These talks are about the latest products being rolled off the Microsoft production line. They present an introduction to a new technology, with tips and tricks from industry experts.

All meetings start at 6.30 p.m. and end at about 8.30 p.m. They are free and are open to both VBUG members & non-members – bring a colleague or two!

To register for any of these meetings click here or go to http://cms.vbug.net/Regions/VBUG-Bristol/Bristol-Events.aspx

We usually get an enthusiastic bunch who are keen to ask questions. The talks are free and held at held in Filton, outside Bristol at BAWA. Just click : http://www.bawa.biz/

Address: BAWA 589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7RG Tel: 0117 9768066

Access to BAWA is good from the M4, M5 & M32. Free parking is available, plus there is a bar. The talks run from 18.30 pm to about 20.30 pm.

The talks are hosted by myself, David Ringsell, david@talk-it.biz and Steve Hallam, steve@plumsoft.co.uk.

Andrea Weir – Beginners guide to Designing and building ASP.NET MVC applications

Wednesday May 16th

This talk will cover desigining and building an ASP.NET MVC application. It will provide answers to some of your questions like:-

• What’s the difference between a model and a view model?
• How do you ensure that the application is maintainable and extensible?
• How do you make sure the application is testable?
• How do you use routes and route constraints?
• How do you manage database access from within an MVC application?
• It will start from scratch and build a testable ASP.NET MVC application.

Bio :
Andrea Weir is a freelance IT developer specialising in .NET-based technology. She has worked extensively on building both desktop applications and websites.
She is also interested in design patterns and their benefits and has delivered several talks on this subject.

Yan Cui – Introduction to Aspect Oriented Programming

Wednesday June 13th

Aspect oriented programming is a programming paradigm that aims to increase modularity by allowing the separation of cross-cutting concerns.

This talk is for programmers who are curious about AOP and how it can help you:

• write fewer lines of code
• write cleaner, more concise and more maintainable code
• produce fewer defects
• produce more reusable code
• be more productive
• make your code more SOLID!

Bio :
Based in London, Yan works as a server side developer for iwi, a software house focused on producing high quality social games that run on platforms such as Facebook and Hi5.

David Ringsell June 2012

List of Contents

Lab 1: Create An Empty Database
Lab 2: Create Table Structures
Lab 3: Add Column Constraints
Lab 4: Query The Tables
Lab 5. Advanced Queries
Lab 6: Insert And Update Rows
Lab 7: Import Data Into Tables
Lab 8: Format Data as XML
Lab 9: Create A View
Lab 10: Create A Function
Lab 11: Create A Trigger
Lab 12: Create A Stored Procedure
Lab 13: Create Indexes
Lab 14: Secure the Database
Lab 15. Using .NET Code In SQL Server
Lab 16: Using Replication
Lab 17: Using Integration Services
Lab 18: Introduction to Reporting Services
Answers to Lab Questions

These labs create and then work with a database called BookShopDB. This database holds data on sales and employees. The labs also use the AdventureWorks, Northwind and Pubs sample databases. If you do not have these installed, just adapt the labs follow the steps with a database that is installed. Alternatively, you can download and install the sample databases.

Lab 1. Create An Empty Database
Create an empty database structure, identifying the sizes and names of the primary and log files.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   CREATE DATABASE BookShopDB
ON PRIMARY
(
NAME = Bookshop_dat,
FILENAME = 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\Bookshop.mdf',
SIZE = 4,
MAXSIZE = 10,
FILEGROWTH = 1
)
3. Run the CREATE DATABASE statement only by selecting it then pressing function key F5. Thenrun the script to create the Log file.
4. Save the script file locally
5. What units are the file size parameters measured in?

Lab 2. Create Table Structures
Create table structures in the Bookshop database, identifying the column names, data types and defaults. Also identify if null column values are allowed.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.
   CREATE TABLE Authors
(AuthorID SMALLINT IDENTITY(101,1) NOT NULL,
FirstName VARCHAR(30) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'unknown',
LastName VARCHAR(30) NOT NULL,
YearBorn CHAR(4) NOT NULL DEFAULT ' N/A ',
YearDied CHAR(4) NOT NULL DEFAULT ' N/A ',
Description VARCHAR(200) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'N/A')
3. Run the CREATE TABLE statement and save this script.
4. Run the other 10 CREATE TABLE statements to build all the remaining tables.
5. What is the lowest possible value for the AuthorID column?

Lab 3. Add Column Constraints
Add column constraints to indicate primary and foreign keys. Also add check constraints to validate values entered.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   ALTER TABLE Books
ADD CONSTRAINT books_pk PRIMARY KEY (TitleID)
3. Run the first ALTER TABLE statement. Then run the other ALTER TABLE statements that add primary key constraints.
4. Scroll down the script to find this statement that add a foreign key constraints.
   ALTER TABLE BookAuthors
ADD CONSTRAINT authorid_fk FOREIGN KEY (AuthorID)
REFERENCES Authors (AuthorID)
5. Run this ALTER TABLE statement. Also run the other ALTER TABLE statements that add a foreign key constraint.
6. Scroll further down the script to find this statement that adds a check constraints.
   ALTER TABLE Customers --Must supply either First or Last Name
ADD CONSTRAINT checknames_ck CHECK
(FirstName NOT LIKE 'unknown' OR LastName NOT LIKE 'unknown')
7. Run this ALTER TABLE statement and save this script. Also run the other ALTER TABLE statements that add more check constraints.
8. Describe the relationship between the Books and BooksAuthors Tables?

Lab 4. Query The Tables
Select columns and rows from a table depending on a search criteria. Also sort and group rows. Use the Pubs sample database.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   SELECT Type, AVG(Price) AS AvgPrice
FROM Titles
WHERE Price > 10
GROUP BY Type
ORDER BY AvgPrice DESC
3. Run and the first SELECT statement in the script. Look at the data returned in the Results panel. Then run the remaining SELECT statements.
4. Write a SELECT query to give the total price for Titles priced more than £15 grouped by Type.

