Author:Andy Leonard

Do you remember that time kindness backfired? Do you remember kindness letting you down? Me neither. Kindness never fails. I can hear you thinking, “Yeah, Andy? Well there was this time I was kind and…” The thing you’re going to finish that sentence with, the thing that didn’t happen? That wasn’t going to happen anyway. …
Continue reading On Kindness

My friend and fellow Linchpin, Tim Mitchell (blog | @Tim_Mitchell) will deliver a day-long seminar titled Real World SSIS: A Survival Guide the day before SQL Saturday – Baltimore (9 May). Attend and learn more about: Handling warnings, errors, and other bad stuff Data cleansing using SSIS, T-SQL, and DQS More than just a green …
Continue reading Real World SSIS: A Survival Guide, 8 May, Baltimore

“There are two types of developers: those who test their software and those who will.” – Andy, circa 2015 It’s April Fool’s Day in the US, but I’m going to act like it’s Halloween. Software testing is no joke, and not testing should scare you. In 1996 (yes kids, years used to begin with a …
Continue reading Software Economics and Testing

“Do we get a super suit?” was Kent Bradshaw’s first response after reading the Biml Hero announcement from Varigence. Short answer: Yes. Well, not an entire suit, “a complementary Biml Hero t-shirt, polo, and jacket.” (Sorry Kent, no capes… yet…) But cool! From Varigence’s press release: Earning the Biml Hero certification will not be easy; …
Continue reading Varigence Announces Biml Hero Certification

Like my maternal grandfather, Buck Mayhew, did for his grandchildren; my friend Brian Kelley (blog | @kbriankelley) gives his children nicknames. A member of an SSIS team where I once worked was known for his tendency to rewrite SSIS packages. Any package, partially complete, assigned to him would be summarily replaced. It didn’t matter how …
Continue reading If Your Name Were a Verb

It’s Pi Day! Happy Pi Day everyone! :{>

I have waited (again) until the last minute to submit presentations for the PASS Summit. I’m submitting “Using Biml as an SSIS Design Patterns Engine” – a presentation based on a chapter in SSIS Design Patterns and Levels 2-4 of the Stairway to Biml – and I am pleasantly surprised to see Biml included in …
Continue reading Biml: An Official Topic for PASS Summit 2015 Presentations

I am honored to work alongside TechniTrain to deliver SQL Server Integration Services Design Patterns in London 7-10 Sep 2015! Register before 31 Mar to save £100. Who is it for? The target audience for this course is intermediate SQL Server Integration Services developers (or quick learners) who wish to learn best practices and design …
Continue reading Announcing SSIS Design Patterns Training in London 7-10 Sep 2015!

I am honored to present SSIS Data Flow Tuning Tips and Tricks at Midlands PASS 16 Apr 2015! SSIS 2014 Data Flow Tuning Tips and Tricks Do you want SSIS to go fast? This session is for you! Attend and learn techniques for developing, instrumenting, monitoring, and managing SSIS 2014 Data Flow performance in your …
Continue reading Presenting at Midlands PASS 16 Apr 2015!

Fri, Mar 6, 2015 at 8:44 AM Hi Trello People, I think our organization has Trello Gold, but I cannot access features I think I should be able to access. I cannot change backgrounds, I cannot attach emails to cards. Help, Andy Fri, Mar 6, 2015 at 11:26 AM Hi Andy, Thanks for writing to …
Continue reading Customer Service Done Well