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[Focus]

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Build Your Own Automated Security Systems
Discover the keys to effective database-security testing: a well–thought-out testing plan, consistent reporting and bug-checking, and the use of scripts to automate testing tasks.
 — Dan Sawyer

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[Features]

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Custom Data Processing Extensions for Reporting Services
Good news: You no longer need to write the same code in multiple places in Reporting Services. You’ll be pleased to see how easily you can use custom data processing extensions to share data sets across multiple reports.
 — Andrew Potter


Database vs. Storage Replication
Are you unsure about whether to use database or storage replication to replicate your data? Here are three factors to consider before deciding which is best for you.
 — Mel Shum


No-Nonsense Reporting Tool
Check out Report Builder, a new and easy-to-learn ad hoc reporting tool in SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services.
 — Tyler Chessman


Open Windows of Opportunity
Aggregate and rank window functions benefit BI projects.
 — Dusan Petkovic

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[SQL Server Savvy]

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Configuration Manager or Surface Area Configuration Tool
SQL Server Configuration Manager and SQL Server Surface Area Configuration tool have a lot in common, but Microsoft MVPs provide a general rule of thumb for when to use these tools.
 — Brian Moran


Hint for SQL Server 2005 Backward-Compatibility
Learn how to restore the registry and environment settings required by DTS if you're upgrading to SQL Server 2005.
 — Brian Moran


Now, BOL Searches Beyond Online Help
Microsoft has changed the way that Books Online (BOL) works. Now, you have the added option to search Internet sources.
 — Brian Moran


SQL Server 2005 BOL Shortcuts
Yes, finding information about keyboard short cuts can be a challenge, but here's how users can find some of the common DExplore shortcuts.
 — Brian Moran

Tip: Watch the Watchers
It’s a good idea to know what third-party monitoring tools are doing if you choose to run them on your server. Here’s a problem you might encounter.
 — Brian Moran


Using NewSequentialID Instead of NewID
: SQL Server 2005 provides a new function called NewSequentialID that is very similar to NewID(). Find out which function gives better performance and which function lists results in sequential order.
 — Brian Moran

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[Editorial]

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Riding the x64 Wave
The x64 architecture is accelerating the move to 64-bit computing in the Windows Server space and database world. Both existing 32-bit executable programs and native 64-bit programs are benefiting with enhanced performance.
 — Michael Otey

SQL Server 2005 SP1
This first service pack isn’t driven by a bug issue. Instead, it's a push to deliver the features missing from the current release of SQL Server 2005–most notably database mirroring, an important feature in the very first CTPs of SQL Server 2005
 — Michael Otey

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[Inside SQL Server]

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Managing Data Space
SQL Server 2005’s enhanced storage model adds flexibility for storing variable-length data, addresses the storage needs of partitioned tables and indexes, and provides views for tracking an object’s space usage.
 — Kalen Delaney

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[T-SQL Black Belt]

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Custom Aggregations: User-Defined Aggregates
In this third part of a four-part series about custom aggregations, we look at a class of solutions that relies on UDAs.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[New Products]

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New Products, June 2006
Check out new and improved SQL Server–related products.
 — Blake Eno

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[SELECT TOP(X)]

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64-Bit Advantages
The 64-bit question faced by other administrators spells a 64-bit advantage for SQL Server admins—here's why!
 — Michael Otey

Setting Up an Oracle Linked Server
Access Oracle data from SQL Server using these basic steps.
 — Michael Otey

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[Ask Microsoft]

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Performing Very Large Set Updates
Microsoft’s Vaquar Pirzada gives you options for performing very large set updates in SQL Server 2000.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team

Transferring Identity Field Values
Microsoft’s Vaquar Pirzada explains how to use the sp_scriptdynamicupdproc stored procedure to include Identity field values in transactional replication.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team

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[From the Casebook of B.I. Powers, Consulting Detective ...]

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The Case of the All-Inclusive Collection
A fanatical collector demands a report that will let her see everything in her collections. Can B.I. Powers provide the solution by modifying a Reporting Services parameter?
 — Brian Larson

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[Exploring SQL Server 2005]

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The Proof Is in the Productivity
SQL Server 2005 took the test and, with the help of a few key features, keeps its promise to be more productive than SQL Server 2000 and Oracle 10g R2.
 — Matt Nunn

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[Buyer's Guide]

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SQL Server Performance Monitors
SQL Server performance monitoring tools can help you detect and resolve performance problems before they become serious. Which tool should you consider?
 — Trisha Pendley