Chrissy LeMaire's blog

SharePoint 2010: Create Site Column based on External Data
Aug 5, 2011 · 1 min read ·
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While the process to create a site column based on external data is pretty straightforward, I wanted to document it here for myself; I keep forgetting that this can't be done using SharePoint Designer. Here's how to do it using your a browser:
Create your External Content Type and associated lists -> Site Actions …

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SharePoint 2010 Gotcha: Associated ECT Column Does Not Show Up in Filter Choices
Aug 1, 2011 · 1 min read ·
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I have a relational table in SQL Server that I access in SharePoint 2010 as an External Content Type. The table, disks, has an FK (serverID) that is associated with a PK in another table, servers, via an Association Operation. Once I create a list and add it to a webpage, I am unable to select the serverID column or …
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SQL Server: Block Level Replication Failures Causing Suspect Database
Aug 1, 2011 · 2 min read ·
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Recently, I worked with a client who uses block level replication software (think XOSoft/ArcServ) for their clustered SQL Server databases. During proactive testing one night, replication was broken and the failover server was brought up. For the first time in years, the procedure failed and the primary application …
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SharePoint 2010: External Content Types for DBA's
Jul 26, 2011 · 2 min read ·
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One of the biggest annoyances of SharePoint 2007 was the lack of a native ability to work directly with SQL Server tables. SharePoint 2010 has addressed that issue with External Content Types. ECT's combine the best of both worlds -- you can modify and manage tables as usual in SQL Server, and display them (somewhat) …
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SQL Server: Surefire Restore Method for Connection Hammered Databases
Jul 26, 2011 · 1 min read ·
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Recently, I had a database go into the dreaded SUSPECT mode after a failed byte-level replication. Once I brought it into EMERGENCY mode, an unknown, automated program immediately connected to it from several different servers.
Killing the connections and setting the db to single-user mode only created more headaches …

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SQL Server: Compress SQL Server Backups using Native Windows Tool
Jul 25, 2011 · 1 min read ·
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SQL Server 2008 has backup compression built-in, but for SQL Server 2005 and below, you can compress backups using makecab from the command line or xp_cmdshell. Makecab even has a better compression ratio than gzip and does not require additional software to be installed on the server.
makecab D:\backups\dbname.bak …

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VBScript: When You Can't Use Powershell to Ping a Webpage...
Jul 25, 2011 · 1 min read ·
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Sometimes, there's a need to schedule a "ping" to a webpage (that needs to be pre-compiled, for instance). While using PowerShell is the easiest way to do this, it's not always available on older server, while VBScript is nearly always a safe bet. The biggest issue with using VBScript or the command line is …
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SharePoint Server 2010: Designer Error "data source already exists in BDCM"
Jul 19, 2011 · 1 min read ·
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So here's an error that, at the time I encountered it, did not have a great deal of information about it on the web:
The system definition with the same name as this data source already exists in the Business Data Connectivity Metadata Store and it refers to a different data source. Cannot complete operation …

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SQL: Guaranteed Way to Quickly Shrink the T-Log
Jul 19, 2011 · 1 min read ·
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My hero, Brad McGehee, has often advised against shrinking the transaction log when it's unnecessary. According to his (really amazing) SQL Server DBA Best Practices PowerPoint Presentation, shrinking too often can lead to increased file fragmentation and excessive use of resources allocated to grow/shrink the file. …
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Deploying Maintenance Plans with PowerShell or ASP.NET
Apr 21, 2011 · 6 min read ·
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I feel that my job as a DBA is very dynamic and usually keeps me busy with new things... except for deploying maintenance plans. I hate making maintenance plans. Luckily, I at least have a template that I can use to keep everything uniform, but it requires me opening up the plan in Visual Studio every time I want to …
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