Network, learn, ask a question, meet other folk, get fed - these are all things that happen at user group events. These events are a really great opportunity to socialise in an informal learning experience - if you want your own exposure then come and do a 1 - 5 minute nugget in front of your peers.
Remember to tell your friends and the people you work with; make sure you register as soon as you can.
17.30 – 18:00 Registration and networking
Meet and greet.
18:00 – 18:30 Round Table discussion and Nuggets - ALL
Take stock and get the latest news in the SQL Server field. This is also a great opportunity to ask any burning questions you have, may be a problem at work.
It's also a great opportunity to share your knowledge and gain exposure in the industry by giving a short 1 - 6 minute "nugget" demo/tip.
18:30 - 19:30 - Aaron Bertrand
T-SQL : Bad Habits to Kick
Bad habits: we all have them. SELECT * is the obvious one; but in this session you will learn about various other habits and why they can be bad for performance or maintainability. Come learn how these habits develop, what kind of problems they can lead to, and how you can avoid them. Eliminating these habits will lead to more efficient code, a more productive work environment, and - in a lot of cases - both.
Aaron is a senior consultant for SQL Sentry, makers of performance monitoring and event management software for SQL Server, Analysis Services, and Windows. He has been blogging at sqlblog.com since 2006, focusing on manageability, performance, and new features; has been an MVP since 1997-98; and speaks frequently at user group meetings and SQL Saturday events.
19:30 - 20:00 - Pizza and Product Review of SQL Sentry Plan Explorer
Time for pizza and a look at one of our favourite tools SQL Sentry Plan Explorer from Scott at SQL Sentry
20:00 - 21:00 - Andrew Whettam
Title
ColumnStore Indexes with Table Partitioning
Synopsis
This session will look at ColumStore Indexes (introduced in SQL Server 2012) and Table Partitioning. Expect examples to be in evidence as we review each of the two technologies separately before combining them and examining how they can be used together to good effect. The benefits and pitfalls of each will be discussed as will the new xVelocity (VertiPaq) engine, since ColumnStore Indexes rely on this technology, also new in SQL Server 2012.
Biog
Andrew Whettam is a Consultant for Information Management Group and has previously led the Database and Business Intelligence teams for 3M and Capital One respectively. He works with both transactional and analytical databases and has modelled, designed and developed database systems across a variety of industry sectors. Recent IMGROUP projects have included roles as Data Modeller for a major financial institution and Data Architect for a large conglomerate. Past experience includes a number of high profile government projects. He has worked with all versions of SQL Server since SQL 7.0.
20:50 - 21:00 - Feedback, Prize Draw and Close
Finally: Drinks to Mr Foleys