Lab 5. Advanced Queries
Select columns from two joined tables using join criteria. Use different join types to select rows. Use the Northwindsample database.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   SELECT o.OrderID, o.CustomerID, c.ContactName, c.City
FROM Orders o LEFT JOIN Customers c
ON o.CustomerID = c.CustomerID
AND o.ShipCity = c.City
ORDER BY o.OrderID
3. Describe in “normal English” what this query does.
4. Run the first SELECT statement. Then run the remaining SELECT statements that use joins. Look at the data returned in the Results panel..
5. Take a close look at this SELECT statement:
   SELECT OrderID, EmployeeID AS EmpID
FROM Orders
WHERE EmployeeID IN --Look in a different table
(
SELECT EmployeeID
FROM Employees
WHERE City = 'Seattle'
)
ORDER BY OrderID
6. Again, describe in “normal English” what this query does.
7. Run all the SELECT statemens including those using sub-queriend. Look at the data returned in the Results panel. Save the script.

Lab 6. Insert And Update Rows
Insert a new row into the table. Update a column value in certain rows of a table.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   INSERT INTO Test1 (Title, Type, Cost)
VALUES ('Test Title', 'business', 27.00)
3. Run the CREATE TABLE statement then the INSERT statement.
4. What determines where the row will be inserted?
5. Scroll down to this UPDATE this statement and run it:
   UPDATE Test1
SET Cost = Cost * 2
WHERE Type = 'business'
6. Write and test an UPDATE statement to increase all thecosts in the Test1 table by 10%.
7. Run the DELETE statements.

Lab 7. Import Data Into Tables
Import data from text files into the rows of the tables.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   BULK INSERT Authors
FROM 'C:\authors.txt'
WITH (DATAFILETYPE = 'CHAR')
3. Click to download text files. Unzip the folder then copy its files to the root directory of your computer: C:\ .
4. Run the BULK INSERT statements to import data into tables and save the script. Check the tables now contain data.
5. Does the table Authors have to exist before the BULK INSERT statement is run?

Lab 8. Format Data As XML
Write the results of a query to an XML document. Open an XML document for a query.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Paste this into the query window and have a good look at it.
   SELECT CustomerID, ContactName, CompanyName
FROM Customers
WHERE (CustomerID = N'ALFKI'
OR CustomerID = N'XYZAA')
ORDER BY CustomerID
FOR XML RAW
3. Run the first SELECT statement only. Then run the sp_xml_preparedocument and the other two SELECT statements. When selecting script to run include the integer variable declaration.
4. Which element starts the XML document that is generated by the SELECT statement?

Lab 9. Create A View
Create a view on tables in the Bookstore database. Modify data using the view.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   CREATE VIEW BookAuthorView
AS
SELECT a.FirstName, a.LastName, b.Title
FROM Authors a JOIN BookAuthors ba
ON a.AuthorID = ba.AuthorID
JOIN Books b
ON ba.TitleID = b.TitleID
3. Run the first CREATE VIEW statement. Then run the other statements to use, alter and delete the view.

Lab 10. Create A Function
Create a scalar and a table valued inline function in the Pubs database. Call both functions.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   CREATE FUNCTION SalesByStore (@storeid varchar(30))
RETURNS TABLE
AS
RETURN (SELECT title, qty
FROM sales s, titles t
WHERE s.stor_id = @storeid and
t.title_id = s.title_id)
3. Run the CREATE FUNCTION first statement. Call the function. Then run the other statements to create and call a second function.

Lab 11. Create A Trigger
Create a trigger that is run after data is inserted into the Authors table.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script. Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   CREATE TRIGGER dbo.insertindicator
ON dbo.authors
AFTER INSERT
AS
PRINT 'The insert trigger fired.'
3. Run the first CREATE TRIGGER statement. Then run the other CREATE TRIGGER statements to create an update and a delete trigger.
4. Why is the IF @@ROWCOUNT <> 0 statement needed in the delete trigger?

Lab 12. Create A Stored Procedure
Create a stored procedure to find customer details from an ID. Call the stored procedure.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script.Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
   CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.CustOrderHistRep
@CustomerID char(5)
AS --return a customers name and title
SELECT ContactName, ContactTitle
FROM Customers WHERE CustomerID = @CustomerID
--return products with total ordered by that customer
SELECT ProductName, Total=SUM(Quantity)
FROM Products P, [Order Details] OD, Orders O, Customers C
WHERE
C.CustomerID = @CustomerID AND C.CustomerID = O.CustomerID
AND O.OrderID = OD.OrderID AND OD.ProductID = P.ProductID
GROUP BY ProductName
GO
3. Run the first CREATE PROCEDURE statement. Then run the script to execute the stored procedure.
4. Which special character is used at the start of a parameter?

Lab 13. Create Indexes
Create indexes on the Northwind database. Inspect the execution plan to evaluate their performance.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Show the execution plan for queries by selecting the
   Query>Include Actual Execution Plan menu
3. Click to view the script. It includes SELECT queries on the Northwind database. Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it. Run the first three SELECT statements only.
4. Now run only this script to create an index on the Contact table.
   CREATE UNIQUE NONCLUSTERED INDEX Contact
ON customers(city, companyname, contactname, country, phone)

5. Now run the remaining two SELECT queries to test the index. Compare the performance of the queries by looking at their execution plans.Has the index made a difference.

Lab 14. Secure the Bookshop database.
Use scripts to authorise security accounts and grant permissions.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Click to view the script. Then paste all of the script into the query window and have a good look at it.
3. Add the following users to your PC from Control Panel > Users and Passwords
   • manager01
   • manager02
   • staff01
   • staff02
   • staff03
4. Using Computer Management Console > Local User and Groups add a group called Managers, then add the users manager01 & manager01 to group.
5. Look at this GRANT statement:
   GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
ON orders TO public
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
ON bookorders TO public
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
ON orderstatus TO public
6. Describe what exactly this statement does?
   EXEC sp_grantdbaccess @loginame = 'devuser'
7. Run the script to secure the database.

