Ahmedabad SQL Server User Group – April 2009 Meeting

We are just done with the April 2009 meeting and it was wonderful!

Tejas gave a wonderful introduction and welcome speech. He spoke about the user group in general and shared information about the upcoming TECH-ED India 2009. All UG members are eligible for a 25% discount for TECH-ED India 2009.

My session was on the XML capabilities of SQL Server 2008. We discussed almost all of the XML processing capabilities of SQL Server 2008 including the capability to Generate, load, query, validate and modify XML documents. We discussed XML indexes as well.

There were some give-away items, in addition to ice-cream and snacks, like some copies of SQL Server standard magazine, PASS 2007 Summit DVDs and some technical books and stickers, pens etc.

PUG Windows 7 Day – IT Pro : An exclusive in-depth one-day workshop

Welcome to Windows 7 Day - IT Pro Microsoft Windows 7 another major revolution in Microsoft's most cutting edge technologies is here to get your work done the easy way.Check out the latest news and views on Windows 7 from the experts this season on An exclusive in-depth one-day workshop for getting started on Win7

Attend Windows 7 day and Win exciting prizes. and What more you can get your laptops with latest Windows 7 beta installed !!! So do not forget to carry your laptops

Entry FREE !! Registration Required. For more information and Registration , Please visit : http://www.puneusergroup.org Hurry up and Register Today !! For any queries/suggestions,Please contact us at : windows7day@puneusergroup.org Venue: Capgemini India A-1, Technology Park, MIDC Talwade, Pune - 412 114 Free Bus Service available by PUG.

Sponsored By:

SSWUG.ORG Spring Ultimate Virtual Conference - Discount Code for INUG Members

Dear Indore .NET User Group Members,

SSWUG.ORG Spring Ultimate Virtual Conference

April 22, 23 and 24, 2009

SQL Server vConference

.NET Development vConference

Business Intelligence vConference

Sharepoint vConference

As Affiliates with SSWUG.ORG, all of our group members get a discount when registering for any of the disciplines for their Spring Ultimate Virtual Conference. In addition to the discount code INDNETUG, SSWUG.ORG has started a contest for all of their Affiliate Groups to enter.

The rules of the contest are as follows:

If we can get 100% of our members to sign up for one or more of the disciplines at the Spring Virtual Conference, everyone in our group will receive a one year membership to SSWUG.org (a $79.95 value). If you already have a paid SSWUG membership, your account will be extended for an additional year.

In addition, the user group that signs up the highest percentage of members (under 100%) also receives SSWUG one year paid memberships for everyone in their group.

Sign up for the Virtual Conference and let’s win the SSWUG memberships!

SSWUG Free Community Event

There is going to be a 100% free Community Event brought to you by SSWUG.ORG that is taking place on April 17^th. All you have to do is register and you get to see these speakers:

• Donald Farmer (Principal Program Manager for SQL Server Data Mining)
• Callahan (Author)
• Tim Heuer (Silverlight Program Manager)
• Ted Malone (Microsoft MVP)
• Paul Nielsen (Author and SQL Server MVP)
• Stephen Wynkoop (Microsoft MVP & Founder of SSWUG)
• Chris Shaw (Microsoft MVP)

Register here for the free event https://www.vconferenceonline.com/shows/spring09/sql/s09event.asp

Here is the quick rundown on the sessions:

· Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services - Designing and Managing High Performance Cubes: Donald Farmer. With Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Analysis Services offers advanced features for design and manageability. This session will explore in data two of these features: the best practices design alerts and dynamic management views. Design alerts guide you with important advice throughout the development stage of a cube. We’ll show how to work with the alerts, and how to manage their various subtleties. Having deployed a more efficient cube, the dynamic management views enable the administrator to query for information regarding connections, sessions, and server performance. We will introduce these views and drill down into many examples of their usage.

