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Archive for the tag “#KScope13”

28 Jun 2013
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KScope13 Day Five: C’est Fini!

Yes, the last day of the conference arrived. Many folks got a bit of a slow start as they recovered from the prior evenings festivities (but that is true almost any day in the French Quarter!).

Morning Chi Gung was smaller but still a respectable turnout of 14 people. Some of my participants had already started their trek home, others just could not quite get up… c’est la vie.

Morning Chi Gung participants practicing a still stance meditation and breathing exercise.

Morning Chi Gung participants practicing a still stance meditation and breathing exercise.

The KScope Social Network

My first session on this final day was Charles Elliott from Rittman Mead, discussing how to do Social Network Analysis with Oracle Tools. He discussion centered around using R and a graphing tool called D2 (www.d3js.org).

Network analysis of KScope contributors and influencers across two tracks.

Network analysis of KScope contributors and influencers across two tracks.

Charles had mined some data (from twitter I think) and then charted some of the connections to determine who were the major influencers related to KScope13 and several of our tracks. My name is up there, but I am a very small dot. You might be able to see in the picture a pretty big dot which is Gwen Shapira, who was not even at the conference this year!

Looks like very cool tech. Not sure where I would use it (yet).

Agile Case Study?

One session I was not too happy with was this one. It was titled as an agile implementation success story but it was (IMO) a veiled pitch for a free addin to SQL Developer.

The entire presentation was a statement of issues in trying to do version control of database objects. And they were all legitimate issues. But there was no case study of a specific project and how they tried to solve the problem. The solution was a product from the speaker’s company that they have developed as an add in to SQL Developer to allow you to control database object check in and check out at the database level.

Nice idea. Looks like it will work.

But, the product is not even available today! It will be release later this summer and is free for up to five users (then I assume it will cost $$).

My beef is that this should have been clearly labeled as a vendor presentation not as a “success” story.

More Crossover

For my last session I went to Stewart Bryson and Edward Roske’s presentation on Innovation in BI: Oracle Business Intelligence Against Essbase & Relational.

This was a great collaborative effort between these two guys who work for companies that might be considered competitors. I am pretty sure this is a KScope first (in many ways).

A KScope 1st: Stewart Bryson and Edward Roske do a joint presentation on using OBIEE against both Essbase and a relation data warehouse at the same time.

A KScope 1st: Stewart Bryson and Edward Roske do a joint presentation on using OBIEE against both Essbase and a relation data warehouse at the same time.

In the end, after some demonstrations of how to do this, they guys left us with a really nice comparison chart on when to use which tool and its relative effectiveness in solving specific problems.

Edward and Stewart came up with this nice chart trying to compare the two technologies on a number of features and functions.

Edward and Stewart came up with this nice chart trying to compare the two technologies on a number of features and functions.

Nice job guys!

C’est Fini

A relatively new KScope tradition is to hold a final closing general session. Here we say farewell to the event and the city with some slides and humorous videos from the week.

We also get to learn who the top five speakers were for the event (as ranked by session evaluations) and who the speaker of the year winner is.

This year the Best Speaker Award went to Edward (don’t call me Ed!) Roske from InterRel.

There was also an award for the best Kscope Ambassador (the one who helped with the most sessions). This went to Mark Becerra.

Congratulations to both!

Attendees at the KScope13 closing session with their KScope14 travel mugs

Attendees at the KScope13 closing session with their KScope14 travel mugs

As a final note we got a great little video welcoming KScope14 to Seattle.

The even bigger news was that we already have sponsors for the 2014 event! Platinum, gold, and sliver level sponsors have already signed! Plus a boat load of exhibitors.

We must be doing something right that they have secured their spot a year in advance.

We have come a long way baby!

The website for Kscope14 is up and running. You can register, submit an abstract, and make your hotel reservation for next year.

So head on over there now while you are thinking of it!  KScope14.com

One Last Shot

I can’t end this series without at least one picture of the great food here in New Orleans. I did eat well!

Ending the conference on a high note with blueberry upside down cake at celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's restaurant NOLA in the French Quarter.

