Datasheet

❑ Common Language Run-Time (CLR) integration—One of the most exciting additions to SQL

Server is the integration of the CLR. It is also possibly the most misunderstood. The CLR pro-

vides a hosted environment for managed code. No longer is it necessary to make calls to exter-

nal Application Programming Interfaces (API) via hard-to-manage extended stored procedures

written and compiled utilizing unmanaged code to perform advanced and programmatic func-

tions. Because the CLR is integrated in the Database Engine, database developers can now cre-

ate secure and reliable stored procedures, functions, triggers, aggregates, and data types

utilizing advanced C# and/or VB.NET features in the .NET Framework. The CLR in no way

makes T-SQL obsolete, because T-SQL still out-performs managed code in the traditional manip-

ulation of relational data. Where the CLR shines is in instances that require complex mathemati-

cal functions or that involve complex string logic. For an introductory look at the CLR see

Chapter 12.

For complete coverage of the CLR check out the book, Professional SQL Server 2005 CLR Stored

Procedures, Functions, and Triggers by Derek Comingore (due for release by Wrox Press in the Fall

of 2006).

Analysis Services

Analysis Services delivers Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) and Data Mining functionality for busi-

ness intelligence applications. As its name suggests, Analysis Services provides a very robust environ-

ment for the detailed analysis of data. It does this through user-created, multidimensional data

structures that contain de-normalized and aggregated data from diverse data sources (such as relational

databases, spreadsheets, flat files, and even other multidimensional sources).

The Data Mining component of Analysis Services allows the analysis of large quantities of data. This

data can be “mined” for hidden relationships and patterns that may be of interest to an organization’s

data analyst. An example of this could be the online book store that analyzes your searches and pur-

chases, comparing them to previous customers’ search and purchase patterns to offer you suggestions or

targeted advertisements. It could also be the cancer research group comparing health records and demo-

graphic data of patients to find some common pattern to the emergence of a particular form of cancer.

For a very detailed look at SQL Server 2005 Analysis Servers, check out the book, Professional SQL

Server Analysis Services 2005 with MDX, by Sivakumar Harinath and Stephen R. Quinn

(Indianapolis: Wrox Press, 2006).

Reporting Services

Reporting Services is a Web service–based solution for designing, deploying, and managing flexible,

dynamic Web-based reports, as well as traditional paper reports. These reports can contain information

from virtually any data source. Because Reporting Services is implemented as a Web service, it must be

installed on a server with Internet Information Services (IIS). However, IIS does not have to be installed

on a SQL Server. The Reporting Services databases are hosted on SQL Server 2005, but the Web service

itself can be configured on a separate server.

For a detailed description of SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services and information about how to imple-

ment and extend SQL Server 2005 reports, check out an excellent book written by four very talented

developers and personal friends, Professional SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (Indianapolis:

Wrox Press, 2006). Paul Turley, Todd Bryant, James Counihan, and Dave DuVarney are amazing guys

who I have had the great pleasure of working with over the past few years. You will not be disappointed.

Introducing SQL Server 2005

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