SQLSaturday #603 - Dallas - BI Edition 2017

Event Date: 03/04/2017 00:00:00

Event Location:

  • Microsoft Campus - Las Colinas
  • 7000 State Hwy 161
  • Irving, Texas

PDF of Schedule

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Sessions

This is a list of sessions from the event, based on the schedule in the XML files.


Title: Create a Data Loading Strategy

Abstract: Loading large amounts of data into SQL Server can be challenging. Many factors may challenge your goal for tuned performance. To make the decision making process more difficult, many of the choices listed below have both Pros and Cons to their implementation. For this reason, loading large amounts of data requires a strategy.

Create a strategy to optimize your massive data loading processes. • High Performance Data Loading (SCD Type II and Type I using checksums) • Minimal Logging and Bulk Loading • Indexing Considerations • Delayed Durability • Eager Write

This session uses a Virtual Sandbox to demonstrate “real” data loads using these techniques listed above. We will look at the T-SQL used in these data loads. We will briefly discuss how the different settings and configurations effect the data loads. Power Point slides and sample SQL will be provided.

Speaker(s):

  • Ryan Casey

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - MPR1200


Title: SQL Server R Services in SQL 2016

Abstract: One of the most exciting new features of SQL Server 2016 is the integration of the R statistical programming language into the platform with the brand-new SQL Server R Services. In this introductory session we’ll briefly introduce the R language and then look at how to install and administer SQL Server R Services. We’ll start to demonstrate the power of R by showing you how to create and run simple R scripts from within T-SQL. We’ll then discuss some of the powerful open source packages that are available to aid your data analyses. Finally, we’ll go through some examples of how to use R to integrate data analytical methods in real-world situations, and wow your customers with the power of statistics!

Speaker(s):

  • Chris Hyde

Track and Room: Advanced Analysis Techniques - MPR 4005


Title: Azure Machine Learning: From Design to Integration

Abstract: Machine Learning is a subfield of computer science concerned with systems that learn from data. So this isn’t about systems that follow explicitly programmed instructions, but rather about systems that find patterns and trends within datasets, and use them to deliver insight and predictions.

In this session, you will learn how an Azure Machine Learning solution comes to life: From the creation of a workspace, to the preparation of data, to experimentation with Machine Learning algorithms, and then finally to the integration and embedding of predictive insights into applications.

This session has been specifically designed to describe Machine Learning fundamentals, and to help enable and inspire existing data professionals taking their first steps to leverage cloud-based predictive models delivered with Azure Machine Learning. It is guaranteed to thrill you with potential, and excite you with the relative ease by which it can be accomplished.

Speaker(s):

  • Peter Myers

Track and Room: Advanced Analysis Techniques - MPR1200


Title: Rent-a-Cube: Azure Analysis Services

Abstract: Why buy a car when you can lease one for less? Why pay for that car to sit unused on your driveway when you can uber on demand? The buy vs. lease decision is now part of your BI projects with the new Azure Analysis Services. Do you buy a server, buy a SQL license, install software, apply patches, and monitor the server? Or do you rent Azure Analysis Services where you can provision in seconds, scale up and down, and let Microsoft monitor the service for you?

This demo-heavy session will deep dive into the new cloud version of Analysis Services. Walking through development, deployment, data sources, processing, authentication, and client tools like Power BI you will see how Azure Analysis Services is similar and how it is different that your father’s Analysis Services.

Speaker(s):

  • Greg Galloway

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - MPR 4005


Title: Azure SQL Databases - There’s room for Azure in your BI solutions

Abstract: A SQL Server DBA and performance tuning speaker, speaking at BI event about Azure SQL DB which makes Microsoft your DBA. Strange bedfellows?

Not really. As a BI person you know, it’s about the data. More than anything else. As a DBA and DBA consultant for 17 years, I get that too, but if you aren’t pausing to look at Azure SQL Databases and how they may fit into your data management structure you’re missing out. If you aren’t at least looking at things like Azure Data Factory and Azure Data Warehouses you’re missing out.

This session will give you a gentle and guided intro. We’ll have a few slides, but mostly we’ll be in the Azure Portal and SSMS (talking to Azure). We’ll talk about the what and why, migrate a database, run some queries and you can laugh at my ugly Power BI reports if there’s enough time to build one. But don’t laugh too hard, because in 90 minutes we’ll have provisioned a database, migrated to it, queried it and built a simple report…

Speaker(s):

  • Mike Walsh

Track and Room: Cloud Application Development Deployment - MPR4025


Title: Deep Dive into the SSIS Catalog

Abstract: The SSIS catalog is one of the best-evolved features in the SQL Server Integration Services ecosystem. With integrated package storage, Windows ACL-like security settings, built-in logging, and many other features, the SSIS catalog has become an anchor for many ETL architectures. With all this complexity, it is important to understand the inner workings of the SSIS catalog to keep it running smoothly.

