')  

DECLARE @oledbprop TABLE
(
	provider_name SYSNAME PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED
	,allow_in_process BIT
	,disallow_adhoc_access BIT
	,dynamic_parameters BIT
	,index_as_access_path BIT
	,level_zero_only BIT
	,nested_queries BIT
	,non_transacted_updates BIT
	,sql_server_like BIT
)

DECLARE @regpath NVARCHAR(512)  
SET @regpath = N'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Providers\' + @provider_name  
  
DECLARE @value int, @sql NVARCHAR(300), @param NVARCHAR(300)  
	SET @sql = 'EXEC sys.xp_instance_regread N''HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE'', @regpath, @property_name, @value OUTPUT, @no_output = N''no_output'' ' +  
	'update #paramlist SET property_value = IsNull(@value, 0) where property_name = @property_name'  
	SET @param = '@regpath NVARCHAR(512), @property_name SYSNAME, @value int'  

DECLARE c_prov CURSOR LOCAL FAST_FORWARD  
FOR ( SELECT name FROM @providers )  
OPEN c_prov  
FETCH NEXT FROM c_prov into @provider_name  
WHILE @@fetch_status = 0  
	BEGIN  
		SET @regpath = N'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Providers\' + @provider_name  

		DECLARE c CURSOR LOCAL FAST_FORWARD  
		FOR ( SELECT property_name FROM #paramlist )  
		OPEN c  
		FETCH NEXT FROM c into @property_name  
		WHILE @@fetch_status = 0  
			BEGIN  
				EXEC sp_executesql @sql, @param, @regpath, @property_name, @value  
				FETCH NEXT FROM c into @property_name  
			END  
		CLOSE c  
		DEALLOCATE c  

		INSERT @oledbprop (provider_name, allow_in_process , disallow_adhoc_access , dynamic_parameters , index_as_access_path , level_zero_only , nested_queries , non_transacted_updates , sql_server_like)  
		SELECT @provider_name, AllowInProcess, DisallowAdHocAccess, DynamicParameters, IndexAsAccessPath, LevelZeroOnly, NestedQueries, NonTransactedUpdates, SqlServerLIKE   
		FROM #paramlist pivot ( max(property_value) FOR property_name in ( [AllowInProcess], [DisallowAdHocAccess], [DynamicParameters], [IndexAsAccessPath], [LevelZeroOnly], [NestedQueries], [NonTransactedUpdates], [SqlServerLIKE] ) ) as p  

		FETCH NEXT FROM c_prov INTO @provider_name  
	END  
CLOSE c_prov  
DEALLOCATE c_prov  

/* RETURN RESULTS */
	 SELECT 
		s.name 'linked server'
		/* ,s.data_source */
		,s.product
		,CASE
			WHEN s.catalog IS NULL THEN QUOTENAME(s.data_source)
			ELSE QUOTENAME(s.data_source) + '.' + QUOTENAME(s.catalog)
		END 'data source'
		,s.provider
		,p.[description]
		,CASE
			WHEN o.allow_in_process = 0 THEN 'No'
			ELSE 'Yes'
		END 'allow inprocess'
		,CASE
			WHEN s.is_rpc_out_enabled = 0 THEN 'No'
			ELSE 'Yes'
		END 'rpc out'
		,l.remote_name
		,s.modify_date
	FROM master.sys.servers s
		JOIN master.sys.linked_logins l ON s.server_id = l.server_id
		JOIN @oledbprop o ON s.provider = o.provider_name
		JOIN @providers p ON o.provider_name = p.name
	WHERE (s.name != @@SERVERNAME)	
		ORDER BY s.name

/* HOUSE CLEANING */
DROP TABLE #paramlist 

Don’t panic…

Typically when you re-open SQL Server Management Studio you’re prompted with a nice little screen that politely asks if you would like to recover the selected files or queries. Which is extremely helpful, but what happens when you don’t get that prompt, what then?