· Useful, effective, pre-made SharePoint templates– from Microsoft, for free: Callahan. Need a help desk, timecard, or vacation request site? Considering just creating them yourself? Don’t. Not until you explore the pre-existing application templates available from Microsoft. Free for download, Microsoft has 40 fantastic application templates, not to mention the Community Kit for SharePoint with offerings such asenhanced blog templates, or sites for user groups. So before you invest time and technology in rolling your own, check out this session and get an idea of what’s been rolled for you.

· Silverlight for Beginners: Tim Heuer. XAML, WPF, VS, Blend…what are all these acronyms? Let’s take a deep breath and step back to look at the spectrum of what Silverlight is (and isn’t) and what you need to know starting from ground zero. No knowledge of WPF or Silverlight is required and well get you started building your first Silverlight application in no time!

· Introduction to Data Dude: Ted Malone. In this session attendees will learn about Microsoft Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Developers aka Data Dude. This product provides database developers with tools for database development, change management and testing. This session will walk through the available features of data dude and detail where they can be best utilized.

· SQL Server Round Table: Paul Nielsen, Chris Shaw, Stephen Wynkoop. Stephen, Chris and Paul sit down in an open forum and discuss questions about SQL Server 2008 and questions that have come up from the past conferences. This session will show some of the different opinions that developers and administrators have when working with SQL Server.

bdotnet.in is searching new hosting provider.

year back B.NET (Bangalore .NET user group) moved to its new online home http://www.bdotnet.in/ and hosted using community server. but due to some hosting/server problem now it is looking for new service provider. So if anyone knows good service provider please send a mail to activeFolks [AT] bdotnet.in

Thanks in advance..

Oracle Application User Groups - Collaborate 09

COLLABORATE 09 — OAUG Forum provides the best practices and user-driven training the OAUG has to offer for Oracle E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft, Hyperion and more. Hear directly from your peers in-the-knowas they explain why COLLABORATE is the essential training and networking event on their calendars — from practical education to face time with Oracle executives to the generous exchange of ideas between users.

Spread the world - INUG at Multiply

Hello Everyone -

Would request you to please spread the news to all your old and new friends - who are passionate about technology - to join your own Indore .NET User Group at http://indoreug.multiply.com.

Thanks,
Sandeep Joshi

Ahmedabad SQL Server UG - February 2009 Meeting

This is the first time I am posting about the User Group activities in this blog. So, probably I should start with an introduction. I run a SQL Server User Group in Ahmedabad and we meet on every 3rd Saturday of the month.

We had a great time discussing some of the basic SQL Server topics this week. Pinal Dave did a wonderful session where he presented some very interesting points related to the way SQL Server Query Optimizer uses indexes.

My session was more of an interactive discussion. While writing my series of posts on SQL Server IDENTITY columns, I came across several interesting questions and I then compiled a long list of 65 questions. We discussed those 65 questions and their answers and the 'why-how' part of each of them.

Pinal has written a detailed post about the event. You can find his post here. You can find my post about the same here.

Finally, here is a group photo.

Networking - what does it mean?

The word "networking" is undoubtedly overused. Every interaction — face-to-face or virtual — is considered networking; every online community is a network; every meeting is a networking event.

But think of networking as more than a cliché or all-purpose panacea. The very heart of networking is relationship building, and the investment you make in developing a profound connection with someone will pay dividends, regardless of whether you are on the giving or receiving end. Networking is more than a transaction; it is a lasting bond with a natural ebb and flow. Some of these relationships move to the forefront during certain periods while others retreat to the background, but there is always a sense of reliance, dependability and trust at the foundation.

It is my belief that the best relationships cannot be sustained in a simply one-dimensional communication medium, and I have found my association to others deepens when there is dialogue beyond our initial connection point. A LinkedIn invite augmented by a personal email; a Twitter posting followed by a direct message; an in-person meeting fortified by email; or reacquainting with someone from the past with a phone call all seem to solidify my attachment to my "network.

Microsoft Virtual TechDays: Have you registered yet?

