Unresolved reference in SSDT using old SQL Server system views

Issue

if you’re developing databases in SSDT, like you should, you’re probably getting a lot of build warnings.
One of the warnings you’ll see the most often is the “unresolved reference”.
Usually you solve these by adding either the master, the msdb or some application database as a database reference.
This post is about a warning you might get when out of habit (or, if like me, you didn’t know any better yet) you’re using old system views like sys.sysprocesses. You expect it to work but it simply doesn’t…

SQL71502: Procedure has an unresolved references to object sys.sysprocesses

Even after you try add the master and msdb databases as references you’ll notice that you’ll still see “SQL71502: Procedure has an unresolved references to object sys.sysprocesses”.

 

Solution

The view sys.sysprocesses and several other system views only exist for backwards compatibility but they should still work. At least for now…
So what’s going on and how do we fix this?

As it turns out, there seem to be a couple of possibilities to fix this issue.

  1. You should be in master database context as the documentation notes.
    This means you need to prefix with the relevant database as in: master.sys.sysprocesses
  2. Rename sys.sysprocesses to dbo.sysprocesses
    Gert Drapers provided this solution on the msdn SSDT forum back in 2013 and it still works (at least for SQL Server 2014 with SSDT 14.0.61021.0)
  3. You might want to rewrite your specific query to use the new and relevant tables/views. This ensures your code won’t break in the future. Especially since you’re using a view that’s included for pre-SQL Server 2000 backwards compatibility.
    Refer to this mapping of system tables to system views in the documentation to help you rewrite your query.

The 3rd solution has my personal preference, as it seems to be the cleanest. But it does mean you’ll need to take a bit more time to rewrite and test your query.

What do you do when you come across this issue?

SQL Server 2017 Machine Learning Services – Offline Installer Issue

Situation

You’re trying to install SQL Server 2017 Machine Learning Services onto an existing SQL Server 2017 installation.
You select the checkboxes for R en Python because that’s how you roll.
And off you go to the next screens!

Issue

That’s when you remember it… Your server isn’t connected to the internet!
Pretty normal, but in your enthusiasm you completely forgot that SQL Server needs to download some binaries for the R and Python components you so desperately want on your precious machine!

Luckily, the installer comes to your rescue and shows you where to download those binaries it needs.
Turns out however… This link only is for one R component and the installer won’t let you pass to the next screen!

Solution

Microsoft has a complete list of all possible components you could ever want to install while offline. From SQL Server 2016 RTM, over to SQL Server 2017 CTP 1 and up to SQL Server 2017 CU 1.

You can find the full list over at docs.microsoft.com: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/advanced-analytics/r/installing-ml-components-without-internet-access

Hopefully, next time you’re installing ML Services, this will save you some time searching for why that “Next” button won’t become active.

 

I’m attending and presenting at… ALL THE EVENTS!

This year I’ve already presented at more events than I dreamt off at the start of the year (5).
And the invites keep coming in! (5 more!)
This is going to be a long read, a punishment from me to me because I slacked off in blogging in the past months.

So apart from being bored, there’s 2 reasons why you would want to read this post.
1) Interest in, but some fear of, attending and presenting at conferences, user group and community events in general.
2) You’re me from the future and you’re wondering about that amazement and the exciting feeling the young Jan had about these first events. You’re wondering about what fears you overcame and you want to look back at how it all started.

Expect to find the following:

  • UK Power BI Summit (2017/02/17)
  • Denver SQL Server User Group (2017/03/17)
  • Battle of the Beards (2017/03/29)
  • SQL Saturday Israel (2017/04/26)
  • Belgian Information Worked User Group (2017/05/09)
  • in short: 5 more events to find me at before the end of june!

So whichever reason you have, come on in and start reading!

Read moreI’m attending and presenting at… ALL THE EVENTS!

Goodbye Datazen, Hello Mobile Reports

24 hours ago I noticed CTP 3.2 being mentioned on MSDN and the download center.
A couple of hours ago it was released, AND HOW!

As we’re used by now, the SQL Server team has made a huge effort.
Get a jump start on all the new features here:

The real treat, and the subject of this blog post, lies in the integration of Datazen into SQL Server Reporting Services.


Mobile Reports released

I’m going to be very brief on this subject because it’s all still very new and I’m sure you want to get started yourself!

The workflow for mobile reports currently boils down to:

  • Authoring of reports in the SQL Server Mobile Report Publisher
  • Publish to on-premises SSRS
  • Consume in Power BI Mobile app

There’s even a new SSRS web portal which you might recognize if you ever used Datazen!

SQL-Server-Reporting-Services-web-portal[1]

For comparison, here’s the Datazen portal.

