Are You Making These SQL Server Mistakes While Using Ad Hoc Reporting Tools?

SQL programming is an equally fun and challenging task. This is especially true for developers whose backgrounds are in traditional languages like C, C++, Java, and VB and who have become so accustomed to manual coding that they find it especially difficult to adopt a set-based mindset. Just the same, even seasoned data base administrators and SQL developers are not immune to the many pitfalls of the language. The key is mastering your fundamentals and being sensitive to common mistakes, even though they are often difficult to spot. Here are common SQL server mistakes that you should watch out for when using Ad Hoc Reporting Tools:

• Asterisk in SELECT statements – It is critical to define and specify columns that you want to return in your queries. This standard is crucial for security and performance reasons. Take for instance the query SELECT * FROM Customer, this will return all customer values, including any and all sensitive data that you might be keeping in the same table. This will cause a great deal of trouble if you keep your customers’ social security number, password, or any other sensitive information within the table. Even when these values are encrypted, the hash value can still hep hackers. There will also be a huge performance issue if the table contains dozens of columns. Defining and specifying columns will not only limit the size of the query’s record set, but also the data available for hackers, thus preventing breaches.

• Excessive looping with cursors – Looping structures are the bane of any SQL database performance. They permit looping through millions of records and running statements against each of these records, individually. While this may appear advantageous, it can actually destroy your performance, as they make programming inefficient. A good workaround would be to write the procedure in a way that avoids affecting database performance.

Blog Source URL: https://www.datasparc.com/making-sql-server-mistakes-using-ad-hoc-reporting-tools/

4 Ways You Can Grow Your Creativity Using SSRS Ad Hoc Report Builder

Report builder is a specially designed report creation tool by Microsoft that enables the development of simple to complex dashboards and reports based on data coming from a wide variety of sources, ranging from SQL Server, Orace, Azure, DB2, SAP, ODBC, XML, and Terradata databases. It uses the same Report Designer as development tools like SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) and SSDT (SQL Server Data Tools).

Here are ways that you can benefit from and develop your creativity using SSRS Ad Hoc Report Builder:

• One of the best things about SSRS Report Builder is that it is designed so that even non-technical staff can develop reports. Powerful visuals are also enabled through different supported report regions, including maps, gauges, charts, and indicators. An entire library of report items such as tables, charts, matrices, and images can likewise be created and reused by users. Reports can also be published for shared use or generated for personal use.

• Report parts and shared data sets can be pre-configured to give users access to raw data that need to be reported on, without having to learn about complex underlying database structures. This also gives them the ability to generate impressive-looking components to their reports without the need to understand how to customize and configure the same.

• Shared Report Parts can be made available through the SSRS server, so report writers can focus on the data and story being presented and gain access to relevant reports simply by plugging in the appropriate components that are already bound to the needed business data sets.

• Report writers can likewise take advantage of the compete design capabilities of the Report Builder, build custom data sets, and create and configure their own complex gauges, charts, maps, tables, lists, and matrices, if they so wish and if they are familiar with source data.

Blog Source URL: https://www.datasparc.com/4-ways-can-grow-creativity-using-ssrs-ad-hoc-report-builder/

Track Database Alterations with Database Auditing Tools

Auditing is a core component of database compliance and security protocols and is usually accepted as a critical step in the overall management of IT operations. Information ranging from trade secrets to financial parameters and even private data end up getting stored on business servers. And in a data-centric working environment, databases need active monitoring and control to ensure that critical business information doesn’t end up being misused, leaked, messed-up or worse, stolen. The presence of multiple stakeholders in a database can also generate usage redundancies and fallacies that need to chased down and corrected. In short, a business needs to track database alterations with robust and reliable database auditing tools.