Keynote by Steve Riley 'First they came for bandwidth, now they want to make a difference' Steve Riley is a senior strategist and worldwide security evangelist in Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Group. Steve specializes in the process of information security, including policies, networks, and hosts. Steve is a frequent and popular speaker at conferences worldwide, working to spread a better understanding of security science. Avail the opportunity to learn and explore how Microsoft products and tools can help you quickly address your most time-consuming development challenges. Join fellow developers, architects and project managers at this online event to: Learn about the latest Microsoft tools and platforms from technology experts; Learn about how to extend your expertise on technologies that you work on every day; and Interact with the best-in-class technologists attending the event. Please Note: This is an online event and you are not required to pay any fee to attend it. Sign up for other newsletters | Unsubscribe| Update your profile © 2009 Microsoft Corporation Terms of Use | Trademarks | Privacy Statement

Fly in Future

When asked about his outstanding performance on the ice, Wayne Gretzky replied, "A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be."

Where is your business focusing? I've found that one of the most powerful practices as an entrepreneur is to spend a day away from the office, dream a little, and envision my company 1, 3, 5 years into the future.

When I occasionally "fly into the future" it makes it easier to come back to the present, push through obstacles, and chart my course to the future I have envisioned.

Spend some time in the future and you'll be able to "skate to where the puck is going to be!"

Five Attitude adjustments to live better

On a mission to spark a "strengths revolution," I would advocate cultivating the best of your skill set, rather than working to improve weaknesses. My five "attitude adjustments" serve as a framework for becoming a strengths-based human:

1. Measure what matters.
2. Stop trying to change people. Change Yourself. Start trying to help others.
3. Don't be Title-obsessed. Your performance will thrive largely based on what you do – not what you are.
4. Stop looking outside. The solutions to your problems exist inside you. Be relentless, learning from the lessons of the top performers in your team.
5. Make yourself non-replaceable. Invest time in your skills, your work and all that matters to your life.

Embracing yourself

You will never be the perfect entrepreneur. No matter how hard you work to avoid catastrophes... at some point, disasters will happen. At times, you will look bad, and your reputation will be injured. But, that doesn't mean you or your company have to suffer long-term repercussions because of it.

Here are some steps for embracing your own humanity, and turning "bad" situations into incredible, marketing situations.

Step 1- Laugh at yourself and your mistakes. (Getting upset about the situation won't fix things. Look at this as an opportunity instead.)

Step 2- Fix the disaster, tenaciously.

Step 3- Offer the injured customers or prospects even more than they expect. (If done properly, these individuals may become your biggest fans.)

Step 4- Use the situation to fix your current systems. (Making a mistake is alright. Repeating that mistake can be devastating.)

Step 5- Freely share these experiences in marketing messages, blogs, webinars, or as a "reason" to have another sale or promotion.

People are generally more forgiving than they seem. If you are willing to "expose" your weaknesses, your contacts will feel your honesty and sincerity. The harder you try to be the "perfect" small business owner (and hide your errors), the more detached from your contacts you become. And, the more likely they are to mistrust you.

Enjoy your imperfections and learn to use them to your advantage!

Happy Republic Day!!! India way to go.

Happy republic day. Lets make commitments towards saving environment, saving earth and saving mankind.

Happy new year!!

Indore .NET User Group and I wish you a very happy and prosperous new year. May this year bring joy and peace to everyone.

Cheers and Enjoy!!!

Sandeep Joshi
UG Leader

Welcome to the new face of INUG!!!

Hi All,

Thank you for visiting Indore .NET User Group at Multiply (http://indoreug.multiply.com). I hope you would like this new face of the INUG. We are living in an exiting era of technology and the economic slowdown is an oppotunity for everyone of us to gear up with more dedication and determination towards making ourselves the best in the industry and non replaceable at any cost.

We would be doing things differently here. We will try to leverage technology as much as possible to remove the distances and differences of timezones.

I welcome all your suggestions, ideas and support to make this group the best in its class.