The answer is easy enough and may require you to change your folder options to show hidden files and folders. In the event you find yourself in a similar situation simply navigate to (assuming you are running Windows 7) C:\Users\”[your username goes here]“\AppData\Local\Temp\ and look for files similarly named like the ones illustrated below.

Back to the summit…

The Pass Summit is technically a three-day fun-filled event from Wed – Fri but there were pre-conference seminars (precons) that occurred on Monday and Tuesday which I did not attend. From what I hear the (precons) were amazing. Hopefully next year I can be fortunate enough to attend those as well. I only attended the Wed – Fri sessions. My main focus was on performance but there were many other tracks to choose from. The ever so popular business intelligence to administration to development to professional development. Definitely something for everyone.

The training is just one part of the conference but the relationships you build from networking is priceless. I finally met so many people whom I have literally known for several years for the first time. I know that sounds odd, but the power of social networking just brings people from all walks of life together. The best part is that you feel like you’ve been friends forever even though this is the first time meeting one another. That’s the energy of the SQL Community and I am proud to be a part of it. I learned a lot and have so many thoughts and scenarios running through my mind that I need to organize them into actionable items and prepare to blog about them. There’s so much more I can say about the benefits of attending the Pass Summit, but take it from me (a first timer) that it’s well worth it and you’ll never forget it. Hope to see and/or talk with you soon at a local, national or international event!

Just in case you wanted to see some the photos taken at this years and past Pass Summit events… Pass Summit 2011 and Pass Summit Past Events.

I have only had a little exposure to SQL Server Analysis Services before this and from what I have learned I do know that our own data warehouse group could significantly benefit from this workshop. I am not mocking them whatsoever, but I am saying some processes could be handled differently. For example cube updates. Instead of providing me the entire visual studio solution they can easily provide me a XMLA script which I can use in SSMS to deploy the dimension update. Things like this I never knew, so this was a real eye opener for me and gives me the needed ammo to fight with our developers. Kidding! It does however allow me to extend my freshly acquired knowledge to that group in a non-confrontational way of course (fingers crossed behind back).

Business intelligence has a warm place in my heart and the time I did spend developing reports was exciting. To be honest I would love nothing more than to be able to go from zero to data warehouse to SSAS slice and dice to full publish on reporting services, sharepoint, etc… in a week or so. I believe as a DBA that would be a valuable skill-set to have under my belt. This course is my step towards that direction.

There is no doubt that this workshop packs in a lot of information. The two days are literally bursting at the seams with information but this is definitely a MUST for those looking to get into the SSAS world. The PragmaticWorks staff really demystified SSAS. Their lectures and labs are delivered in such a manner that it is really easy to keep up with the pace. Throughout the course you are walked through the process of setting up an SSAS project all the way through creating cubes, dimensions, mining structures, roles and everything in between. The price of the course is a bargain given everything you walk away with.

I think the most action came towards the ending of day two. The room was divided down the middle and the groups were paired against each other to build an SSAS project from start to finish following a set of requirements. Then you needed to create a report in either reporting services or excel based on the cube we published. Everyone participated either by being the designated drivers (at the computer), yelling out the requirements, providing assistance and so on. It was intense! I must mention that “Team Dustin” my group WON the challenge against “Team Brian”. Better luck next time Brian! We literally beat them by 1-2 seconds at best. Nonetheless a fantastic method to illustrate not only what we had learned but more importantly what we had retained. If you get the opportunity to attend this workshop I would highly recommend it. You will not be sorry!

Expedition Denali (Day 3) was very exceptional. I have not touched Denali at all but from what Roger Doherty (blog | @Doherty100) and Brian Knight were covering and demoing I cannot wait till RTM. I would totally spill the beans because there are so many very cool and sexy things coming… but their “body-guard/new sales guy” Lonnie is a pretty big guy so I will refrain. Here he is working through the demo.

Random pics

To get started let’s run through a simple statement, but before we do know that this is geared towards a command prompt and not a batch. The syntax is slightly different.