LAB 15. Using .NET Code In SQL Server 2008
Create and test a function in C# using Visual Studio.

1. Open Visual Studio 2010 and create a new Database project of type Visual C# SQL CLR Database Project.
2. When prompted to Add Database Reference, create a connection to the Adventure Works database.
3. Right-click the project in Solution Explorer and Add a New Item, select a User-Defined Function.
4. Click to view the code. Edit the code in the Function1.cs to include the declaration:
   public partial class UserDefinedFunctions
{
[Microsoft.SqlServer.Server.SqlFunction]
public static SqlString HelloSQLCLRVS()
{
return new SqlString("Hello SQLCLR, from Visual Studio!");
}
};
5. Test the function by adding this script to Test.sql, in the Test Scripts folder:
   select dbo.HelloSQLCLRVS()
6. Run the solution and check the results that are shown in the Output window.
7. Experiment with creating & testing stored procedures & triggers in C#.

LAB 16. Using Replication
Create a replication publication and subscription in Management Studio.

1. Create a new local publication in Management Studio’s Object Explorer, by right-clicking the Replication folder.
2. Use the New Publication Wizard to create a Merge publication on the Adventure Works database. Select several tables to include in the publication’s article.
3. Create a new local subscription to the publication you have just created, again by right-clicking the Replication folder.
4. Explore the options for creating publications and subscriptions in Object Explorer.

LAB 17. Using Integration Services
Use Import & Export Wizard to copy data between databases.

1. Launch the Import & Export Wizard from Management Studio’s Object Explorer, by right-clicking the Adventure Works database, then select the Tasks>Export Data menu options.
2. Use the wizard to export selected tables to a new database created on the same server.
3. Look at the new database you have just created to confirm that it contains the exported tables.
4. Experiment with using the Import and Export Wizard to move data between databases. Try, for example, importing an Excel spreadsheet in to a database.

LAB 18. Introduction to Reporting Services
Create a report from a table in the Adventure Works database.

1. Open Visual Studio 2010 and create a new reporting project. From the New Project dialog box select Visual C#>Reporting>Report Application.
   
2. In the Reporting Wizard select Database at the first step, then Dataset at the second.
3. In the Choose Data Connection step, select or create a connection to the Adventure Works database. Save the connection.
4. In the Choose Data Objects step select the Production.Product table.
5. Continue to complete and view the report.

Answers to Lab Questions

• Lab 1. The file size parameters measured in Megabytes (Mb).
• Lab 2. The lowest possible value for the AuthorID column is 101.
• Lab 3. The relationship between the Books and BooksAuthors tables is a one-to-many relationship.
• Lab 4 A SELECT query to give the total price for Titles priced more than £15 grouped by Type.
  SELECT Type, SUM(Price) AS TotalPrice
FROM Titles
WHERE Price > 15
GROUP BY Type
ORDER BY AvgPrice DESC
• Lab 5.
  • Show order details including a customer name and city. All orders are shown, even those without a customer.
  • Show the order details taken by Seattle employees.
• Lab 6. The primary key on the table determines that the row will be inserted at the end of the table.
• Lab 7. The table Authors has to exist before the BULK INSERT statement is run.
• Lab 8. The <row element starts the XML document that is generated by the SELECT statement.
• Lab 9. The IF @@ROWCOUNT <> 0 statement is needed in the delete trigger to ensure at least one row is deleted before the trigger fires.
• Lab 10. The @ character is used at the start of a parameter.

Back to beginning

List of Contents

Lab 1: Installing SQL Server
Lab 2: SQL Server Overview
Lab 3: Working with SQL Server Management Studio
Lab 4: Design and Administer Security Levels
Lab 5. Create Indexes
Lab 6: Managing Database and Log Files
Lab 7: Analyzing and Tuning Performance
Lab 8: Automating Administrative Tasks
Lab 9: Programming Replication
Lab 10: Using Integration Services

These labs uses the AdventureWorks and Northwind sample databases. If you do not have these installed, just follow the steps with a database that is installed. Alternatively, you can download and install the databases.

Lab 1: Installing SQL Server
Installing SQL Server 2008 on your PC from an installation DVD.

1. Insert the installation DVD in to the drive on your PC.
2. Select Hardware and Software Requirements from the Planning tab of SQL Server Installation Centre.
3. Select … add features to an existing application from the Installation tab of SQL Server Installation Centre.
4. if SQL Server 2008 is already installed on your PC, cancel the installation. Else work through thye steps to install SQL Server 2008.

Lab 2: SQL Server Overview
Explore the SQL Server client and configuration tools.

1. Launch SQL Server Management Studio from the Start Menu:
   Start>All Programs>Microsoft SQL Server 2008> SQL Server Management Studio.
2. Connect to an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine using Windows Authentication.
3. Use the View menu to show the main Management Studio windows:
   Object Explorer, Template Explorer, Registered Servers & Solution Explorer.
4. Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
5. View this script. It createsthe Northwind database. If Northwind is not already installed you can paste this into the query window & run it. The database and its objects will then be created.
6. Launch SQL Server Configuration Manager from the Start Menu:
   Start>All Programs>Microsoft SQL Server 2008> SQL Server Configuration Tools> Configuration Manager
7. In Configuration Manager show all the SQL Server services.
8. Right-click the SQL Server service. From the Context menu select Stop.
9. Right-click the SQL Server service. From the Context menu select Start.

Lab 3: Working with SQL Server Management Studio
Explore the main feature available in Management Studio.

