SSIS MS training and sample packages.

The first step to start learning SSIS is to download the 'Adventureworks' Database from

http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/

and download the sample packages from http://msftisprodsamples.codeplex.com/

Also more advanced resources that could help:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc966529.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=b1145e7a-a4e3-4d14-b1e7-d1d823b6a447

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=705B03F3-1BBF-417F-9E63-92A00A4744E6

MS SQL 2008 R2 Tutorials

Therse tutorials will help you get your feet wet with SQL 2008 R2, introduced to the new featues.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms167593.aspx

SSIS The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine.

Hi, ever tried to read or write to an excel file and got that error? 

"The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine."

Well it just happened to me today, I just got a freshly built machine, windows 7 ultimate 64BIT, 12 GB RAM, and Office 2010 installed.

Anyway after investigating the issue, just make sure and load the 2007 Office System Driver: Data Connectivity Components from:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=7554F536-8C28-4598-9B72-EF94E038C891&displaylang=en

That solved the issue for me..

Create Restore Point in Windows 7

To create a restore point in windows 7:

1-click the Start button (the windows logo round button), right-clicking Computer, and then click Properties, that will give you the system properties.

2-In the left pane, click System protection.

3-Click the System Protection tab, and then click Create.

4-It'll prompt for a description,  type a description, and then click Create.

That's It!!

MDX & DAX Formating tool.

Sweet and short, like the post title said, it is the online version of the MDX Studio product. The full version can be downloaded from http://www.mosha.com/msolap/mdxstudio.htm
For discussion, bug reports, feature suggestions etc - please visit MDX Studio forum.

http://mdx.mosha.com/default.aspx

SQL Server Activity Monitor

I had hard time today trying to find out where Microsoft hed the Activity monitor in SQL 2008, it's in the tool bar itself, as a graph icon, dispite it's old location in 2005 under the tools menu.