Step 1: Get only one reply

ping %computername% -4 -n 1 | find /i "reply"

Step 2: Get all left of the colon

FOR /f "tokens=1 delims=:" %d IN ('ping %computername% -4 -n 1 ^| find /i "reply"') DO ECHO %d

Step 3: Get the IP Address

FOR /f "tokens=1 delims=:" %d IN ('ping %computername% -4 -n 1 ^| find /i "reply"') DO FOR /F "tokens=3 delims= " %g IN ("%d") DO echo %g

Step 4: Get the first octet

FOR /F "tokens=1 delims=:" %d IN ('ping %computername% -4 -n 1 ^| find /i "reply"') DO FOR /F "tokens=3 delims= " %g IN ("%d") DO FOR /F "tokens=1 delims=." %h IN ("%g") DO ECHO %h

At this point you might be asking yourself what the syntax means. Well here is the scoop using (Step 2) as a reference point. Well consider tokens as segments of a single item that is separated by a specific value.

Let’s examine the following string:

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Looks pretty straightforward for the most part but if you think about what the separating value that you’ll want to use then the string begins to appear differently. For example I want to set the delims otherwise known as the deliminator character to a colon. Well there is only one colon therefore making two tokens. All characters left and all character right of the colon.

So by me running (Step 2) I am essentially requesting all characters to the left of the colon, because I am only asking for token 1. If I specified token 2 then I would get all characters to the right of the colon including the leading space.

FOR /f "tokens=2 delims=:" %d IN ('ping %computername% -4 -n 1 ^| find /i "reply"') DO ECHO %d

Now moving onto (Step 3) I am essentially breaking apart the string into three tokens because I am setting the delims to a space which is represented by delims= “. There is a space between the = and the “.

Let’s examine the string:

Reply from 127.0.0.1

Hopefully at this point you are able to see the three tokens in the above string. So in order to return only the IP Address I only request token 3.

POP QUIZ

Q1. What would be the delims value for 127.0.0.1?
Q2. How many tokens will be as a result?
Q3. What token will I need to request to get the first octet?

I logged into work and I flew through the critical SQL SCOM alerts and moved onto the SQL Health & Backup report. Then I finished up right on time to join SQL Sentry’s “Learn How to Tune Queries” webinar. Unfortunately I am not well versed with 3rd party monitoring tools outside of the minimal SSMS tools, which is why I tend to participate as much as I can in demos, forums and similar sessions.

I learned a lot about SQL Sentry’s Plan Explorer and I can honestly say it will definitely be extremely beneficial as I venture into the realm of performance tuning. This literally could not have come at a better time. At my current place of employment there are plans in the works to include me in several tuning aspects which is why I have immersed myself with profiler, database engine tuning advisor and thanks to the SQL community I am learning the many available DMVs.

A huge surprise came at the end of the session. They held a raffle and they happened to call my name. Unfortunately I couldn’t hear the audio portion when they explained what the item was, but I did hear my name called, so I responded. I had figured I won a license for one of their awesome monitoring software packages like the SQL Sentry: Power Suite or their Performance Advisor for SQL Server. To be honest it really didn’t matter to me because either would have been a sweet prize!

Anxious as I was I turned to twitter and pinged Brent Ozar (@BrentO | Blog) and asked what I had won since he was associated with the session. Then shortly after Aaron Bertrand (@AaronBertrand | Blog) responded and the convo went something like this:

As you can tell I was (still am) excited. Everything just worked out perfectly. So I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to SQL Sentry, Aaron Bertran, Greg Gonzalez (@SQLsensei | Blog), Peter Shire (@Peter_Shire) and the rest of the SQL Sentry staff for the awesome presentation and the gift. I also want to the thank the organizers of SQLCruise for hosting the event. To bad I am not going on the cruise, but I’ll be there in spirit!

Thank you SQL Sentry!!!

Did I mention the iPad 2 arrives… on… FRIDAY!!!