1. Launch SQL Server Management Studio from the Start Menu:
   Start>All Programs>Microsoft SQL Server 2008> SQL Server Management Studio
2. Connect to an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine using Windows Authentication.
3. In Object Explorer expand:
   • Databases>AdventureWorks>Tables>Production.Product>Columns
   • Databases>AdventureWorks>Programmability>Stored Procedures
   • Databases>AdventureWorks>Security>Users
4. Explore the Solution Explorer and Template Explorer windows.
5. Right-click the AdventureWorks database. From the Context menu select :
   Script Database as>Create To>New Query Editor Window
6. Explore the Create Database script that has been generated. But do not run it!
7. Right-click the AdventureWorks database. From the Context menu select : >Properties.
8. Explore the database properties.
9. Right-click the server. From the Context menu select : >Properties.
10. Explore the server properties.

Lab 4: Design and Administer Security Levels
Add a login and user to SQL Server and use this to secure a database.

1. In Object Explorer expand:
   [Server]>Security>Logins
2. Right-click the Logins folder. From the Context menu select : New Login …
   • In the New Login dialog box:
   • Enter Login name: Login1.
   • Select the SQL Server authentication radio button.
   • Enter and confirm a password.
   • Remove the tick from the Enforce password policy check box.
   • Select AdventureWorks as the default database.
   • Click OK to create the login.
3. In Object Explorer expand:
   [Server]>Databases>AdventureWorks>Security>Users
4. Right-click the Users folder. From the Context menu select : New Users …In the New User dialog box:
   Enter User name: User1
5. Link this new user to the login you have just created:
   • Click the ellipses button [...] in the New User dialog box.
   • Click the Browse button.
   • Select Login1 from the Browse for Objects dialog box.
6. Assign permissions to the new user:
   • Select the Securables page in the New User dialog box.
   • Click the Search button.
   • Click the All object of type radio button.
   • Select the Tables check box.
   • Select several tables and as appropriate assign permissions to User1.
   • Click OK to create the user.
7. Confirm the user has been created and check its properties.

Lab 5. Create Indexes
Create indexes on the Northwind database.

1. In Management Studio Use the File>New>Query with Current Connection menu to open a new query window.
2. Show the execution plan for queries by selecting the
   Query>Include Actual Execution Plan menu
3. View this script. It includes SELECT queries on the Northwind database. Paste this into the query window & run the first three SELECT statements only .
4. Now run only this script to create an index on the Contact table.
   CREATE UNIQUE NONCLUSTERED INDEX Contact
ON customers(city, companyname, contactname, country, phone)

5. Now run the remaining two SELECT queries to test the index. Compare the performance of the queries by looking at their execution plans.Has the index made a difference.

Lab 6: Managing Database and Log Files
Shrink the Northwind database and log files.

1. In Management Studio create a new query.
2. Write this script:
   use Northwind
go
dbcc shrinkfile (Northwind_log,EMPTYFILE)
checkpoint
go
dbcc shrinkdatabase (Northwind)

3. Run and save this script.
4. View script file.

Lab 7. Analyzing and Tuning Performance
Exercise 1.
Analyze the cost of executing a query using its Estimated Execution Plan.

1. Open a new query window in Management Studio
2. Write and run various queries that return a result sets from the Customers table in the Northwind database. For example:
   SELECT * FROM customers
SELECT companyname, city FROM customers ORDER BY city
SELECT companyname, contactname FROM customers ORDER BY city
3. View the cost of these queries by selecting >Include Actual Execution Plan from the Query menu. Run various queries again.
4. Run this query again and view its execution plan:
   SELECT companyname, city FROM customers ORDER BY city

5. Create an index to reduce the cost of the query. For example:
   CREATE UNIQUE NONCLUSTERED INDEX Company
ON customers(city, companyname)
6. Run this query again. Is it’s cost reduced? Will other indexes reduce the cost more?
7. Save the script, but leave the query window open.
8. View script file.

Exercise 2.
Measure the performance of a query using SQL Profiler.

1. Launch SQL Profiler from Management Studio using the Tools>SQL Profiler menu.
2. Connect to an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine.
3. In the Trace Properties dialog box enter Northwind as the Trace Name.
4. Tick the Save to file check box. Enter NorthwindTrace for the File Name & save the file to your PC’s Desktop.
5. Select the Event Selection tab in SQL Profiler. Tick the Show all events check box.
6. Expand the TSQL row, then tick these events:
   • SQL:StmtStarting
   • SQL:StmtCompleted
7. Start SQL Profiler by clicking the Run button.
8. Execute the script from Exercise 1 from Management Studio.
9. In the trace of the scripts execution, look at the Duration column. How long have the statements taken to complete?
10. Create indexes for the queries in the script. The aim is to reduce the duration time of the queries.
11. Stop the trace and close SQL Profiler.

Lab 8: Automating Administrative Tasks
Create a maintenance plan to shrink and back up the Northwind database.

1. To launch the Maintenance Plan Wizard from Object Explorer in Management Studio, right-click the Management>Maintenance Plan folder.
2. From the Context menu select :
   Maintenance Plan Wizard
3. Click Next on the Wizard’s first step.
4. Enter the name Shrink and Backup, then provide a description on the wizards next step.
5. Click the Change button to schedule the maintenance. Plan the maintenance tasks to occur daily at midnight.
6. Select the Northwind database on the Wizard’s next step.
7. Select Shrink Database and Back Up Database(Full) on the Wizard’s next step.
8. Work through the remaining wizard steps to complete the maintenance plan for the Northwind database.

Lab 9: Programming Replication
Create a replication publication and subscription in Management Studio.

1. Configure replication in Management Studio’s Object Explorer, by right-clicking the Replication folder.
2. Create a new local publication in Object Explorer, by right-clicking the Replication folder.
3. Use the New Publication Wizard to create a Merge publication on the Adventure Works database. Select several tables to include in the publication’s article. But you do not need to filter table rows.
4. Enter Publication name AWPublication. Finish the wizard.
5. Create a new local subscription to the publication, AWPublication, you have just created, again by right-clicking the Replication folder. Use the New Subscription Wizard.
6. Create a new subscription database called, AWSubscribe, using the wizard.
7. Run the subscription under the SQL Server Agent service account. Create the subscription by finishing the wizard.
8. Explore other options for creating publications and subscriptions in Object Explorer.

