Mat Stephen's Azure Data Services Blog

All things Azure Data Services (previously All things SQL Server). Complied by Matthew Stephen - Data Solutions Architect (Azure), Microsoft UK

Sharing Data with Azure

Data sharing is challenging GDPR – Essential considerations from Safeguard individual privacy with...

Author: Mat_stephen Date: 12/29/2018

PowerShell Scipt for generating events for Azure Event Hub

A useful PowerShell script I use for sending events to Azure Event Hub demos Login-AzureRmAccount...

Author: Mat_stephen Date: 09/17/2018

Getting Started With R

I've been helping a customer to get started with R - here's my digest which no doubt I'll be adding...

Author: Mat_stephen Date: 02/13/2018

Getting Started with Power BI

As often happens - I meet a series of customers who are keen to learn about something, Power BI in...

Author: Mat_stephen Date: 10/30/2017

Getting Started with Microsoft Azure AI

For a list of Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services and demonstrations you can use with your own inputs...

Author: Mat_stephen Date: 07/26/2017

I'm back, but I'm not who I used to be

After an 11 year break - I'm coming back to blogging - but I'm not who I used to be. I started this...

Author: Mat_stephen Date: 06/07/2017

SQL 2005 Metadata Samples Toolkit and whitepaper now available

Reposted 10/1/06 to include in 'free tools' category I'm constantly asked "what's Microsoft doing...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 01/03/2006

New Performance Troubleshooting Guide for SQL2005

Many things have changed with SQL 2005, correspondingly we have to change the way we think about...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 01/03/2006

New SQL 2005 code samples available

I guess now the pressure is off to release the product we'll see more useful samples comming out of...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 01/02/2006

Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - November 2005

Overview The Feature Pack is a collection of standalone install packages that provide additional...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 11/28/2005

Get the facts about deploying and using Microsoft® SQL Server 2005TM

Our launch roadshow, here in the UK, was totally over subscribed. So here's another chance to gem up...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 11/24/2005

Slides from the SQL Server Launch in Birmingham UK

During, what I hope was viewed as a successful day, many people asked where they could find the...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 11/10/2005

TechNet Briefing: What's NEW in SQL 2005 - Analysis Services & Data Mining

Here's a little self publicity for gig I'll be doing in December: To register please go to...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 11/01/2005

Its not SQL but it is amuzing

Some people around here (in the UK) just have too much time on their hands, check this out for a...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 10/24/2005

Changing Job

It is with sadness that I have to announce that I am changing jobs and moving back into my old role...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 10/06/2005

Microsoft .NET Data Provider for SAP

After my recent SQL 2k5 BI session, here at TVP Reading, I had an enquiry asking for more info...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 10/04/2005

UK SQL User Group Presents: "Concurrency in SQL Server 2005, Kalen Delaney Full Day Seminar: 18th Oct 2005."

Tony Rogerson of the UK SQL User group has asked me to advertise this event. I think it will be of...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/28/2005

SQL Server 2005 Technical Overview blogcasts

New SQL Server 2005 Technical Overview blogcasts from the States Demo 1-1 Using Object Explorer...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/27/2005

OLAP, Darwin and Evolution

Edited 21st Sept 05 to include picture of herbarium sheet. In my article 'Business Intelligence...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/19/2005

Database Mirroring won't make RTM

Edited 20/9/05 to correct typos As Paul Flessner says in his letter...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/16/2005

SQL Server Integration Services Samples - Including Fuzzy Logic

At a recent Technet presentation, someone came up to me and asked me if I could post my Fuzzy Logic...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/15/2005

Bill Gates - A short chat with Microsoft's Chief Software Architect

Its not really SQL Server, but this short 16min video comes from the guy who ultimately takes...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/13/2005

Getting to know SQL 2005 Service Broker

Looks likes I've got to do a presentation on Service Broker for the SQL 2005 launch - so I've been...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/12/2005

SQL 2005: Making sense of the new Optimistic Concurrency Controls and the readers that block writers

For a long time now Oracle enthusiasts have bashed SQL Server for not having Optimistic Concurrency...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/06/2005

IT Forum - Barcelona 15th - 17th November

The tag line for IT Forum is "3 days of learning one year of solutions" - I'm sure you can sell that...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 09/06/2005

SQL 2005 - UPSERT: In nature but not by name; but at last!

