how compression works -- details

Any details on this? I was at TechEd and heard about it -- a bit. I understand the prefix portion of the compression algorithm and how its placed on the page. But what is the dictionary for? If I found a pre-fix that's common to 3 DIFFERENT values, would it change the prefix or migrate the value to a dictionary? Is the dictionary for cross column compression? When do prefixes and dictionaries get updated -- as soon as the data hits the page? Cool feature, just trying to see how it compares to Oracle.

I assume this will be free? I saw in Oracle 11g they have announced a new Advanced Compression feature, but they took it off the Web site for now -- that would make it $$ now, but it used to be free. Interesting....

Very good info here: http://blogs.msdn.com/chadboyd/archive/2007/07/28/katmai-sql-2008-data-compression-including-backup-compression.aspx

|||Very good indeed! Anyone know when we might see it in the CTP?|||All I can say for now is 'a future CTP' (which ofcourse does not help very much).

We are still writing code for the compression feature at the moment, and are getting very close to being code complete.

When it is in a CTP, I will be more detailed in my responses.

Thanks,|||Any update on when we'll see compression in a CTP?|||It won't be in the next CTP, but very likely in the CTP after that one.

Thanks,

how compression works -- details

Any details on this? I was at TechEd and heard about it -- a bit. I understand the prefix portion of the compression algorithm and how its placed on the page. But what is the dictionary for? If I found a pre-fix that's common to 3 DIFFERENT values, would it change the prefix or migrate the value to a dictionary? Is the dictionary for cross column compression? When do prefixes and dictionaries get updated -- as soon as the data hits the page? Cool feature, just trying to see how it compares to Oracle.

I assume this will be free? I saw in Oracle 11g they have announced a new Advanced Compression feature, but they took it off the Web site for now -- that would make it $$ now, but it used to be free. Interesting....

Very good info here: http://blogs.msdn.com/chadboyd/archive/2007/07/28/katmai-sql-2008-data-compression-including-backup-compression.aspx

|||Very good indeed! Anyone know when we might see it in the CTP?

|||All I can say for now is 'a future CTP' (which ofcourse does not help very much).

We are still writing code for the compression feature at the moment, and are getting very close to being code complete.

When it is in a CTP, I will be more detailed in my responses.

Thanks,|||Any update on when we'll see compression in a CTP?

|||It won't be in the next CTP, but very likely in the CTP after that one.

Thanks,

How can I use MDX functions in SQL Query Analyzer (Client Tool)

I'm very new to using MS-SQL stuffs and the IT dept here doesn't have any
DBMA to speak of. Thus, I'm a bit on my own - except for you helpful
people...
I just installed the Client Tools on my workstation and tried a simple query:
SELECT IIf(TBL.fld is NULL, "-N/A-", TBL.fld) FROM TBL;
and get the following error message:
Server: Msg 156, Level 15, State 1, Line 1
Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'is'.
According to the help files, this should work, but clearly not. Is there
something(s) I need to enable, install, configure, tweek, activate, cajole,
or otherwise beg into acquiesence?
See reply in microsoft.public.sqlserver.setup
HTH
Jasper Smith (SQL Server MVP)
http://www.sqldbatips.com
I support PASS - the definitive, global
community for SQL Server professionals -
http://www.sqlpass.org
"slintz" <slintz@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A2D102C1-1023-413A-94D3-B82440DB08EC@.microsoft.com...
> I'm very new to using MS-SQL stuffs and the IT dept here doesn't have any
> DBMA to speak of. Thus, I'm a bit on my own - except for you helpful
> people...
> I just installed the Client Tools on my workstation and tried a simple
> query:
> SELECT IIf(TBL.fld is NULL, "-N/A-", TBL.fld) FROM TBL;
> and get the following error message:
> Server: Msg 156, Level 15, State 1, Line 1
> Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'is'.
>
> According to the help files, this should work, but clearly not. Is there
> something(s) I need to enable, install, configure, tweek, activate,
> cajole,
> or otherwise beg into acquiesence?
>