Lab 10: Using Integration Services
Use Import & Export Wizard to copy data between databases.

1. Launch the Import & Export Wizard from Management Studio’s Object Explorer, by right-clicking the Adventure Works database, then select the Tasks>Export Data context menu options.
2. Use the wizard to export selected tables to a new database you create on the same server.
3. Click on the Edit Mappings button in the wizard. This allows column properties to be changed when data is moved from the source to the destination tables.
4. Look at the new database you have just created to confirm that it contains the exported tables.
5. Experiment with using the Import and Export Wizard to move data to databases. Try, for example, importing an Excel spreadsheet in to a database.

Back to beginning

I organize the VBug South West regional support group. We have monthly talks for software developers and project managers. You are welcome to come along.  For more details of the talks, just click:

http://cms.vbug.net/Regions/VBUG-Bristol/Bristol-Events.aspx

These talks can be about the latest products being rolled off the Microsoft production line.  Or they present an introduction to a new technology, with tips and tricks from industry experts.

We usually get an enthusiastic bunch who are keen to ask questions. The talks are free and held at held in Filton, outside Bristol at BAWA. Just click :

http://www.bawa.biz/

Address: BAWA 589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7RG

Tel: 0117 9768066

Access to BAWA is good from the M4, M5 & M32. Free parking is available, plus there is a bar. The talks run from 18.30 pm to about 20.30 pm.

The talks are hosted by myself, David Ringsell, david@pc-talk.co.uk and Steve Hallam, steve@plumsoft.co.uk.

I have delivered, in the last few years, many talks on .Net and SQL Server myself for VBug.

Here are details of our next next 3 talks:

Mind Control Your Computer In C# with Guy Smith-Ferrier

Date: 22/06/2011 at 18:30:00

Guy talks about how to control your computer with your mind – come and see!

Data Mining the Social Web with Gary Short

Date: 27/07/2011 18:30:00

With so much customer interaction happening on social web sites right now, companies need to know what kind of information they can extract from them. In this presentation, I’ll show you how to find out such information as: where you customers are, what they want, what they think of your products and who are the influencers in the network. This session is packed with code samples and will be both fun and useful for anyone who works at a company who already make use of, or who are thinking of making use of, social media as a marketing platform.

Gary Short works for Developer Express as the Technical Evangelist on the frameworks team. He has a deep interest in technical architecture, along with social media, especially on the data mining and analytics side. Gary is a C# MVP and gives presentations at user groups and conferences throughout the UK, Europe and the US.

Writing Applications For Smart Phones with Peter Shaw

Including smart phones running under Windows and Android operating systems

Date: 27/07/2011 18:30:00  TBC

David Ringsell June 2011

Objectives
With ASP.Net 4.0 training, delegates will be introduced to the .Net framework and will learn to develop web applications using C# 4.0.  At course completion delegates should be familiar with the framework, experienced in developing basic web application and conversant with database access using LINQ.  Applications will be created using Object Orientated programming.

After completing this course, delegates will be able to:

• Use Visual Studio 2010 effectively
• Learn C# 4.0
• Create commercial ASP.NET Web Applications
• Understand OO Programming, Classes, and Objects
• Debug Applications
• Develop user interfaces using Master Pages, Site Navigation and Themes
• Use ADO.Net and LINQ to read from and write to databases
• Develop rich internet applications using ASP.NET AJAX
• Create and call WCF services

Audience
This course has been designed primarily for experienced programmers new to the .Net development platform. Delegates experience solely in Windows application development or earlier versions of ASP.Net will also find the content beneficial.

Prerequisites
Before attending this workshop, students must:

• Be able to manage a solution environment using the Visual Studio 2010 IDE and tools
• Be able to program an application using a .NET Framework 4.0 compliant language
• Have a basic understanding of client-side scripts
• Have a basic understanding of HTML

Module 1: Introducing The .Net 4.0 Framework

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
• Languages In The .Net Framework
• The Common Language Runtime (CLR)
• Accessing Data With ADO.Net & XML
• Accessing The Web With ASP.Net

Module 2: Visual Studio 2010

• Useful Visual Studio Windows
• Creating Projects
• Project Anatomy
• The Files In A Project
• Solution Explorer
• Code Snippets

Module 3: C# Language Syntax

• Data Types
• Variables Declaration
• Operators
• Conditional Statements
• Looping Structures

Module 4: Classes & Objects

• Building Models
• Creating Classes And Objects
• Adding Constructors To A Class
• Adding Methods, Properties And Events
• Overloading Methods
• Property Procedures

Module 5: Debugging Applications

• Setting Breakpoints
• Stepping Through Code
• Debug Windows
• Watch Windows
• Call Stack

Module 6: ASP.Net Introduction

• Starting An ASP.Net Project
• Project Files
• Server Controls
• Server Event Handling
• The Page Lifecycle

Module 7: User Interface Development

• Master Pages
• Themes And Skins
• User Controls
• Website Navigation
• Validation Controls

Module 8: Configuration

• Website Configuration Settings
• Configuration Files Including The Web.Config Files
• Storing Application Settings And Configuration Strings
• The Website Administration Tool

Module 9: Membership & Personalisation

• Securing And Personalizing A Website
• Store User Details In The Membership Database
• Using Login Controls
• Website State Management Methods
• Using Viewstate To Store The State Of A Page

Module 10: Exception Handling

• Adding Try Catch Blocks To Code
• Page Level Exceptions
• Site Level Exceptions
• Custom Error Pages
• Tracing

Module 11: Data Access

• What Is ADO.Net
• Connection Object
• Command Object
• Data Readers
• Datasets And Dataadapters
• Using The Datasource Wizard