Ending the conference on a high note with blueberry upside down cake at celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant NOLA in the French Quarter.

See you in Seattle (if not sooner)!

Kent

The Oracle Data Warrior

Posted in Chi Gung, Data Warehouse, Fitness, ODTUG, Oracle and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
23 Jun 2013
1 Comment

Welcome to the Biggest KScope Conference Ever!

Day breaks over the Mighty Mississippi

Day breaks over the Mighty Mississippi

Day one at ODTUG’s KScope13 was awesome as always with a great set of symposiums and networking events.

At the speaker meeting we learned that there are 1,400 registered attendees, 30 countries represented and over 50 exhibitors making this the largest event and largest exhibit hall in the history of the Oracle Development Tools User Group (ODTUG).

So we must be doing something right to attract such a large crowd.

Part of what we do right is getting the top Oracle developers, consultants, and Oracle ACEs in the world to present. And we get stellar participation from the Product Management and Development teams at Oracle Corporation.

Even though it was Sunday, there was a tremendous turnout for our free Sunday Symposiums. In the Symposiums we had rooms dedicated to specific topics so attendees could stay in one place all day and get a series of related talks.

After conducting my now annual Morning Chi Gung class (had nine attendees!) I spent the day in the DB & Developer’s Toolbox Symposium. It had quite a line up.

First I attended Jeff Smith’s session  on SQL Developer 4.0 which will come out later this summer.

SQL Developer Product Manager, Jeff Smith of Oracle, introduces new features in the upcoming 4.0 release

SQL Developer Product Manager, Jeff Smith of Oracle, introduces new features in the upcoming 4.0 release

Got lots of great tips and trick which I am sure Jeff will be blogging about at ThatJeffSmith.com in the near future.

Next was Oracle Technologist Tom Kyte who spoke about many new features and enhancements to SQL And PL/SQL in the upcoming Oracle 12c release of the database.

Tom Kyte (of AskTom.com fame) introduces attendees to new SQL and PL/SQL features in Oracle 12c

Tom Kyte (of AskTom.com fame) introduces attendees to new SQL and PL/SQL features in Oracle 12c

And last for my day of learning was Maria Colgan discussing changes to the Oracle Optimizer in 12c.

Oracle Product Manager, Maria Colgan, discusses the Evolution of the Oracle Optimizer: Rules based to 12c

Oracle Product Manager, Maria Colgan, discusses the Evolution of the Oracle Optimizer: Rules based to 12c

As always, Maria provided so much information my head was ready to explode from information overload. And later in the week she has a second session on this topic with even more new features to discuss. If every Oracle DBA could attend one of her sessions, all of our databases would run better!

After the sessions it was time for formal and informal networking. There was the speakers meeting and the official welcome reception in the exhibit hall. I got to attend an official Oracle ACE dinner cruise on a steam powered paddle wheel river boat complete with live jazz band. Very much in the spirit of New Orleans.

Stay tuned for more reports as the week progresses.

Kent

The Oracle Data Warrior

P.S. I got to do a little touring as well and visited the oldest Catholic Cathedral in the United States. It is quite a beautiful church inside and out.

The beautiful St Louis Cathedral near Jackson Square in New Orleans

The beautiful St Louis Cathedral near Jackson Square in New Orleans

Posted in Chi Gung, ODTUG, Oracle, User Groups and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
19 Jun 2013
1 Comment

See you at KScope13!

Are you ready?

It is almost time for the annual ODTUG KScope conference in New Orleans. It starts with the Community Service Day on Saturday June 22nd and runs through Thursday June 27th at the Sheraton Hotel right on the edge of the French Quarter.

For my readers that are attending, I will be giving three talks this year, leading morning Chi Gung classes,  as well as sitting on the BI Lunch and Learn Panel.

My talks will be:

Five Ways to Make Data Modeling Fun – Monday at 9:45 AM

Using OBIEE and Data Vault to Virtualize Your BI Environment: An Agile Approach – Monday at 3 PM (with Stewart Bryson)

Top Ten Cool Features in Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler – Tuesday at 12:15 PM

And on Wednesday at 10:45 AM you will find me in Social Media Lounge getting interviewed about Data Modeling, ODTUG, and KScope.