SQL Server has long been criticised for not having an UPSERT command, well now in SQL 2005 we have...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/31/2005

Project REAL—Business Intelligence in Practice - great website!

For sometime a group of Program Managers from the SQL BI team have been working with a customer,...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/30/2005

64 Bit performance v 32 bit performance - some compelling evidence

More and more ITPros are looking for help in deciding between 64 bit and 32 bit boxes, often they...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/25/2005

Upgrading a SQL Replication Topology

Jonathan Allen wrote to me asking what order one should upgrade servers in a replication topology -...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/23/2005

Fame at last: Ten Useful Microsoft Blogs

Redmondmag.com have published an article 'Ten Useful Microsoft Blogs' @...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/19/2005

Blogcasts: SQL Server 2000 - Configuring System Monitor & Monitoring SQL Server performance & Configuring alerts

Three new SQL Server 2000 blogcasts out of Redmond: Demo 4-1 Configuring System Monitor...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/19/2005

Microsoft SQL Server Performance Top Tip: Degrees of Parallelism and a Degree of Uncertainty

Max degree of parallelism is an advanced configuration option in SQL Server about which many...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/19/2005

Reporting Services: Calling an aspx page from a report and passing a parameter

Sudhi recently asked me how to call an aspx page from a report and pass a parameter held in a...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/19/2005

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Preview Software for UK customers

If you're in the UK and you'd like to get your hands on the 'Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Preview...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/18/2005

SQL Server Reporting Services Report Packs - looking for suggestions

when I was over in the US recently, I attended a 'Bill Baker and team unplugged' session, (Bill is...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/16/2005

Follow up on XPs and SQLiMail question from SQL Server™ 2005 Management and Admin TechNet evening 28/7/05

Sorry for the delay in getting these answers posted but my trip to the US and some hols have got in...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/12/2005

Letter from America 2

I've had a really hard time with my iPaq today. First thing this morning I couldn't get it to...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/02/2005

Letter from America 1

I'm in Seattle this week at Microsoft's first TechReady conference. What's more I'm totally mobile;...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 08/01/2005

New Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Advisor - CTP June Refresh

Last night at the TechNet evening in Reading I was asked if we are planning an upgrade event. I...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/29/2005

Get Ready for SQL Server 2005 with Free Microsoft E-Learning Courses.

More and more people are asking me about SQL 2005 training courses and certification. I believe the...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/29/2005

SQL Server Marketing present 'Escape from Yesterworld'

The US marketing people for the Visual Studio and SQL Server product teams are pleased to announce...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/28/2005

Blogcast: Using SQL 2000 Profiler

Here's another blogcast in the SQL 2000 performance blogcast series out of the States - this time...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/22/2005

Serialising an ADOMD.net CellSet object

I'm grateful to T.K. Anand for this useful code snippet which is useful if you're writing a web...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/21/2005

SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services Cube Security

If you were given an opportunity to create a “cubed” solution for 50,000 different users, would you...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/20/2005

Are you still using @@IDENTITY?

Are you still using @@IDENTITY? It seems many people are. If you are, are you aware that it might...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/19/2005

How Do You Deploy SQL Server Reporting Services?

A colleague of mine in the States, Rob Caron, is very keen to learn how our customers are deploying...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/18/2005

SQL Server 2005 JDBC Driver Beta 1 Now Available

Not many people know we have a SQL JDBC driver at all, well now we've got a beta version for SQL...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/15/2005

Reporting Services: Two New (Free) Report Packs Released for Sharepoint and Axapta

Good news for the chap I met on the 'Ask the Experts' desk at TechEd, who was contemplating jumping...

Author: Mat_stephen_1 Date: 07/14/2005

Next>