Module 12: Creating Responsive Pages With AJAX

• AJAX Architecture
• What Are Partial-Page Updates
• Using The Updatepanel Server Control
• Using Client-Side Scripts

Module 13: Data Acces With LINQ

• Why Do We Need LINQ
• Querying The Database
• Language Syntax For Querying
• Using The LINQ To SQL

Module 14: Using Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Services

• Service Orientated Architecture
• WCF Scenarios
• Mechanics Of Communication: Address, Contract, Binding
• Creating A Simple WCF Service
• Calling A WCF Service From A  Client Application

Module 15: Deployment

• How To Deploy A Web Application
• Deployments Methods
• Using Visual Studios Copy And Publish Tools
• Using Setup Projects
• Installing Assemblies In The GAC

Objectives
This C# course will enable delegates to develop applications in the C# programming language. Delegates will be able to program using the principles of object orientation. The course will also cover how to use the Visual Studio 2010 development environment to produce robust and maintainable applications.

Audience
This course is intended for the following types of software developers:

• New developers
• Developers who understand computer programming but may have learned programming by using a non-graphical language in a university

These developers want to build solutions by using C#; within the Microsoft .NET Framework. They also want to employ Object Orientated techniques to enhance their development skills.

Prerequisites
Before attending this course, students must have competency in the following areas:

• Familiarity and comfort with basic operating system functions such as file manipulation.
• Understanding of the basics of structured programming, including concepts such as flow control, variables and parameters, and function calls.
• At least 3 months experience developing applications in either a graphical or non-graphical environment, or equivalent knowledge.

Experience with object-oriented programming and concepts are not required.

Module 1. Principles of Object Orientation

• Creating models
• Classes & objects
• Encapsulation, specialisation & polymorphism

Module 2. Designing Applications with UML

• What Is UML
• UML Diagrams
• Use Case Diagrams
• Class Diagrams
• Interaction Diagrams

Module 3. Getting Started with C#

• C# and .Net
• The C# Language
• Visual Studio IDE

Module 4. C# Language Fundamentals

• Data Types
• Variables
• Constants
• Strings
• Statements
• Expressions

Module 5. Branching

• Conditional branching statements
• Unconditional branching statements
• Loops

Module 6. Operators

• Assignment
• Mathematical operators
• Increment & decrement
• Relational

Module 7. Classes and Objects

• Defining classes
• Constructors
• Static and instance members
• Destroying objects

Module 8. Inside Methods

• Overloading methods
• Encapsulating data with properties
• Returning multiple values

Module 9. Debugging

• Setting a breakpoint
• The Call stack

Module 10. Inheritance and Polymorphism

• Specialisation and generalisation
• Inheritance
• Polymorphism
• Abstract and sealed classes
• The root class: object
• Boxing and unboxing types

Module 11. Operator Overloading

• Using the Operator Keyword
• Creating Useful Operators
• Logical pairs
• Conversion Operators

Module 12. Structs

• Defining a Struct

Module 13. Interfaces

• Implementing and interface
• Implementing more than one interface
• Casting to an interface
• Extending and interface

Module 14. Arrays

• Declaring arrays
• Multidimensional arrays
• System.Array
• Indexers

Module 15. Collection Interfaces and Types

• The collection interfaces
• Array lists
• Queues and stacks

Module 16. Strings

• Creating strings
• Manipulating strings
• The StringBuilder class

Module 17. Throwing and Catching Exceptions

• The throw statement
• The try and catch statement
• How the call stack works
• Exception class methods and properties

Module 18. Delegates and Events

• Delegates
• Events

Module 19. Generics

• Generics: A Primer
• Paramatizing by data type
• System.Collections.Generics class

Objectives
This Visual Studio 2010 course will enable delegates to develop Windows and Web applications using Visual Studio 2010. The programming language used is C# and the course will cover the principles of object orientated programming. Delegates will be able to access data from a database using ADO.Net & LINQ. Delegates will progress to be able to access a remote application, by creating then calling a web service.

Audience
This course is intended for programmers who have some experience working with Visual Studio. They aim to extend their knowledge and learn some of the new features of Visual Studio 2010.

Prerequisites
Before attending this workshop, students must:

• Understanding of the basics of structured programming, including concepts such as flow control, variables and parameters, and function calls.
• At least 3 months experience developing applications in either a graphical or non-graphical environment, or equivalent knowledge.

Module 1: Introduction to Visual Studio 2010

• .NET and Visual Studio 2010 concepts
• .NET projects and files
• The Framework Class Library
• Common Language Runtime
• A tour of Visual Studio 2010

Module 1: C# Language Fundamentals

• Why C# and not VB
• Data types
• Value and reference types
• Branching and looping statements
• Delegates and event handling

Module 3: Create Reusable Objects

• Define classes
• Create and use objects in client code
• Create classes that use inheritance
• Define interfaces and use polymorphism
• Create shared members
• Create class events and handle them from a client application

Module 4: Newer Language Features

• Anonymous types
• Object and collection initialisers
• Partial classes and methods
• Lambda expressions
• Extension methods

Module 5: Exception Handling

• What is exception handling
• Using try, catch and finally styatements
• Creating custom exceptions
• Best practices

Module 6: Scalable Application Development

• The advantages of multi-tier applications
• Creating presentation, business and data access tiers
• Passing data between tiers

Module 7: Accessing Databases with ADO.NET

• List the benefits of ADO.NET
• Create applications by using ADO.NET
• List the main ADO.NET objects and their functions
• Use Visual Studio NET data designers and data binding
• Explain how XML integrates with ADO.NET

Module 8: Creating the Business Tier

• Analysis and design
• Creating business classes
• Creating classe relationships
• Using collections to hold objects

Module 9: Windows Presentation Layer Applications

• Why use windows forms
• Structure of windows forms
• Windows forms class hierarchy
• Using windows forms
• Using controls
• New controls in Visual Studio 2010
• Click-once deployment