If you are joining me for Morning Chi Gung, I believe we will meet in the hotel lobby at 6:45 AM so we can walk to the river front park where we will hold our class. It is only a 30 minute class right before breakfast so please give it a try and get energized for a long day of learning and networking! Follow me on twitter @KentGraziano for any updates to the location and meeting time.

Don’t forget to download the new KScope Mobile App so you can keep track of your schedule and not miss any of these sessions.

See you in New Orleans!

Kent

The Oracle Data Warrior

Posted in Chi Gung, Data Modeling, Data Vault, Data Warehouse, Fitness, ODTUG, Oracle, SQL Developer Data Modeler, User Groups and tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
09 Jun 2013
1 Comment

Another Free Tip for SQL Developer Data Modeler (and a Challenge)

So here is another tip on using Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler – but this time it is one I will NOT be showing during my session at #KScope13.

In SDDM there is a really nice wizard for building views. Once your view is built, you should probably test it right?

You could generate the DDL, or use DDL Preview, then open up SQL Developer, run the script to build the view, then select from the view to see the results.

Lotta steps, eh?

Or you could simply use the Test Query button on the View Properties dialog.

Press the button, then select a database connection from the drop down list (or create a new one if you need to). This will create a connection to the database and cause the SQL in the view to be executed. If everything works you will see “Query executed successfully”.

The Test Query button will first check that the SQL will execute

” The Test Query button will first check that the SQL will execute

If you want to see the output of the query, just click the Query Results tab.

The Query Results tab lets you examine the output without opening another tool

The Query Results tab lets you examine the output without opening another tool

Pretty cool. And must faster than the old way.

Now for the Challenge:

  1. You must be attending KScope13.
  2. You must be the first person to find me onsite in New Orleans and tell me you read this post.
  3. You then have to show up at my Top Ten Tips session at the conference, join me at the podium and tell the attendees this tip!

Your reward:

  1. It might be your first chance to present at an international conference.
  2. I will buy you the adult beverage of your choice that evening and chat about SDDM (or another topic of your choosing).

Not a million dollars, but who knows where it might lead or who else you might meet along the way.

So, who’s up to the challenge?

See you in New Orleans.

Oh – if oyu missed the first tip, it is here.

Kent

P.S. Jeff (@thatJeffSmith) and Chet (@OracleNerd) – sorry guys but you are not eligible! (I may buy you beer anyway)

Posted in Data Modeling, ODTUG, Oracle, SQL Developer Data Modeler, User Groups and tagged , , , , , , , ,
02 Jun 2013
1 Comment

The 1st Tip is Free: Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler

This year’s ODTUG KScope conference is less than a month away and I am ready to get to New Orleans and meet up with all my friends and colleagues to talk shop and learn some new things.

So in hopes of getting you to attend, I will share with you one of my productivity tips for using SQL Developer Data Modeler (SDDM).

DDL Previewer

I love this tool. I use it every single day in my work building data warehouses for my clients.

Really.

It’s easy – just right click on the table (or view) you want to check and Voila!

Right mouse over object to get preview option

Right mouse over object to get preview option

Once you pick “DDL Preview”, then you get the DDL in another window.

Example of DDL script in Preview Window

Example of DDL script in Preview Window

With this you can:

1. Check the design to see if it is what you wanted/expected.

2. Copy and paste it to a worksheet in SQL Developer where you can then execute it (if you have the rights!).

One more cool thing is that if you leave the DDL window open, you can now click on any other object in the open diagram and instantly see the DDL for that object.

So there you go – really 3 tips for the price of one!

If you want more, I will be presenting my Top 10 SDDM Tips and Tricks at KScope13 in New Orleans in a few weeks. So go register now!

See you in NOLA!

Kent

 

Posted in Data Modeling, ODTUG, Oracle, SQL Developer Data Modeler, User Groups and tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

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