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Wednesday, November 11, 1998 Dear SQL Server Professionals, The purpose of this message is to provide you with the latest information about the Heartland Users Groups' SQL Server SIG. This e-mail message was sent to you as a "blind copy" to protect your privacy. Please feel free to forward this message on to whomever you feel may have an interest in the Heartland Users Groups and/or the SQL Server SIG. If you wish to be removed from this e-mail list simply send a reply to this message and indicate so. RECAP OF NOVEMBER 5th SQL SERVER SIG MEETING: ************************************************************ The November SQL Server SIG meeting was held on Thursday, November 5, 1998 at 5:30 PM at the offices of Analysts International Corporation, located in the Broadway Summit Building, 3101 Broadway, Suite 101, Kansas City, MO. Again, we thank Analysts International Corporation for providing us with refreshments and the meeting place. The topic of this meeting was a roundtable discussion in which meeting participants were encouraged to "show and tell" how their environments use SQL Server. The purpose of the roundtable discussion was to encourage SQL Server SIG participants to share information with each other to gain an appreciation for the similarities and differences among their SQL Server environments. Nine members presented details what their environments were doing with SQL Server. Here are some highlights: Rob Kraft of Advanced Technical Solutions is a member of a team developing a product that will be supported on multiple database platforms. The application is for a city infrastructure information system and is developed in C++ and ER Studio. Rob shared that developing a database application for multiple platforms is challenging because database features and implementation techniques available on one database platform cannot always be similarly implemented on another database platform. Matt Crouch of Analysts International Corporation is a consultant on assignment at American Angus in St. Joseph, MO. Matt is a member of a development team that is responsible for the conversion of a mainframe database system to SQL Server and the accompanying knowledge transfer required to get the mainframe persons comfortable with the new client-server environment. Matt is involved with both database administration and development work using PowerBuilder. Larry Gordon is an independent contractor who develops custom solutions using Microsoft Access and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Larry's interest is to learn more about SQL Server because he views the up-coming SQL Server version 7.0 as a potential alternate database platform for some of his current and future clients. Tom Van Hengel is the computer "jack of all trades" for Strasser Hardware. Tom shared his experiences with integrating Strasser's Unix-based CCI / Triad invoice and inventory systems with Strasser's new NT / Backoffice network. In addition to networking and database functions, Tom is also involved with software development work using PowerBuilder. Cecelia McMaster is a DBA for USP&C, which is a telephone services company in Raytown, MO. Cecelia just started with USP&C and is in the processes of getting acclimated to the environment. USP&C has a 30 gigabyte SQL Server database that features 4 CPUs, 1 gigabyte of RAM, and completely redundant hardware fall-back. USP&C has applications developed in Visual Basic that were converted from FoxPro. Jennifer Utsler is a DBA for UMB Bank. Jennifer is new to UMB and her first task is to assume centralized control over numerous autonomous departmental SQL Servers at UMB. Some applications in Jennifer's environment include an Optika document management systems to support signature verifications and brokerage systems. Jennifer recently left USP&C, so she and Cecelia had a lot to share with each other! Mark Davis is a DBA for One System Group, which is the data processing organization for Farmland Industries. Mark is a former mainframe DBA who has recently been charged with providing DBA support for SQL Server. Some applications in Mark's environment include problem tracking and food plant automation. Mark had recently "networked" with some other members of the SQL Server SIG to help resolve a data replication issue he was experiencing. Bob Van Cleave is a DBA for Fireman's Fund Agribusiness. Bob's environment was recently converted from FoxPro to SQL Server. The primary applications in Bob's environment are in support of crop insurance systems. Brent Huscher is a DBA for Payless Cashways, Inc. and is responsible for managing five production SQL Servers supporting about 350 users at Payless' corporate office. Brent's environment has a number of packaged applications, including Optika's document management systems, Tivoli's Expert Advisor (a help-desk expert system), and McAfee's Zero Administration Client (a hardware inventory / software license / software distribution system). Brent also provides SQL Server database support for a number of in-house systems developed in PowerBuilder. SQL SERVER 7.0 LAUNCH: Monday, 11/16/1998 ************************************************************ Microsoft will launch SQL Server 7.0 at Comdex in Las Vegas on November 16, 1998. Locally, you can join in the celebration by viewing the event live via satellite. This FREE event runs from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Monday, November 16, 1998 at the Conference Center of the Business Technology Association, 12411 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO. See the flyer at http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlmsevent.html for more details or to register, go to http://www.microsoft.com/midamerica/events and enter event code 20411 and VIP code E99. To register by phone: 800.550.4300 or by FAX: 800.896.9329. BUILDING GREAT SQL SERVER 7.0 APPS: Wednesday, 11/18/1998 ************************************************************ Join Microsoft as they provide specific recommendations for building well-designed SQL Server 7.0 applications for the Windows DNA platform. Topics include API selection, server extensibility methodologies and approaches to multi-tier application development with SQL Server 7.0. Also discussed are locking/concurrency strategies, cursor selection and application migration issues. This FREE event runs from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM on Wednesday, November 18, 1998 at Penn Valley Community College, 3201 Southwest Trafficway, Kansas