Module 10: Web Presentation Layer Applications

• Creating web forms applications
• Understanding the page life cycle
• Adding server controls
• Page and control events
• Binding controls to data

Module 11: Creating Distributed Services

• What are distributed services
• The architecture of distributed services
• Call an XML Web service directly from a browser by using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
• Create a Web reference proxy for an XML Web service Web method and call the method from a Web Form
• Use the templates in Visual Studio NET to create an XML Web service

Module 12: Versioning and Deployment

• What are assemblies
• Private and shared assemblies
• The Global Assembly Cache (GAC)
• The ways of deploying windows and web applications
• Using setup projects

Module 13: Create Rich Client Applications with WPF

• Creating an application using WPF
• Using XAML to create the user interface
• Handling control events
• Binding to data to controls

Module 14: Accessing Data With LINQ

• Why use LINQ
• Querying data directly from C#
• How to write LINQ queries
• LINQ to objects
• LINQ to SQL
• LINQ to XML

Objectives

This Windows Presentation Foundation course provides students with the knowledge and skills to build and configure a WPF solution.

The programming language is C#.

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Create a WPF application.
• Build a user interface in a WPF application.
• Customize the appearance of a WPF application.
• Bind user interface controls to data sources.
• Bind user interface controls to collections.
• Create new controls in a WPF application.
• Manage documents in a WPF application.
• Add graphics and multimedia support to a WPF application.
• Configure and deploy WPF applications.

Audience

This course is intended for application developers who know how to build Windows Forms applications, custom user controls in .NET Framework 2.0 and how to use the common features of the base class library. They do not have to understand concepts such advanced UI threading and asynchronous programming, building custom controls from scratch or using graphics device interface (GDI). They also do not need experience building add-ins or custom designers in Microsoft Visual Studio development system.

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, students should have intermediate experience developing applications by using earlier versions of Microsoft Visual Studio. They should also be familiar with coding in C#, the .Net Framework and Windows Forms.

Module 1: Creating an Application by Using WPF

This module explains how to build a WPF application.

• Overview of WPF
• Creating a Simple WPF Application
• Handling Events and Commands
• Navigating Between Pages
• Applying the MVVM Design Pattern

Module 2: Building User Interfaces

This module explains how to build a user interface in a WPF application.

• Defining Page Layout
• Building User Interfaces by Using Content Controls
• Building User Interfaces by Using Items Controls
• Hosting Windows Forms Controls
• Drag and Drop Between Controls

Module 3: Customizing Appearance

This module explains how to customize the appearance of a WPF application.

• Sharing Logical Resources in an Application
• Creating Consistent User Interfaces by Using Styles
• Changing the Appearance of Controls by Using Control Templates
• Enhancing User Interfaces by Using Triggers and Animations

Module 4: Data Binding

This module explains how to bind user interface controls to data sources.

• Overview of Data Binding
• Creating a Data Binding
• Implementing Property Change Notification
• Converting Data
• Validating Data

Module 5: Data Binding to Collections

This module explains how to bind user interface controls to collections.

• Binding to Collections of Objects
• Presenting Data by Using Collection Views
• Presenting Data by Using Data Templates

Module 6: Creating New Controls

This module explains how to create new controls in a WPF application.

• Overview of Control Authoring
• Creating Controls

Module 7: Managing Documents

This module explains how to manage documents in a WPF application.

• Creating and Viewing Flow Documents
• Creating and Viewing Fixed Documents
• Packaging Documents
• Printing Documents

Module 8: Graphics and Multimedia

This module explains how to add graphics and multimedia support to a WPF application.

• Creating 2-D graphics
• Displaying Images
• Creating 3-D Graphics
• Manipulating the 3-D Environment
• Adding Multimedia

Module 9: Configuring and Deploying Applications in Windows Presentation Foundation

This module explains how to configure and deploy WPF applications.

• Deployment Options
• Deploying a Stand-Alone WPF Application
• Deploying an XBAP Application
• Configuring Manifest Settings

Objectives
This Windows Forms course will enable delegates to develop applications using Visual Studio 2010. This includes creating customised forms and controls. It will also cover the C# programming language, using the principles of object orientated programming. Delegates will be able to access data from a database and update this from a Windows form.

Audience
This workshop is intended for software developers who have a desire to learn more about specific technology areas in Windows application development.

Prerequisites
Before attending this workshop, students must:

• Understanding of the basics of structured programming, including concepts such as flow control, variables and parameters, and function calls.
• At least 3 months experience developing applications in either a graphical or non-graphical environment, or equivalent knowledge.

Module 1. Getting started with .Net

• What is .Net?
• Overview of the framework class libraries
• Understanding the Common Language Runtime (CLR)
• Compiling an application to a assembly
• A tour of the Visual Studio 2010 IDE

Module 2. C# Language Fundamentals

• Data Types
• Variables
• Constants
• Strings
• Statements
• Expressions

Module 3. Branching

• Conditional branching statements
• Unconditional branching statements
• Loops

Module 4. Operators

• Assignment
• Mathematical operators
• Increment & decrement
• Relational

Module 5. Strings

• Creating strings
• Manipulating strings
• The StringBuilder class

Module 6. Debugging

• Setting a breakpoint
• Stepping through lines of code
• The debugging windows
• The call stack

Module 7. Throwing and Catching Exceptions

• The throw statement
• The try, catch and finally statements
• How the call stack works
• Exception class methods and properties

Module 8. Principle of Object Orientation

• Creating models of systems
• Classes & objects
• Encapsulation, specialisation & polymorphism

Module 9. Classes and Objects

• Defining classes
• Creating class constructors
• Static and instance members
• Destroying objects

Module 10. Inside Methods

• Overloading methods
• Encapsulating data with properties
• Returning multiple values

Module 11. Inheritance and Polymorphism

• Specialisation and generalisation
• Inheritance
• Polymorphism
• Abstract and sealed classes
• The root class: object
• Boxing and unboxing types