In this demo-heavy presentation, we will dive into the details of the SSIS catalog. We will start with a quick survey of catalog features, followed by an exploration of the moving parts (tables, views, and stored procedures) in the catalog database. We will also review the security capabilities in the catalog, and will discuss maintenance operations. Finally, we’ll walk through the mechanics of deployment and execution, reviewing what happens under the covers during these operations.

Speaker(s):

  • Tim Mitchell

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - MPR1200


Title: Dynamic Data Flows in SSIS without Programming

Abstract: This session is an introduction to the unique functionality offered by COZYROC to create integration packages that dynamically map columns at runtime.

The standard SSIS Data Flow Task can only use static metadata which is defined when the package is initially designed. The mapping of columns is configured and remains unchanged until the package is re-opened and design changes are made, thus costing maintenance time and effort.

Data Flow Task Plus extends the capabilities of the standard Microsoft Data Flow task in that it allows you to set up dynamic data flows, thus eliminating maintenance time and effort. Changes to tables and columns are automatically incorporated at runtime without the need to change and redeploy the package. Columns and fields are mapped automatically at runtime.

Furthermore, the initial design time and effort may be greatly reduced when dealing with huge amounts of data in a large number of files and/or databases.

Speaker(s):

  • Diane Schuster

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - MPR1200


Title: Intro to Azure SQL Data Warehouse

Abstract: In this session we will introduce Azure SQL Data Warehouse and provide the basics you need to get started. Azure SQL Data Warehouse combines the SQL Server relational database with Azure cloud scale-out capabilities. Built on our massively parallel processing (MPP) architecture, SQL Data Warehouse can handle your enterprise workload.

Speaker(s):

  • Shawn Weisfeld

Track and Room: Cloud Application Development Deployment - MPR4025


Title: Using a gateway to leverage on-premises data in Power BI

Abstract: I look at how you can take advantage of an on-premises gateway to make use of local data when creating reports and dashboards for Power BI. This will start with Power BI Desktop, and the choices you have for SQL Server and Analysis Services. It will then move to the cloud and look at hosting your files on OneDrive for Business, and what this means for data freshness. We will then look at options for personal use or a more centralized use. It will finish off with looking at some troubleshooting tools available to you when working with data refresh.

Speaker(s):

  • Adam Saxton

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - MPR1200


Title: Azure SQL Database - Lessons learned from the trenches

Abstract: In this session you will learn the best practices, tips and tricks on how to successfully use Azure SQL Database on production environments. You will learn how to monitor and improve Azure SQL Database query performance. I will cover how Microsoft CSS has been using Query Store, Extended Events, Azure SQL Database Advisor to help customers monitor and improve query response times when running their databases in the Microsoft Azure cloud. These learnings are all fruit of CSS support cases, and customer field engagements. This session includes several demos.

Speaker(s):

  • Roberto Cavalcanti

Track and Room: Cloud Application Development Deployment - MPR4025


Title: From problem to Power BI: A journey in data visualization

Abstract: Power BI is all the rage right now in visualizing data on the Microsoft BI stack. We’ve seen multiple how tos and presentations on the features, but in this hour, we will actually go through the journey of a specific problem, research it, storyboard it, work through how we solve it (before we ever open Power BI) and then build the Power BI visualization. Make your visualization count. Come join us on the journey.

Speaker(s):

  • Jonathan Stewart

Track and Room: BI Information Delivery - MPR 4005


Title: R For the SQL Server Developer

Abstract: R is the premiere language for data analysis. If the world of data science sounds fun and exciting, now is the time to get into R. We will walk through the core constructs of R, learn how to retrieve data from flat files and databases, and get a peek at the power behind R. This session will also give resources on where to go in order to become more familiar with statistics, R the language, and the R package ecosystem.

Speaker(s):

  • Kevin Feasel

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - MPR 4005


Title: Querying Semistructured Data in Azure Data Lake with USQL

Abstract: Data is exploding across enterprises. Much of it is semi-structured junk. Or is it junk? What are you going to do with it until you can find out? Microsoft’s Azure Data Lake is a cloud storage and analytical service for parking a variety of data. You can query that semi-structured data using an ANSI SQL language called U-SQL. In this session I will demonstrate the similarities and differences between U-SQL and T-SQL. I will demonstrate how easy it is to build a query against 21 GB of CSV files. Such queries can help you determine whether you have a gold mine in your data or a bunch of garbage before investing in a full data warehouse build.