Thanks,

Sandeep Joshi

UG Leader

INETA-PUG DevCon 2008: : Simply can't afford to miss

Welcome to INETA PUG DevCon 2008 - A unique Developer Conference. PUG DevCon is like a boon for every developer in Pune. DevCon is a conglomeration of speakers and trainers of national repute who take the centre stage to share their knowledge. PUG DevCon not only serves as an amazing platform for interactive sessions but also as a catalyst for learning and sharing new technology, networking opportunities and much much more. This is the fourth consecutive successful year of PUG DevCon. This year to add some spice to the PUG DevCon, it's not going to be only about distributing gyan but also a funfilled learning process We have come up with interesting quizzes (what is the garbage collector, remember?), power-packed games (darting...? Bull's Eye! ) and some key events in between the sessions. And you know what's the best part about PUG DevCon 2008? YOU DECIDE THE TOPICS AND CONTENT!!! 2 DAYS, 6 TRACKS, 8 SESSIONS BACK2BACK !!!

Attend DevCon and Win exciting prizes like Windows Vista Ultimate,Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite with MSDN Premium worth $20,000 and lots more...

Calling all Designers and Developers to be a part of this unique event. Entry FREE !! Registration Required. For more information and Registration , Please visit : Vote for Topic http://devcon.puneusergroup.org Hurry up and Register Today !! For any queries/suggestions,Please contact us at : devcon2008@puneusergroup.org Venue: Dewang Mehta Auditorium, Persistent Systems Private Limited, 402, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune - 411016

DevCon 2007 at Pune Rocks!!!

Pune User Groups's

DevCon 2007

This is one event that continues to get better by the year. PUG started this initiative back in 2004 and had less than 300 students and approx 100 professionals attending this event. 25th August, 2007, Saturday it was time to set a new bench-mark with more close to 150 professionals and a whopping 1000+ students attending DevCon 2007 at COEP, Pune campus
The DevCon 2007 was organized by Pune User Group (PUG) in association with International .NET Association (INETA). It was supported by Microsoft India as well as the Technical Education Quality Improvement Program (TEQIP) project at College Of Engineering, Pune.

This event enjoyed sessions from speakers like Raj Chaudhuri, Nauzad Kapadia, Dhaval Faria and Sarang Datye. These speakers covered topics like Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, New features in Visual Studio 2008 and Project Mono, i.e. implementing .Net on LINUX platform.

This is the “MOST SUCCESSFUL DevCon” till date and this, DevCon 2007 has received very positive feedback. People from various companies and from almost all colleges in and around Pune city attended this event.

DevCon 2007 at Pune

Pune User Group in Association with International .NET Association (INETA) Presents

Date: 25th August, 2007

Venue:
Auditorium
College of engineering, Pune
Shivajinagar, Pune –5

Time:

Professional Track: - 09:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Student Track: - 02:30 PM - 07:30 PM

Entry Fees:Professional Track: Rs. 50/-
Student Track: Rs. 25/-

Agenda:

Professional Track:
1.Deep Dive Into Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)
2.Deep Dive Into Windows Workflow Foundation (WF)
3.What’s New In Visual Studio 2008 (ORCAS)

Student Track:

1.Deep Dive Into Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)
2.ASP.Net AJAX Primer
3.Implementing .Net on Linux Platform (Project Mono)


for Entry passes check your nearest location on
our website http://devcon.puneusergroup.org/
or Contact us at devcon2007@puneusergroup.org

DevCon is a Developer Conference from the developers, by the developers and for the developers. Developers may be professionals or students who will represent next generation developers.

• Meet with industry gurus.

• Check out all that the Microsoft Application Platform has to offer

• Explore advances in Web development with Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX.

• Get the inside scoop on the next release of Visual Studio and Microsoft SQL Server.

• Find out how your applications can take advantage of the improved UI and increased security of Windows Vista.

Questions or comments?

E-mail us at devcon2007@puneusergroup.org

.NET on Linux - Mono Project

on 27th and 28th January 2006, Vivek Vidyalaya college - Goregaon (West), Mumbai had a techfest in their college, they invited me - Dhaval Faria [MVP], for giving session on .NET Introduction, ASP.NET Introduction and .NET on Linux. Session was schedules in the afternoon for in two days time span - 27th and 28th January 2006. Total attendies 50.