Module 12. Interfaces

• Implementing and interface
• Implementing more than one interface
• Casting to an interface
• Extending and interface

Module 13. Delegates and Events

• Using delegates
• Using events

Module 14. Generics

• Type parameter for classes and methods
• Limit generic classes to hold only certain types of data
• Generic collections

Module 15. Building Applications with Windows Forms

• Why use windows forms?
• Structure of windows forms
• Windows forms class hierarchy
• Using windows forms
• Using controls
• New controls in visual studio 2010
• Click-once deployment

Module 16. Customizing Windows Forms and Controls

• Methods of authoring controls for windows forms
• Windows forms inheritance
• Creating the base form
• Creating the inherited form
• Creating custom controls

Module 17. Data Access

• List the benefits of ADO.NET
• Create applications by using ADO.NET
• List the main ADO.NET objects and their functions
• Use Visual Studio NET data designers and data binding
• Explain how XML integrates with ADO.NET

Module 18. Performing Asynchronous Tasks by Using Multithreaded Techniques

• Techniques for asynchronous programming
• Load a bitmap into a windows forms application asynchronously.
• Using multithreading to perform simultaneous operations
• Using the background worker component
• Synchronising data between threads

Objectives
This SQL Server course will enable delegates to program a database. This includes developing in Transact-SQL. The course will cover the structure of a SQL Server 2008 database. Delegates will be able to create stored procedures, triggers, functions and views. The course will cover improving database performance by indexing tables and using SQL Servers inbuilt tools. The course will also look at the new features in SQL Server 2008 that are not available in SQL Server 2008.

Audience
This course is designed for those who are responsible for implementing database objects and programming SQL Server databases by using Transact-SQL.

Prerequisites
An understanding of basic relational database concepts, including:

Logical and physical database design
Relationships between tables and columns (primary key and foreign key, one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many)
How data is stored in tables (rows and columns)

Module 1: SQL Server 2008 Overview

1. SQL Server 2008 Components and Architecture
2. SQL Server 2008 Developer Tools
3. SQL Server 2008 Security Implementation

Module 2: Language Features

1. SQL Server Programming Tools
2. Elements of Transact-SQL
3. SQL Server Object Names
4. Additional Language Elements

1. Local Variables
2. Operators
3. Functions

5. Ways to Execute Transact-SQL Statements
6. New Transact-SQL (T-SQL) Features in 2008

Module 3: Design A Database

1. Define Entities
2. Apply Normalisation
3. Database Objects
4. System Tables
5. Defining Databases
6. Setting Database Options
7. Managing Data and Log File Growth

Module 4 Implement Tables

1. Create Tables
2. Adding and Dropping a Column
3. Generating Column Values
4. Adding Constraints

Module 5: Access and Modify Data

1 Selecting Data
2. Using Sub Queries
3. Select Queries With Joins
4. Modifying Data
5. Importing Data To Tables
6. Writing And Reading XML

Module 6: Implement View

1. Introduction to Views
2. Advantages of Views
3. Defining Views
4. Modifying Data Through Views
5. Optimizing Performance by Using Views

Module 7: Implement Functions

Implement Functions 1. What Is a User-defined Function?
2. Defining User-defined Functions
3. Types of User-defined Functions

1. Scalar
2. Inline
3. Multi-statement

Module 8: Implement Triggers

1. Introduction to Triggers
2. Defining Triggers
3. How Triggers Work
4. Examples of Triggers
5. Performance Considerations

Module 9: Implementing Stored Procedures

1. What Is A Procedure?
2. Types Of Stored Procedure
3. Creating Stored Procedures
4. Declaring Parameters
5. Set Return Value In A Stored Procedure

Module 10: Indexing Tables to Improve Performance

1. Introduction to Indexes
2. Index Architecture
3. How SQL Server Retrieves Stored Data
4. How SQL Server Maintains Index and Heap Structures
5. Deciding Which Columns to Index

Module 11: Managing Transactions and Locks

1. Introduction to Transactions and Locks
2. Managing Transactions
3. SQL Server Locking
4. Managing Locks

Module 12: Design and Administer Security Levels

1. Design security plan
2. Administer authentication
3. Administer authorisation
4. Administer permissions
5. Administer users, groups and roles

Module 13: Data Access from Applications

1. ADO.NET architecture
2. Creating Windows-based applications that use ADO.NET
3. Connecting to a database
4. Creating a query
5. Using a DataSet object to manage data 6. Binding a DataGrid object to a data source

Module 14: Using .NET Code in SQL Server 2008

1. Writing SQLCLR Code
2. SQLCLR Code Modules
3. Managing Code Modules
4. SQLCLR Security
5. T-SQL vs. .NET Code

Module 15: Advanced Query Techniques

1. Full-Text Search
2. Storing and Processing XML
3. Using APPLY
4. Creating Recursive Queries
5. Creating Pivot Queries
6. Executing Dynamic SQL
7. The XML data type

Module 16: Analyzing and Tuning Performance

1. Evaluating Performance
2. Monitoring with SQL Server Profiler
3. Tuning Queries
4. Indexes and Partitions
5. Using the Database Engine Tuning Advisor
6. Understanding SQL Server Performance Problems

Module 17: Programming Replication

1. Overview of SQL Server Replication
2. Replication Programming Interfaces
3. Configuring Replication Synchronizing Data

Module 18: Using Integration Services

1. Importing and Exporting Data
2. Integration Services Tools
3. Building a Package
4. Troubleshooting a Package

Module 19: Introduction to Reporting Services

1. Understanding Reporting Services 2. Configuring Reporting Services 3. Building a Simple Report 4. Creating, Publishing, and Viewing Reports 5. Using and Managing Published Reports

Module 20: Using XML Web Services

1. Web Service architecture
2. Web Service protocols
3. Consuming an XML Web Service
4. Building an XML Web Service