Speaker(s):

  • Russel Loski

Track and Room: Cloud Application Development Deployment - MPR4025


Title: Agile Data Warehouse and ETL Design with Biml

Abstract: Business Intelligence Markup Language is literally changing the way we think about Data Warehouse design and ETL. In this interactive presentation you’ll see how you can rapidly iterate through the Data Warehouse Development Cycle and provide ROI almost immediately. Learn how you can use BimlScript to automatically create staging tables, SSIS Packages, and other necessary objects during the modeling process.

Speaker(s):

  • David Stein

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - MPR4025


Speakers

This is a list of speakers from the XML Guidebook records. The details and URLs were valid at the time of the event.

Greg Galloway

LinkedIn: Greg Galloway

Contact: http://www.artisconsulting.com/blogs/GregGalloway

Greg Galloway is a BI architect with Artis Consulting in Dallas, Texas and a Microsoft Data Platform MVP. He is a coordinator on open-source projects including BI Developer Extensions (formerly BIDS Helper), the Analysis Services Stored Procedure project, and OLAP PivotTable Extensions. He was a co-author of the Analysis Services Tabular Performance Guide.

Ryan Casey

Twitter: - @AimYourData

LinkedIn: Ryan Casey

Contact: https://www.AimYourData.com/

Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Public Speaker, and Group Moderator

SQLSaturday Speaker @ • Houston, TX 2018 • Dallas, TX 2018, 2017 (BI), 2016, 2015 • Phoenix, AZ 2018, 2017 (BI) • Kansas City, MO 2017 • Baton Rouge, LA 2017 • Oklahoma City, OK 2016 • San Antonio, TX 2016

SQL User Group Speaker @ • NTSSUG, Dallas, TX • CACTUSS, Austin, TX • OKCSQL, Oklahoma City, OK • MSBIC, Dallas, TX • SALSSA, San Antonio, TX • FWSSUG, Fort Worth, TX

AIM Business Driven Data Solutions combines the collaborative and creative arts included in Technical Communication, the business acumen of a Harvard MBA program, and the technical discipline of object-oriented programming and business intelligence (data warehouses).

Roberto Cavalcanti

Twitter: - rocavalc

LinkedIn: Roberto Cavalcanti

Roberto Cavalcanti is an Azure Cloud Solution Architect with the Customer Architecture and Engineering team at Microsoft. He is a database specialist with 20+ years of experience. He focuses on helping customers to be successful in Microsoft’s Azure cloud and on improving Microsoft Azure products. Roberto has written many articles about SQL Server/Azure SQL DB for MSDN/TechNet, SQL Magazine, and has been a speaker in events such as TechReady, Microsoft Insights/TechEd, SQLSaturday. He has delivered Azure training in multiple countries in the Americas, and in Europe. Roberto is based on the Microsoft Las Colinas, Texas, USA office.

Russel Loski

Twitter: - sqlmovers

LinkedIn: Russel Loski

Contact: http://www.sqlmovers.com

Russ Loski is a SQL Server BI Developer based in Dallas-Fort Worth. He current works as a Data Analytics Engineer for Navisite, a remote managed IT services company. Twenty years ago, he began working with SQL Server 6.5. He has since continued to develop applications connected to all of the versions of SQL Server. He has worked with clients in industries from insurance to healthcare, from movie theaters to American football. Russ is a regular speaker at SQLSaturday events, as well as the SQL Server Users Groups in the North Texas region. Russ likes working with data in various shapes.

Jonathan Stewart

Twitter: - sqllocks

LinkedIn: Jonathan Stewart

Contact: https://sqllocks.net/

Jonathan Stewart is a Business Intelligence consultant specializing in data visualization, data warehousing, and data management technologies. An advocate for educating others, he is a public speaker, teacher and blogger, continually teaching people about the Microsoft BI Stack. Since 2000, he has been working in the database field with industry leaders in healthcare, manufacturing, financial, insurance and federal, state and local governments.

Jonathan is very active in the community. He has presented on SQL Server, SSIS, Reporting Services, Power BI and Business Intelligence at numerous SQLSaturday events, local user groups, and conferences throughout the United States and around the world. He participates in webcasts, podcasts, and on

Tim Mitchell

Twitter: - @Tim_Mitchell

LinkedIn: Tim Mitchell

Contact: http://www.TimMitchell.net

Tim Mitchell is a business intelligence architect, author, and trainer. He has worked with SQL Server for over a decade, specializing in data warehousing, ETL/SSIS, and reporting. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Texas AM at Commerce, and is recognized as a Microsoft Data Platform MVP. Tim is a business intelligence consultant and principal at Tyleris Data Solutions.

