Voice of the DBA

Category: Blog

  • Removing SSMS Completion Time–#SQLNewBlogger

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

    If you’ve upgraded your SSMS lately, you might have seen this. Queries now have a completion time on the Messages window.

    2019-10-17 17_15_23-SQLQuery1.sql - Plato_SQL2017.sandbox (PLATO_Steve (52))_ - Microsoft SQL Server

    On one hand, I think this is great, because I can tell that I’ve run this recently. On the other hand, I might have multiple batches, so I can get confused or mis-informed. I also just don’t like this.

    Microsoft didn’t agree, because at first, I couldn’t remove this. That was really annoying. However, with  SSMS v18.3.1, I can.

    If I go to the SSMS Options, and then go to Query Execution | SQL Server | Advanced, I see this:

    2019-10-17 17_18_34-Options

    At the bottom of the first column is the Show completion time checkbox. Uncheck this, and suddenly, I’m happy.

    2019-10-17 17_19_52-SQLQuery2.sql - Plato_SQL2017.sandbox (PLATO_Steve (59))_ - Microsoft SQL Server

    One caveat, I do need to open a new window. That old window, even if I change the connection, still shows the time. Fortunately, CTRL+A, CTRL+C, CTRL+V help me move on.

    SQLNewBlogger

    This was one of those annoying things I needed to fix because it impacted my productivity. It’s a perfect post of my finding a way to be more productive and learning on my own.

  • OK, Microsoft Teams is cool

    I’ve had a lot of video collaboration tools come across my desk over the last decade. I’ve depended on many of these to communicate with Redgate in the UK as well as Microsoft for feedback, coordination, etc. I’m regularly on calls with people where we need to present or share a screen.

    Probably a few I’ve forgotten, but I’ve used:

    • Oovoo
    • Broadcast.net
    • GotoMeeting/webinar
    • Webex
    • join.me
    • Skype
    • Skype 4 Business
    • Slack
    • Teams
    • On/24
    • Zoom

    For awhile, we settled on Skype for Business at Redgate, where most meetings (scheduled or impromptu) were on this platform. It worked well for my on both my Windows 10 machines, and I got used to it. However, it was an issue for the OSX people. At Redgate, we’ve somewhat settled on Zoom as the current in house platform, but I still get Skype and Slack calls.

    Recently I got a note about an MVP call with Microsoft. It was on Teams, which is their standard. I didn’t think I’d make it, so I deleted the invite from my computer. Then, plans changed, and I was scrambling.

    I did see the meeting invite on my phone calendar, so I clicked that and started Teams on my Android phone. I could hear, but I struggled to see. Even a 5.5” screen isn’t great for 50+ year old eyes. I opened Teams on the PC, thinking that maybe the invite was there, but to my surprise, the meeting opened, with a “join” link. I could see in the timeline that “Steve Jones” had already joined. I clicked the link and got the screen share on a PC where I could see.

    That was cool. Skype will track a call I’ve had and scheduled meetings, but it doesn’t seem to always sync between my phone and PC. Very cool.

  • Make the most of your PASS Summit Evenings

    At this year’s PASS Summit, I’ll only be around for a short time, and really only Monday night. I have two pre-cons to do and then need to get home for some personal commitments. I am hoping to make the first of these events, but if you’re there all week, I’ve got two things for you to attend.

    Monday Night Networking

    Years ago Andy Warren and I (mostly him) set up a networking dinner on Monday night. The idea was to get people together that were there early and have them socialize and meet fellow professionals. We ran it for a number of years before handing it off to Lisa Griffin Bohm, who continues to run it now.

    This is listed as one of the community events, and it’s on Monday, Nov 4, at the Tap House on 6th. It’s from 5:30-8:30 and I’m going to drop by and say hi.

    You can sign up here, and I highly recommend this if you don’t have plans. There are free tickets, but this is mostly to manage the flow of people. This is buy your own, but it’s a fun time for everyone.

    Come meet some people and share a drink or dinner.

    Game Night

    Another idea from Andy and I (again, mostly him), but this one was fun. We decided that we didn’t want a loud night in a bar that some vendor hosted. We knew lots of fellow attendees felt the same way, so we hosted a game night in a room at the Convention Center. Quiet, bring your own games or join in with others. There are lots of gamers out there and some really fascinating games.

    To ensure we can cover a bartender with both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, tickets cost something here, but the tickets can be exchanged for a drink.

    Kevin Hill hosts this now and there are two nights. Sign up for Wednesday with Kevin or Thursday with Matt Cushing (or both nights).

    Community and Vendor Events

    PASS doesn’t run a party anymore, but there are lots of things happening all throughout the week. There are a number of events (including those above) listed on the PASS Community Hosted Events page. Click the various boxes at the top to see different events that are happening.

    I urge you to engage in some social event. Something quiet, something fun, it doesn’t matter. Just meet and network with others. If nothing else, sit with someone at lunch and then ask if they want to get a quiet (or not so quiet) dinner later.

    Or set up your own event. A number of these events are started by someone in the community, and the next fun thing could be yours.

    One hint: if you want to attend a vendor party where things are paid for, go have an honest conversation or two with a vendor in the expo. Ask them questions, learn what their products do, and see if something might help you at work. Regardless of budget, educate yourself and maybe you’ll get a ticket to one of their evening parties.

  • Arrays in PowerShell–#SQLNewBlogger

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

    This isn’t necessarily an expert post, but more a recognition that I learned something. I knew about objects in PowerShell, but I’d never actually used an array. Never had a need.

    However, while writing my article about striped backups, I ended up using arrays. This was mainly from the example shown by Anthony Notencino in his Restoring Backups from Azure Blob with dbatools.

    Here’s a way to initialize an array:

    $a = @()

    If I look at this, I get nothing back, which makes sense. There’s nothing in there.

    2019-10-10 14_41_05-cmd - powershell

    I can “add” values to this array with +, as in:

    $a += 1
    $a += 2

    If I now look at the variable, I see this:

    2019-10-10 14_44_41-cmd - powershell

    One interesting thing here is that += is different than Add(). Look at this:

    2019-10-10 14_52_15-cmd - powershell

    So why does += work? In the array doc, there’s this quote:

    When you use the += operator, PowerShell actually creates a new array with the values of the original array and the added value. This might cause performance issues if the operation is repeated several times or the size of the array is too big.

    Worth knowing this. I think for most scripts this isn’t a big issue, but be aware that you are allocating a new array.

    Working with arrays is a topic for another day, but this is a short look at how you might store something like a list of files in a single place.

    SQLNewBlogger

    While working on solving the problem for a customer, I realized this was a little thing I learned. A quick post to show that here, just about 10 minutes or writing and structuring code.

    A good chance to give an interviewer something to ask you. Write your own post on arrays.