SqlDev PowerShell 102: Working with Data and Variables

  By Michelle Ufford | August 26, 2013 - 8:44 am | , , ,
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In my previous post, SqlDev PowerShell 101: Getting Started with PowerShell, I walked through how to configure and use PowerShell to run basic commands. This post will cover working with data and variables in PowerShell. Specifically, I’m going to demonstrate how to connect to a database (i.e. SQL Server) using Invoke-Sqlcmd, retrieve data, store the data in a variable, and work with that variable. Note: Invoke-Sqlcmd does require the use of the sqlps module. If you don’t have it installed yet, check here for more information. From a new PowerShell window, write the following command: Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "SELECT DB_NAME();" Tip: You can auto-complete “Invoke-Sqlcmd” after typing “Invoke-S” and hitting TAB on your keyboard. What’s happening here? Well, because no database instance was specified, the cmdlet is connecting to the database on the local computer and running the query specified. “Column1″ is returned just as it would be in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), because no column name was specified. You can see this by running: Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "SELECT DB_NAME() AS MyDatabaseName;" But what if you don’t have a local database instance, or you want to connect to another database? No problem. Just add the -ServerInstance parameter: Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "SELECT DB_NAME() … Continue reading →

SqlDev PowerShell 101: Getting Started with PowerShell

  By Michelle Ufford | May 13, 2013 - 8:56 am | , ,
12 Comments

This is the first in a new series focused on PowerShell for SQL developers. That means using PowerShell to create and/or modify table schema, stored procedures, and indexes. In other words, automating code development and database tuning processes. This is mostly what I’ve been using PowerShell for so far, and I have to say, I am LOVING it! It’s allowing me to save *days* of coding and validating. Disclaimer: I am NOT a PowerShell expert, just a newly converted enthusiast who wants to save you from the headaches I myself have suffered while trying to learn PoSh. So I’ll mostly focus on the “how to’s” instead of the “why’s” in this series. I’m going to start at the very beginning and assume you have never opened PowerShell before in your life. Basically, I’m going to assume you’re where I was just a few short months ago. So let us start by finding the application. If you’re using Windows 7 or later, the good news is that PowerShell comes pre-installed on the OS. We just need to configure it to allow the execution of scripts. Click on the Start icon –> “Search programs and files” –> type “PowerShell.” The first time … Continue reading →

Conversion Issues Upgrading to PowerShell 3.0

  By Michelle Ufford | March 20, 2013 - 10:05 am | , , ,
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This post probably has a small audience, but there were a handful of conversion issues I ran into when I upgraded to PowerShell 3.0. It was difficult finding posts related to the errors I encountered, so I’m posting my experiences in the hopes that it helps someone else down the road. The first issue I encountered was calling PowerShell from xp_cmdshell on a remote SQL Server. In PowerShell 2.0, I used this syntax: EXEC xp_cmdshell ‘powershell.exe -Command "get-executionpolicy"’ # PoSh 2.0 Results AllSigned   # PoSh 3.0 Results ‘powershell.exe’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. To fix this issue, I had to fully qualify the PowerShell directory: EXEC xp_cmdshell ‘c:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -Command "get-executionpolicy"’ # PoSh 3.0 Results AllSigned Another issue I ran into was calling the Teradata .NET Data Provider. In PowerShell 2.0, I was calling the Invoke-SqlStmt function I previously posted to connect from a Windows server to a remote Teradata server. PS X:\> .\Invoke-SqlStmt.ps1 -C TDATA -S MyTDServerName -Q "SELECT * FROM DBC.Tables;" -Verbose Everything worked great. However, once I upgraded to PowerShell 3.0, I was getting this error: Exception calling "GetFactory" with "1" argument(s): "Unable to find the requested .Net … Continue reading →

Invoke-SqlStmt – PowerShell for SQL Server & Teradata Queries

  By Michelle Ufford | February 15, 2013 - 8:59 am | , , ,
7 Comments

I’ve been using PowerShell quite a bit the last few months, and I finally feel I’m to the point where I can start sharing some of what I’ve learned. I started a blog post that walks through using PowerShell for database development and automation, and I quickly realized that a lot of what I want to show is dependent upon the first function I wrote, Invoke-SqlStmt. And by “wrote,” I mean “blatantly borrowed from Chad Miller’s Invoke-SqlCmd2 script” . Thank you, Chad! The main difference is that my function supports connecting to either Teradata or SQL Server, depending on the parameters passed. One thing worth mentioning is that I spent a lot of time researching all of the different ways to connect to SQL Server. In the end, I went with ADO.NET, as a lot of what I will be doing is working with data sets (i.e. running a query against ServerA and writing the results to ServerB). Invoke-SqlStmt ################################################################################################## # # .NAME # Invoke-SqlStmt.ps1 # # .SYNOPSIS # Executes a SQL statement against either a Teradata or SQL Server source using ADO.NET # # .INPUT # C – Connection Type; Required; MSSQL or TDATA # S – Server Name; … Continue reading →