Tim is an active community speaker and volunteer, having spoken at over 100 events including the PASS Summit, SQLBits, Dev Connections, SQL Intersection, and scores of SQLSaturdays. He blogs at TimMitchell.net, and tweets at @Tim_Mitchell.

Shawn Weisfeld

Twitter: - https://twitter.com/shawnweisfeld

LinkedIn: Shawn Weisfeld

Contact: http://www.usergroup.tv

Shawn (http://www.shawnweisfeld.com, shawn@shawnweisfeld.com) is passionate about building awesome applications and websites with .NET technologies and Azure. He is currently a Technical Evangelist for Microsoft based in Austin TX and founder of http://UserGroup.tv. Read his full bio at http://about.me/shawnweisfeld

David Stein

Twitter: - @Made2Mentor

LinkedIn: David Stein

Contact: http://www.Made2Mentor.com

David Stein - Agile Data Warehouse Architect and Independent Consultant - has more than a decade of experience working in SQL Server Business Intelligence. He’s designed multi-terabyte, multi-tenant Data Warehouses from scratch as well as saved projects in serious jeopardy.

Marsha Pierce

Twitter: - MarshaPierceDBA

LinkedIn: Marsha Pierce

Marsha Pierce lives in Nashville, TN. She studied Computer Science, Mathematics, and French at Belmont University. She has 23 years of experience as a DBA, which means she has broken and fixed a lot of stuff. Before joining Pure Storage, she was an architect at HCA and Asurion. She is passionate about DevOps, Storage, Performance Tuning, and Standardization.

Kevin Feasel

Twitter: - feaselkl

LinkedIn: Kevin Feasel

Contact: http://www.catallaxyservices.com

Kevin Feasel is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and CTO at Envizage, where he specializes in data analytics with T-SQL and R, forcing Spark clusters to do his bidding, fighting with Kafka, and pulling rabbits out of hats on demand. He is the lead contributor to Curated SQL (https://curatedsql.com), president of the Triangle Area SQL Server Users Group (https://www.meetup.com/tripass), and author of PolyBase Revealed (https://www.apress.com/us/book/9781484254608). A resident of Durham, North Carolina, he can be found cycling the trails along the triangle whenever the weather’s nice enough.

Peter Myers

LinkedIn: Peter Myers

Peter Myers is a consultant, trainer and presenter, and has worked with Microsoft database and development products since 1997. Today he specializes in all Microsoft Business Intelligence products and also authors training course content for Microsoft products and services.

He has a broad business background supported by a bachelor’s degree in applied economics and accounting, and he extends this with extensive experience backed by current MCSE certifications. He has been a Data Platform MVP since 2007.

Adam Saxton

Twitter: - @GuyInACube

LinkedIn: Adam Saxton

Contact: https://guyinacube.com

Adam Saxton is just a guy in a cube doing the work! He is on the Power BI CAT team at Microsoft, working with customers to help adopt Power BI. He is based in Texas and started with Microsoft supporting SQL Server connectivity and Reporting Services in 2005. Adam has worked with Power BI since the beginning, on the support side, and with documentation. In addition, he produces weekly videos for his Guy in a Cube YouTube channel.

Mike Walsh

Twitter: - mike_walsh

LinkedIn: Mike Walsh

Contact: https://www.straightpathsql.com

Mike Walsh is an experienced SQL Server professional and has worked with SQL Server since version 6.5. He has been in the role of DBA, developer, and performance tuner, but always leans on his DBA and tuning experience. He has been awarded the SQL Server (now Data Platform) designation 6 times since 2011 and is a current MVP. He runs a SQL Server consultancy focused on DBA services and cloud enablement. He has spoken several times at PASS and regional events. In his spare time, he runs a small farm with his family in rural New Hampshire and is a call Firefighter in his small town.

Diane Schuster

LinkedIn: Diane Schuster

Diane has worked with COZYROC since 2012. She has attended numerous SQLSaturdays to shine the light on the time-saving and capability-extending components and tasks that COZYROC offers in it’s SSIS+ library. Without even having a background in databases or SQL Server, Diane successfully configures packages in live demonstrations that use COZYROC components and tasks. She believes that, if the toolkit is this easy to use for a novice, then just imagine what a SQL Server expert can do with it!

In Diane’s data networking days, Diane performed a variety of development-related and customer-facing roles for IBM, Lucent Technologies, North Carolina State University and Connectware.

Chris Hyde

Twitter: - ChrisHyde325

LinkedIn: Chris Hyde

Chris Hyde is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He works as an independent SQL Server BI and DBA consultant, and is the leader of the Albuquerque PASS local user group. He is also part of the Friends of Redgate program and was a member of the Idera ACE class of 2018. He loves loud music and cricket, but usually not at the same time.

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