Professional Database Developers Aldex Software Ltd.
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Aldex Software release SQLMetaTool, a new SQL Server utility (6 November 2009) SQLMetaTool is a standalone software tool that is designed to extract information, or more specifically metadata (data about data), from existing SQL Server databases and stores this information in a central database. This central database can then be interrogated to retrieve details about the original databases in a unified and easy to use manner. SQLMetaTool supports all editions of Microsoft SQL Server 2000, 2005 and 2008 and will be invaluable for both DBAs and developers. Some of it’s many features include a source code repository, database object histories, string search functions, a data dictionary including a ‘suspect’ column viewer, displays of database settings and values, graphs of table sizes and index fragmentation and a dependency viewer. Further details and a free evaluation mode download are available from www.aldexsoftware.co.uk/SQLMetaTool

SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 3 released (16 Dec 2008) Service Pack 3 was finally released on Dec 16, 2008 after a long wait (it's been nearly two years since SP2 came out). The various downloads can be found here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/sqlserver/bb671254.aspx. Note that there is a one set of downloads for the paid for editions of SQL Server and another for SQL Server Express. After upgrading you should be on version 9.00.4035.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) released again! (8 May 2008) Service Pack 3 for Windows XP has been released again after the initial release was pulled due to compatibility problems with Microsoft Dynamics. It rolls up all of the isolated bug fixes since the last service pack but does not introduce any major new functionality. The last XP service pack (SP2 was released way back in August 2004 - so it's been a long wait).

Mainstream support for SQL Server 2000 ended 8 April 2008 Mainstream support for SQL Server 2000 (all versions) has now ended. Extended support is available for another 5 years.

Windows Server 2003 SP2 Released (20 March 2007) Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003 has finally been released after a long gestation. It includes a host of bug fixes and patches as well as a few minor enhancements (WPA2 security, Management Console 3). It also has performance enhancements that will affect SQL Server 2005.

Foxpro discontinued  The current version of Foxpro (Visual Poxpro 9) is the last version of this venerable database to be released by Microsoft. There will be no version 10. Version 9 will however receive an enhancement (codename "Sedena") due to be released in summer 2007.

SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (SP2) released 20 Feb 2007  This is a physically large service pack (200Mb) so prepare for a long download. It includes the usual bug fixes and enhancements including Sharepoint integration for Reporting Services and improvements to Maintenance Plans. Note also that SP2 is required if you plan to run SQL Server 2005 on Vista! NB: Microsoft found a bug in the service pack soon after launch and have released a hotfix on 5th March 2007. This is available separately but has now been rolled up into the bugfixed SP2a release. Make sure you use SP2a and not the original, unpatched, SP2 version.

Office 2007 (inc. Access 2007) released November 2006  This is a major new release of Office with a totally new user interface (the Ribbon). This works well for Word which is a significantly improved product. Unfortunately we are less than impressed by the changes to Access! Microsoft appear to have re-focussed Access at power users; people who want something a bit more powerful than Excel but who don't have the training and expertise (or the inclination) to develop professional quality relational databases. In the past this group of people was forced to learn some of the disciplines of database design but a number of these constraints have been removed or modified. Two of our least favourite changes are the new multi-valued database fields and the recommendation to use macros instead of VBA (emphasised by a range of template applications all using macros). The first reduces the  integrity of your database and the second makes anything other than a trivial application a nightmare to support. Oh, and did we mention that security has been downgraded as well... the existing Access security was 'too difficult' so if you have any sensitive data then Access may not be the best place to store it. Having said that the target audience of power users will probably like the changes - at least initially. The problems will arise when that Access 2007 application, developed as a small 'one-off' job, evolves to become a critical business system as so many of them do! (been there, seen it, got the T-shirt! x 1000).

Windows 98 Support Ends  Support for Windows 98 and Windows ME, which was extended due to a public outcry when it was previously slated to end, has now finally ended. Anyone using Windows 98, other than someone using it on a stand-alone computer not networked, connected to the Internet or having new software installed on it (which means virtually everyone) should upgrade to a more modern operating system. In practice this will probably mean retiring the old Windows 98 machine and buying an new computer.

SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1 released 18 April 2006  This is a surprisingly large release for a Service Pack so soon after the original launch of SQL Server 2005 some six months ago. Reading between the lines it is primarily a fill-in for those features that Microsoft were unable to fully complete by the original release in November 2005., plus the usual bug fixes. The most notable enhancements are database mirroring and SQL Server Management Studio Express.

Copyright ©2006, Aldex Software Ltd.

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