Datazen

Do you see what Microsoft did?
Perfect integration of Datazen into Reporting Services!
We even notice the differentiation being made between KPI’s, mobile reports and paginated reports.


Start your own Mobile Reporting!

  1. Get SQL Server CTP 3.2 over at the evaluation center.
  2. And get the CTP 3.2 downloads like Report Builder from the download center.
  3. While those are downloading, read up on

There is some sad news however, the Mobile Report Publisher is not available yet.
It is planned for the end of december.

IC840421[1]

Crucial step: Remember to provide Microsoft with a lot of feedback so they can improve the area’s that you think are not up to par yet.


Completion of the Microsoft BI Roadmap

If you’re wondering what the BI roadmap looks like, quickly check this blog post from almost 2 months ago!

After you’ve looked at the road map, you too will notice that this release is a huge leap for SQL Server. The on-premises BI stack now seems to be feature “complete”.
We already had

  • Spreadsheets (excel)
  • Paginated reports (SSRS)
  • Interactive reports (Power BI Desktop)

And we now also received Mobile Reports integrated in SQL Server!

The best thing probably is that your users can enjoy Mobile Reports and Power BI reports in one and the same app. This ensures that they will have the same experience and makes it a bit easier to manage for IT.

 

What are your thoughts on this course for Mobile Reporting in SQL Server?
Were you expecting something different from the Datazen integration?
Let me know in the comments or via twitter!

 

Microsoft Foundation Sessions at PASS Summit 2015

This years PASS Summit has seen some of the biggest announcements in SQL Server and Microsoft Business Intelligence history.

  • We’ve finally gotten a clear vision where Microsoft is heading.
    And it even makes sense!
  • Microsoft already was the leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Operational Database Management Systems
    But SQL Server 2016 will bring even more improvements.
  • In the past year, Power BI has gone from “OK” to “Nice” to “Wooooooooow“.
    With all the new announcements, it seems like Microsoft is not even taking it’s foot of the throttle.
  • Cortana Analytics Suite is Microsoft’s way to help you get insight and take action on your data.
    It’s basically everything you need for your Data Science scenario’s.

Below are some Microsoft Foundation sessions from the PASS Summit that talk about these products and what you can expect from them, now and in the future.

If you’re interested in just a list of features, check out Chris Webb’s blog post about the announcements.


Business Intelligence


Advanced Analytics


Big Data and Data Warehousing


Developing Modern Applications on Azure

 


Video’s via http://www.sqlpass.org/summit/2015/PASStv/Microsoft.aspx

Microsoft’s Vision for BI Reporting

Watch out everyone, here comes Microsoft’s vision for the future of BI Reporting!
Straight from the PASS Summit 2015, thanks to several people on twitter kind enough to share.

From On-premises to Cloud solutions, the vision is complete starting right now!


In other news, SQL Server 2016 CTP 3.0 has been announced.
Not only is it feature complete and amazing, it will just change the way we look at business intelligence.
Read more about it on the official blog and some more in this official post.

UPDATE:


Clicking below picture opens them in full size, for the last 2 it’s very useful because of the quality.
CloudandOnPremSolutions

MicrosoftProvidesCompleteSolution

TheFourMicrosoftBIREportTypes

This last picture is a bit blurry, but those who know the platform can discern the complete picture.

From creating Analytical and Power BI reports, to Mobile and Paginated reports.
It will all be manageable in the cloud on PowerBI.com or on-premises in Reporting Services.
And of course, the journey ends when the end user opens the reports on PowerBI.com, his mobile device or the corporate SharePoint.

VisionForMSBIReporting

 

SQL Server 2016 CTP 2.3 is here!

What a busy day, first great Power BI news in the form of a contest with huge prizes and of course the new version of the Personal Gateway but we can’t forget that SQL Server still serves most of that data you’re looking at.
And now there’s a new Community Technical Preview available!
Get the SQL Server 2016 CTP 2.3 download here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48726
The most fun enhancements are found in Reporting Services.
SSRS, finally, has a new HTML5 rendering engineSQLServerCTP2.3_HTML5 Rendering
It also has treemap charts
SQLServerCTP2.3_Treemap chart And who could forget the sunburst charts!SQLServerCTP2.3_Sunburst chart
Highlight of other enhancements include
SSAS
    – User interface for SSAS Extended Events
    – New DAX functions
    – New behaviors for DAX variables
    – Improved query generation for DirectQuery
Database Engine
    – Row-level Security
– AES Encryption for Endpoints
Master Data Services
    – Excel Add-in to manage business rules
    – M2M relationships in derived hierarchies
    – Merge conflicts
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