SQL Server 2008 R2 Update For Developers Training Kit – January 2011 Update

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Today I’m pleased to announce the availability of the SQL Server 2008 R2 Update For Developers Training Kit January 2011 Update.  This is a great resource for developers, trainers, consultants and evangelists who need to understand the key improvements introduced in SQL Server 2008 R2 from a developer perspective. It contains a rich set of presentations, demos, hands-on labs and videos that are perfect for self-paced learning or for conducting your own training.

The January 2011 update includes lots of great new content and several usability improvements. See below for more details on what’s new.

The easiest way to get started with the training kit is to download it, install it, open default.htm and browse the kit for the content that you are most interested in. Many of the presentations and demos in the training kit include a video that you can watch to familiarize yourself with the content. When you are ready for some hands-on experience, try installing one of the demos or hands-on labs. Each of them includes a configuration wizard that simplifies installation.

You can download the training kit now at the following URL:

https://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9710868

This training kit is brought to you by the D&PE Platform Evangelism team.  Thanks for your interest in developing Microsoft SQL Server based solutions!

New Content: Build Your First BI Solution with SQL Server 2008 R2

This update includes a rich new set of content designed for developers who want to learn how to build their first Microsoft Business Intelligence solution with SQL Server 2008 R2.   Microsoft BI solutions leverage your existing technology investments in .NET, SQL Server and Office to develop rich integrated reporting and analytics experiences that empower users to gain access to accurate, up-to-date information for better, more relevant decision making.

This content is a complete training course that contains eleven units covering all the key aspects of Microsoft BI solution development.  You can find it by navigating to the Getting Started  > BI Developers page.  Here is a summary of what’s included:

  • 31 presentations (PowerPoint slides, videos and transcripts included)
  • 27 demos (installer scripts, videos and transcripts included)
  • 12 hands on labs (installer scripts included)

Here is a breakdown of each unit and its associated content:

