Voice of the DBA

Tag: syndicated

  • Exporting Lists in SQL Multi Script

    SQL Multi Script is a lesser known tool from Redgate Software that is designed to easily allow you to run scripts against many server instances with one click of a button. It’s similar to a Central Management Server, but it returns results a little cleaner, and has a few extra features that make things run better. I have a number of customers using this to deploy to many instances, both for database changes and instance config updates.

    Recently a customer wanted to share their distribution list with another person on their team. They asked how to do this, and it turns out to be very simple.

    We’ve built import and export into the tool. I’ll look at how you can do this.

    First, open SQL Multi Script and then pick the tools menu. Here you will see the export and import items, as shown below.

    2021-07-13 11_13_32-SQL Multi Script - New Project_

    If I pick export, I get a dialog that shows the distribution lists I’ve created.

    2021-07-13 11_13_25-Export Distribution Lists

    I can pick all, one, or a group of them. Note that all of these are exported into a single file, which is useful if I can want to share all my lists with a colleague.

    Once I click “Export” I have to choose a file name and location from a standard Windows Explorer dialog. I always think about how I’d sort these in a large list, so I like to pick something that will make sense in a month. In this case, the app and then the list..

    2021-07-13 11_14_09-Save As

    Once I click OK, the file is created, and I can see it in the file system. Here I’ll open it in Sublime Text to see what it looks like.

    2021-07-13 11_14_28-Documents

    The file is XML, which isn’t ideal, but it it easy to read. I have my XML file below, with all instances using Windows Authentication. If I had used SQL Auth somewhere, this would end up with an encrypted password, which I assume SQL Multi Script can import and decrypt. Here is my file:

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16" standalone="yes"?>
    
<!--
    
SQL Multi Script
    
SQL Multi Script
    
Version:1.5.4.1390-->
    
<databaseListsFile version="1" type="databaseListsFile">
       <databaseLists type="List_databaseList" version="1">
         <value version="2" type="databaseList">
           <name>MixedAuthList</name>
           <databases type="BindingList_database" version="1">
             <value version="6" type="database">
               <name>AdventofCode</name>
               <server>(local)</server>
               <integratedSecurity>True</integratedSecurity>
               <connectionTimeout>15</connectionTimeout>
               <protocol>-1</protocol>
               <packetSize>4096</packetSize>
               <encrypted>False</encrypted>
               <selected>True</selected>
               <cserver>ARISTOTLE</cserver>
               <readonly>False</readonly>
             </value>
             <value version="6" type="database">
               <name>dlm_3_qa</name>
               <server>LOCALHOST</server>
               <integratedSecurity>False</integratedSecurity>
               <username>Joe_Admin</username>
               <savePassword>True</savePassword>
               <password encrypted="1">25eJUgEGChcaG13SEpATBg==</password>
               <connectionTimeout>15</connectionTimeout>
               <protocol>-1</protocol>
               <packetSize>4096</packetSize>
               <encrypted>False</encrypted>
               <selected>True</selected>
               <cserver>ARISTOTLE</cserver>
               <readonly>False</readonly>
             </value>
             <value version="6" type="database">
               <name>dlm_2_integration</name>
               <server>LOCALHOST</server>
               <integratedSecurity>False</integratedSecurity>
               <username>Joe_Admin</username>
               <savePassword>True</savePassword>
               <password encrypted="1">25eJUgEGChcaG13SEpATBg==</password>
               <connectionTimeout>15</connectionTimeout>
               <protocol>-1</protocol>
               <packetSize>4096</packetSize>
               <encrypted>False</encrypted>
               <selected>True</selected>
               <cserver>ARISTOTLE</cserver>
               <readonly>False</readonly>
             </value>
           </databases>
           <guid>4e255407-343c-4b88-a54a-4e981ad2beac</guid>
         </value>
       </databaseLists>
    
</databaseListsFile>

    This is a useful feature for sharing lists in a team. It’s a little clunky, but it works well.

    If you’ve never given this a try, download SQL Multi Script today, or get the Toolbelt and give it an eval. You might find it’s quite handy.

  • Daily Coping 19 Jul 2021

    I 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. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

    Today’s tip is to start the week with some movement. Exercise in some way today.

    An easy coping tip for me, as this is something I regularly do. I’m writing this a few days early, but in this case, I’ve scheduled a yoga class for Monday afternoon. Now that it’s on my schedule, I’ll get up early, get to work and be ready for a break after.

  • Service for Brian Moran

    If you are in the Reston, VA area and would like to attend, the service information is here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brian-morans-celebration-of-life-tickets-163260712185?fbclid=IwAR3uwlJgfqXJrQf998pyGaZtyDupT_Vi6mwQIqaVufV9cJkNMfi-6LmrA7w

    Also, if someone going can livestream, there are quite a few of us that would appreciate you doing so.

  • Daily Coping 16 Jul 2021

    I 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. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

    Today’s tip is to find fun ways to distract yourself from unhelpful thoughts.

    We likely all have negative and unhelpful thoughts. I know I do on a regular basis. While I can be upbeat and positive, I can also feel stressed, sad, or angry about different things. Working to actively change your thoughts is helpful at times to coping.

    One thing that I’ve done is spend a few minutes doing something that requires some focus. For me, that usually falls into one of a couple areas:

    • Guitar
    • A quick game
    • Duolingo

    These are not in any order, but I have found that I can take a couple minutes to strum a song, open Duolingo and go through a lesson, or pick a game that makes me concentrate. I tend to use things like Sudoku or recently, Water Sort Puzzle, as a fairly quick way of timeboxing. A round here takes 2-3 minutes, which is about what a song or a lesson take.

    I’m slightly running away, but I’m distracting myself. Time is a great healer, and often a short break gives me a slightly different perspective. I can start to cope with my fears, anger, sadness, or whatever in a better way, or at least a more calm way.

    It might take a few rounds of thought, distraction, thought, distraction, etc., but it’s helpful for me.

    A HUGE CAVEAT:  I am not susceptible to depression, at least not as I see it in other friends/family. My coping is much different than I might do with someone who might be more susceptible or have a mental illness that makes it hard to cope. If you have challenges in this area, please seek out others, especially professionals. Illness is illness, and needs treatment at times to ensure you cope and thrive in life.