Voice of the DBA

Category: Blog

Connecting to SSAS–#SQLNewBlogger

Another post for me that is simple and hopefully serves as an example for people trying to get blogging as #SQLNewBloggers.

In a previous post, I installed SSAS on a machine. Now I need to connect to it. This post covers a quick, how do I do that.

Do connect in SSMS, you can use the Object Explorer. If you click the down arrow on the Connect button, you’ll see choices.

If you pick SSAS, you get a similar connection dialog. The SSAS instance is named the same as your base instance. In this case, I had a named instance, so I enter the same name as I’d use for the database engine.

There’s not much to see, but I’m connected. My installation is working.

I could also connect with a query window. The toolbar has a couple choices.

For MDX:

For DAX:

For either one of these, the connection process is the same.

SQLNewBlogger

After the post where I installed SSAS, I needed to test it. Rather than add that to the post, I ran through the steps, grabbed sceenshots, and then wrote this post as a second one.

Focus on one thing, not multiple things, in a post.

May 20, 2020
Daily Coping 20 May 2020

I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.

Today’s tip is: Hand-write a note to someone you love and send them a photo of it.

A good idea. I haven’t written a letter in a long time to anyone, but I have been reaching out to people randomly to check on them. I decided to send a note to someone I know, but haven’t seen in a few months since the lockdown. I was looking forward to seeing this person in late May, and a few times in April, and didn’t get the opportunity.

It’s a private note, so nothing here, but it was a good exercise.

May 20, 2020
SQL Source Control Link Errors on a New Machine

I replaced my desktop recently and installed new software through Chocolatey.. One of the things I installed was git. I ran “choco install git” and then started using it. I cloned some repos and everything seemed fine.

Then I cloned a repo of a SQL Source Control database, created a new database and tried to link the repo. I got an error on screen, which I forgot to screen capture. The error was 128, which wasn’t helpful.

Fortunately, I did manage to copy the error to the clipboard. I pasted it in Notepad and saw this:

Aha!

I never configured git. Since I’m mostly working in my own repos, committing back to places that I will access from another machine, I haven’t thought about this. I know I’ve done this on the previous machine because SQL Source Control worked a month ago.

What’s nice about git, and what I wish more software did, is that it tries to help you. In this case, it tells me that it can’t detect an email address and therefore can’t populate the commit metadata.

What do I do?

Run the commands and config my environment. I copied and edited the commands in a command prompt. And typo’d things one time.

Once this was done, SQL Source Control worked.

SQL Source Control is a fantastic way to easily grab your database code and put it into a repo. Give it a try today if you never have tried it, but you’ve ever scripted out your object code.

May 19, 2020
Daily Coping 19 May 2020

I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.

Today’s tip is take a positive action to help in your local community.

This is an interesting one. What can you do in your community? You can help someone, or try to help a lot of people. It’s could be a lot of work, or a little thing. I chose a relatively little thing.

When I saw Tim Radney and Paul Randal printing ear savers, I was intrigued. I’ve been tempted to buy a printer, but honestly, I don’t have time to mess with it, and don’t need another hobby. Between trying to take care of myself, helping on the ranch, cooking for the family, and then spending time with family, I’m a bit worn out. In fact, I’m as busy as I’ve ever been.

There is a nurse that comes here for lessons, and I chatted with her one day about wearing a mask all the time. She’s used to it, but was interested in ear savers. I pinged Tim and he sent me 6, which was incredibly generous. I gave them to my nurse friend, and she really liked them. I decided to donate more.

This time, I contacted Paul Randal, mostly because he reached out on Facebook, noting he is looking to continue donating more. I sent him a donation and put in a request for 100. I’m looking to give some to my nurse friend to spread around, but I’m also giving them our randomly at grocery stores, since those people are wearing masks constantly as well, and I can see they sometimes struggle.

Not sure how much of a difference it will make, but it’s something.

May 19, 2020