  1. Build Your First Microsoft BI Solution with SQL Server 2008 R2
    Presentation: Understanding Business Intelligence
    Demo: Delivering Information to Decision Makers with a Microsoft BI Solution
    Presentation: Introducing Microsoft BI Solution Development
    Demo: Introducing the Microsoft BI Development Toolset
  2. Introduction to BI Modeling Techniques
    Presentation: Designing Data Models for Microsoft BI Solutions
    Demo: Exploring a Sample Dimensional Data Model
    Presentation: Designing Semantic Models for Microsoft BI Solutions
    Demo: Creating a Data Model with the Microsoft Entity Framework
    Hands On Lab: Your First Look at the SQL Server 2008 R2 Sample Databases
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Semantic Model with the ADO.NET Entity Framework
  3. Introduction to SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services
    Presentation: Introducing ETL Processing with SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services
    Presentation: Implementing Control Flow in a SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services Package
    Demo: Implementing Control Flow in a SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services Package
    Presentation: Implementing Data Flow Tasks in a SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services Package
    Presentation: Loading Fact and Dimension Tables in a SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services Package
    Demo: Implementing Data Flow in a SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services Package
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Extract-Transform-Load Process with SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services
  4. Introduction to SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services
    Presentation: Reporting Fundamentals with SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services
    Presentation: SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Report Design Basics
    Demo: Developing a Simple SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Report with a Relational Data Source
    Presentation: Adding interactivity to a SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Report
    Demo: Adding Interactivity to a SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Report
    Presentation: Extending SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Reports with Custom Logic
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Relational Report with SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services
  5. Publishing and Accessing SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Reports
    Presentation: Publishing SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Reports
    Demo: Publishing SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Reports
    Presentation: Enabling Self-Service Reporting with SQL Server 2008 R2 Shared Components
    Demo: Enabling Self-Service Reporting by Publishing SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Shared Components
    Presentation: Accessing SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Reports Programmatically
    Demo: Developing Embedded SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Applications
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Reporting Application with the Visual Studio 2010 ReportViewer Control
  6. Introduction to SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services
    Presentation: Analysis Fundamentals with SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services
    Presentation: Understanding the Components of a SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Database
    Demo: Developing a SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Database
    Presentation: Introduction to SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Programming
    Demo: Developing a Time Dimension with SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services
    Demo: Enhancing the End User Experience of a SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cube
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Cube with SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services
  7. Introduction to SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Query Syntax
    Presentation: Introduction to SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services MDX
    Presentation: Exploring SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services MDX Query Techniques
    Demo: Introducing SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services MDX Query Development
    Presentation: Exploring SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cube Calculations
    Demo: Enriching a SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cube with Calculations
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Queries and Calculations with SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services MDX
  8. Accessing SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Data
    Presentation: Developing SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Reports for Analysis Services
    Demo: Developing a Simple SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Report with an Analysis Services Cube
    Presentation: Using Excel 2010 as an Analysis Services Client
    Demo: Creating an Excel 2010 PivotTable Using a SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cube
    Presentation: Using SharePoint 2010 Excel Services with Analysis Services Data
    Demo: Publishing and Sharing SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cube Data with SharePoint 2010 Excel Services
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Multidimensional Report with SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services
  9. Introduction to SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services
    Presentation: Performance Management Fundamentals with SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services
    Demo: Delivering an Interactive Performance Management Dashboard with SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services
    Presentation: Developing KPI's and Scorecards with SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services
    Demo: Developing KPIs and Scorecards with SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services
    Presentation: Developing Reports and Dashboards with SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services
    Demo: Developing Interactive Reports and Dashboards with SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Dashboard with SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services
  10. Introduction to Data Mining with SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services
    Presentation: Data Mining Fundamentals with SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services
    Demo: Developing Data Mining Models with SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services
    Presentation: Programming SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Data Mining
    Demo: Embedding SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Data Mining in a Custom Application
    Hands On Lab: Building Your First Data Mining Model with SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services
  11. Introduction to Self-Service Reporting and Analysis with SQL Server 2008 R2
    Presentation: Self-Service Reporting Fundamentals with SQL Server 2008 R2
    Demo: Self-Service Reporting with Report Builder 3.0
    Presentation: Self-Service Analysis Fundamentals with SQL Server 2008 R2
    Demo: Self-Service Analysis with SQL Server 2008 R2 PowerPivot for Excel 2010
    Demo: Publishing and Sharing SQL Server 2008 R2 PowerPivot Workbooks with SharePoint 2010 Excel Services
    Hands On Lab: Building and Sharing Your First Report Builder 3.0 Report
    Hands On Lab: Building and Sharing Your First SQL Server 2008 R2 PowerPivot for Excel Workbook

Other Content

This update includes all of the content from the previous release.  Here’s a quick summary of what is included:

  • Getting Started Building Web Applications With SQL Server
    This content is for web developers who are new to SQL Server and are just getting started building their first solution. You can find it by navigating to the Getting Started > Web Developers page.
  • SQL Server 2008 R2 Update for Developers
    This content provides a complete training course with six units covering all the key improvements in SQL Server 2008 R2, including StreamInsight and Data-tier applications.  Integration with Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010 is also covered.  You can find this content by navigating to the SQL Server 2008 R2 > Overview page. 
  • SQL Server 2008 Update for Developers This content covers all the key improvements in SQL Server 2008, including new date and time data types, spatial data types, FILESTREAM, Transact-SQL improvements and support for .NET CLR assemblies.  You can find it by navigating to the SQL Server 2008 > Overview page. 

Usability Improvements

This update features several usability improvements that we hope will make it easier to navigate and use the training kit:

  • The master configuration wizard no longer auto-starts and can be launched manually from the Prerequisites page if needed.  This makes it easier to use individual demos or hands-on labs without having to install the prerequisites for the entire training kit.  
  • Remote SQL Server instances are now supported for many demos and hands on labs.  Unfortunately we were not able to add support for remote SharePoint 2010 installations. This still requires manual intervention.
  • We reworked the menu structure and content pages to improve navigation and discovery of content.
  • We added a desktop shortcut added to the main training kit page (default.htm).