However, in order to have Stephen join us, it has meant that I have had to change the date of the event. So, SQL server Social will now be held THIS THURSDAY, 17th November 2011.

Stephen is an incredibly busy individual and travels all over the world enlightening people on data visualisation best practices, so I am privileged that he has agreed to join us.

I’ll be sending out updates to those of you who have already registered and will be apologising profusely. Don’t worry, if you can make it, your current registration will still stand. For those of you who can now make it, please head over to http://sqlserversocial.eventbrite.com to sign up. Don’t forget, this is a rare opportunity to come and meet, and chat to, one of the leading experts on data visualisation.

Pre Cons!

Choosing a pre conference session for Monday/Tuesday was rather difficult. Do you choose something completely new to learn, or do you learn something new about a subject area in which you are already fairly familiar? Not to be outdone by my own questions, I chose to do one completely new subject area and one deeper dive into something I am fairly good at (but know I could be even better). Here are my picks:

• Keeping it local with Rob Farley (Blog | @rob_farley)– “Fixing Queries with Advanced T-SQL constructs”
• Something new with Aaron Nelson (Blog | @SQLVariant) – “After 7 hours you won’t be able to shut up about PowerShell either”

It’s my belief that you can always improve the skills you already have and that’s why I’m going to Rob’s Pre-con. My T-SQL is pretty good, but I know there are areas that could do with some improvement. I hoping to get quite a bit out of this session. No pressure Rob!

I also believe that you should stretch yourself and try to learn something new every now and again. Especially when it comes to software or processes. Learning something new gives you a broader perspective and you’ll be better equipped to make the right decisions. This is why I’m taking Aaron’s Pre-con. I have only ever heard the great things about PowerShell can do. I’ll be looking to apply this new knowledge immediately for all the BI projects I work on.

Go to the SSMS Menu and click on Edit:

Now click on Intellisense> to view the Intellisense options

The Refresh Local Cache will do exactly that and then you’ll be able to see those changes that you have just implemented.

The shortcut (if you are a little visually impaired) is Ctrl + Shift + R

Now go refresh your cache.

I have to say, it’s a little daunting being listed amongst MVP’s, professionals with decades of experience and other big personalities in the SQL Server Community. Thankfully, I thrive in situations like these. Being amongst people who are better than you enables you to up your game – or at least that’s been the story for me. Upping my game means that you, dear reader, get more quality content on the topics I care about. For now, that includes SQL Server’s Reporting Services and Integration Services. But you knew that already.

I would ask one favour (yes, that’s the way we spell it over here…) of you, and that is feedback. Of any sort. Whilst I get it right most of the time (I hope), there may be occasions that I’m talking absolute dribble. SPEAK UP! I’m sharing from my own experience and opinion, if it’s wrong, or at least if you believe it’s ‘wrong’, I want to know about it and what you believe the right answer to be.

A big thank you to Brent (Blog | @BrentO) and everyone else at SQLServerPedia for the opportunity to give something back. I’m thoroughly looking forward to the journey ahead and seeing where it takes me.