Index Definition Audit Script

  By Michelle Ufford | October 15, 2012 - 8:01 am | , ,
8 Comments

Recently, I needed to audit indexes on two different servers. I wanted to compare things like index keys and included columns, partitioning keys, unique constraints, clustered indexes and primary keys, and filter index definitions. Basically, I wanted to make sure that the indexing of two databases on two different servers were completely in sync. To do this, I wrote the following scripts. The first script will audit a single database or even a single table. The second script once more makes use of Aaron Bertrand’s sp_foreachdb procedure to iterate through every database on a server. To do a quick and easy compare, I dumped the results to a single table on each server and used Red Gate’s SQL Data Compare to find the differences. This is another metadata script, so it should be fairly lightweight. That said, all of the usual disclaimers apply: This script will only run on SQL 2008 or newer because of the filtered index component. See Patrick’s solution in the comments below for a mod that works in 2005 too. It worked for me, but YMMV depending on editions, collations, creative settings, etc. I don’t currently have access to any instances older than SQL Server 2012, … Continue reading →

Accelerating ETL Data Retrieval

  By Michelle Ufford | October 8, 2012 - 10:08 am | , , , ,
1 Comment

As I’ve mentioned previously, SQL Server 2012 Integration Services Design Patterns is now available on Amazon. PASS has invited the ENTIRE author team to give a pre-conference training session at Summit 2012. Precons are all-day training events and are held on the days before Summit. Our precon will be held on Monday, November 5th. I’ve attended several precons at Summit, and in my opinion, they provide unparalleled depth and access to the presenters. I expect our precon will be no different. So what will I be presenting on? Good question. I’m going to talk about Accelerating ETL Data Retrieval. Specifically, I’ll discuss strategies for retrieving data for full loads vs. incremental loads, and I’ll explore some strategies for retrieving data from large tables. To clarify “large,” since everyone has a different definition, I’ve successfully employed these strategies on tables with 10 billion rows. Now you might be reading this and thinking, “Hey, that doesn’t sound like SSIS!” Well… yes and no. While I will be discussing some strategies within SSIS, most of what I discuss will take place at the database layer. In fact, most of my content could be useful for any ETL tool. I still think it’s a … Continue reading →

Go Daddy Insiders

  By Michelle Ufford | October 3, 2012 - 1:09 pm | ,
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I don’t hide the fact that I work at Go Daddy. All discussions of advertising methods aside, it’s a great company to work for. Not only am I treated well as an employee, I also get to work in a world-class technical environment. However, the marketing campaigns tend to steal the spotlight. As a result, few people are aware of technology that it takes to be the #1 hosting provider in the world. Some examples of little-known facts about Go Daddy: 10 billion DNS queries answered daily Over 35,000 servers & 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art global data centers 25 petabytes — yes, petabytes! — of networked data storage Pretty cool, huh? Go Daddy has launched a new blog called Inside Go Daddy as a way to share all the nitty gritty details of what it takes to support this kind of environment. Here’s a blurb from the site: This is your inside source for what’s going on with Go Daddy’s tech experts. You’ll get insight and opinions from Go Daddy’s tech leaders on industry topics, company projects & open source initiatives … the leading edge, unconventional, “behind-the-scenes” information you won’t find anywhere else. It’s not PR, it’s not executive … Continue reading →

SQL Agent Job Script

  By Michelle Ufford | September 18, 2012 - 9:53 pm | , , ,
16 Comments

I’ve been working on a script for a demo in my upcoming 24 Hours of PASS presentation, which I thought I’d share on my blog. In the presentation, I use this script to demonstrate how to execute one or more queries dynamically against a list of SQL Server instances. The script itself explores SQL Agent Job metadata to get job statuses — when the job last ran, when it will run again, an aggregate count of the number of successful and failed executions in the queried time period, T-SQL code to disable the job, etc. I’ve only tested this in a handful of DEV and PROD environments, so please tell me if you experience any issues in your environment when running the script. As with most of my scripts, this will only work on SQL Server 2005 and newer. I was planning to send the SQL Server development team a case of #bacon had they finally fixed the sysjob% date and time columns in SQL Server 2012, but alas, it seems they shall sadly remain pork-free. Credit for the logic that handles the time conversion goes to some awesome community member who posted it on the MSDN forum. I wish … Continue reading →

SSIS Design Patterns

  By Michelle Ufford | September 5, 2012 - 5:30 am | , ,
6 Comments

Have you ever been tasked with a project that you know has been done before, probably thousands of times, but you didn’t know where to start because it was new to you? If you’re nodding your head yes, you’re not alone. The fact is, we all have. Almost two years ago, Andy Leonard invited me to be part of a book project. He had a vision of compiling a “recipe book” of common tasks that nearly every ETL professional encounters at some point in his or her career. Whereas most technical books explain how to use the product or specific features, Andy wanted to create a pattern-oriented book that would help jumpstart an SSIS project. With some trepidation, I humbly agreed to join the outstanding group of authors Andy had assembled: Andy Leonard (Blog | Twitter) Matt Masson (Blog| Twitter) Tim Mitchell (Blog | Twitter) Jessica Moss (Blog | Twitter) I was excited about this project for three reasons. First, the incredible list of authors. These are the folks that I have learned SSIS from! To be included amongst their ranks is a deep honor for me. Secondly, I couldn’t keep track of the number of times such a book … Continue reading →