City, MO. To register, go to http://www.microsoft.com/midamerica/events and enter event code 20945. To register by phone: 800.550.4300 or by FAX: 800.896.9329. NEXT SQL SERVER SIG MEETING: Thursday, 12/03/1998 ************************************************************ The December SQL Server SIG meeting will be held on Thursday, December 3, 1998 at 5:30 PM. This meeting will be hosted at the offices of Analysts International Corporation, located in the Broadway Summit Building, 3101 Broadway, Suite 101, Kansas City, MO. This building is situated on the SOUTHEAST corner of 31st Street and Broadway. AIC's offices are on the first floor. Please use the entrance located on the SOUTH side of the building. Parking in the building lot is FREE. Rob Kraft will be presenting "Optimizing Performance with RDO and DAO". Rob is works for Advanced Technical Solutions (ATS) as a software developer, is the leader of the VB SIG, and is a former SQL Server instructor. GENERAL INFORMATION ************************************************************ 1. The regular meeting time for the monthly SQL Server SIG meeting is 5:30 PM on the first Thursday of every month. This time is in effect for all SQL Server SIG meetings for the rest of 1998. 2. Please let me know if you have an opinion about what time to hold SQL Server SIG meetings in 1999. Some persons have expressed that 5:30 PM is too early to allow for some persons to attend. I need to know your feedback, whether it is in favor of 5:30 PM or for another time. Please submit your feedback to me via e-mail or by telephone (see below for contact information). 3. Here is the schedule for the next three SQL Server SIG meetings: a. Thursday, December 3, 1998 @ 5:30 PM at AIC, 3101 Broadway, Suite 101 b. Thursday, January 7, 1999 @ time and place TBA c. Thursday, February 4, 1999 @ time and place TBA VOLUNTEERS WANTED ! ! ! ************************************************************ The SQL Server SIG board is looking for two volunteers to serve as the SIG's membership chair and programs chair. Please contact me or any other SQL Server SIG officer if you would like to volunteer to serve in either position. See the following web page for descriptions of the duties of all of the SQL Server SIG offices: http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlofficers.html . Also, we are always looking for volunteers to be presenters for SQL Server SIG meetings. If you or someone you know is interested in presenting a topic of interest to SQL Server professionals, please contact me or any other SQL Server SIG officer. MEETING PLACE WANTED ! ! ! ************************************************************ We are looking for a place to hold our January and February 1999 SQL Server SIG meetings. Please let me or any SQL Server SIG board member know if you are aware of a suitable place that can accommodate up to 30 persons. UPCOMING HEARTLAND USERS GROUPS EVENTS ***************************************************************** All Heartland Users Groups' meetings are open to the general public. Joining the Heartland Users Groups entitles you to receive door prizes and the monthly newsletter. Please consider joining -- an annual membership is only $25.00. You can obtain a membership form at any of the Heartland Users Groups' events. Here is a calendar of upcoming Heartland Users Groups events: Wednesday, November 11, 1998 at 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM C++ SIG At Step 1, Inc. 10551 Barkley, Suite 117, OP, KS See http://www.kcx.com/c/ for details Thursday, November 12, 1998 at 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM Digital Nervous System (presented by Microsoft) At American Heartland Theater - Crown Center 2450 Grand BLVD, KC, MO See http://www.microsoft.com/midamerica/events Register in advance; use event code 20948 Phone:800.550.4300 / FAX:800.896.9329 Saturday, November 14, 1998 at 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Win 9x SIG At COMP-USA 11421 Metcalf, OP, KS Monday, November 16, 1998 at 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM SQL Server 7.0 Launch (presented by Microsoft) At Business Technology Center 12411 Wornall RD, KC, MO See http://www.microsoft.com/midamerica/events Register in advance; use event code 20411 Phone:800.550.4300 / FAX:800.896.9329 Monday, November 16, 1998 at 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM General Meeting - "Encryption", presented by Jim Wilson of KCX At Johnson County Community College Room CEC 211, OP, KS see http://www.hugkc.org for details Tuesday, November 17, 1998 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Smalltalk SIG At location TBA See http://www.kcx.com/smalltalk/ for details Wednesday, November 18, 1998 at 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Guidelines for Building Great SQL Server 7.0 Applications (presented by Microsoft) At Penn Valley Community College 3201 Southwest Trafficway, KC, MO See http://www.microsoft.com/midamerica/events Register in advance; use event code 20945 Phone:800.550.4300 / FAX:800.896.9329 Wednesday, November 18, 1998 at 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Access SIG At Johnson County Community College Room CEC 211, OP, KS See http://www.kcx.com/accessvb/logon.asp for details Tuesday, November 24, 1998 at 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Visual Basic SIG At Johnson County Community College Room CEC 234, OP, KS See http://www.kcx.com/accessvb/logon.asp for details Thursday, December 3, 1998 at 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM SQL Server SIG -- Rob Kraft presents Optimizing Performance with RDO and DAO At Analysts International Corporation 3101 Broadway, Suite 101, KC, MO See http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlserver.html for details Monday, December 21, 1998 at 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM General Meeting - Holiday Networking Party At Johnson County Community College Room GEB 233, OP, KS see http://www.hugkc.org for details MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ************************************************************ The Heartland Users Groups' home page is at: http://www.hugkc.org . The SQL Server SIG's home page is at: http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlserver.html . Feel free to offer any ideas for improving the SQL Server SIG's page or for adding any links. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, criticisms, and/or referrals of persons who may be potentially interested in the SQL Server SIG. |