Organizations that hold sensitive data need to manage effective compliance with various corporate governance laws and data sharing protocols like HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), SOX(Sarbanes-Oxley), GLBA(Gramm-Leach-Bliley) regulations, EUDPD(European Union Data Protection Directive) and PCI(Payment Card Industry) compliance initiatives. The compliance protocols and data protection parameters that these laws and directives demand aren’t easy for database admins and IT managers to handle, especially with existing issues that arise in a database environment on a daily basis. Database auditing tools help manage these compliance requirements while ensuring that the integrity and sanctity of information is maintained with options such as user management, authentication, segregation of duties, access control and auditing.

Maintenance of user logs and activity history is important as it helps track down the source of any discrepancy that might be arising in a database. These tools also help channelize user activity through a single server, thereby ensuring that admins can concentrate more on server security and less on protecting multiple user machines. These tools are capable of functioning with a wide variety of database environments like Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Netezza, Teradata and SAP HANA, among others.

This is what makes database auditing tools such an invaluable asset for a business enterprise.

Blog Source URL: https://www.datasparc.com/track-database-alterations-database-auditing-tools/

Grab The Best Web Based Database Query Tool

Web based database query tools are an amazing resource for an enterprise to possess in the current business climate where accurate information and timely decisions can make or break any chances of profitability and success. Providing the managers and decision makers in your organization with a capability to build complex database queries on the go, without possessing any programming knowledge makes the entire business unit more self-sufficient, effective and responsive towards immediate market stimulus. So if you are looking to grab the best web based database query tool for use in your business enterprise, make sure you follow the below mentioned pointers:

• Make sure you select a web based database query tool that provides true browser based access. This means no need to install any third party SQL Client on a user’s PC.

• The query tool should provide access to databases maintained on-premises as well as those hosted on popular cloud servers like Amazon RDS, Amazon Redshift, and Heroku.

• Look for multi-platform compatibility including Amazon redshift, MongoDB, MySQL, Netezza, Oracle, SAP Hana, Teradata, SQL Server, Greenplum and more.

• Ensure that the web based database query tool you select for your organization is enterprise ready and offers a wide range of security and audit features like role based access control, two factor authentication, flexible deployment options, SSL support, encryption, auditing and advanced monitoring for better security in an expansive enterprise setting.

• Advanced BI capabilities are also a must have with options to generate reports, Dashboards, SQL Charts and visual data display options. Scheduling of database reports is also an important feature to look for here.

• The user training required for getting maximum utility from the web based database query tool you select should be minimal. IT intervention shouldn’t be needed to perform requisite data analysis tasks.

Just follow the above mentioned set of pointers to find the best web based database query tool for your needs.

Blog Source URL: https://www.datasparc.com/grab-best-web-based-database-query-tool/

Oracle Client Tools: How To Use Them?

Oracle client tools are an amazing weapon for an Oracle SQL developer, BI user or database admin to have in their arsenal. Designed to make database development and management easy, these tools are web based, intuitive and convenient – so much so that even a non-IT user can get extract maximum utility from them without the need to know or use coding. Using Oracle client tools calls for following a few easy guidelines, the most important ones from which are mentioned below:

Data editing and browsing

Viewing database table data, applying data filters, counting rows and various other functions supported by the online database browsing capabilities of Oracle can be accessed using Oracle client tools. Data editing options like insert, create, delete, and update data, adding and altering columns and even update clob and blob data is manageable online using Oracle client tools.

Data importing and exporting

Oracle client tools allow users to export data tables and information from a database into other formats like HTML, INSERT, CSV, and PDF – perfect for analysis and report generation. CSV tables can be imported to the database using these tools as well, thereby allowing one to bring data stored in multiple locations to the central master database.

Data constraints management

The next and most important capability of Oracle client tools is the power to apply rules on a table’s data columns. These constraints are important for customizing data display and can be changed directly using check, enable, disable, or drop constraints options.

The option of developing a full-fledged database in your web browser using Oracle client tools is exponentially convenient for business information stakeholders who may not possess requisite coding knowledge and IT expertise to manage the task directly. Data search, access, analysis and display doesn’t get easier than this!

Blog Source URL: https://www.datasparc.com/oracle-client-tools-use/

Analyze Reports with Quick and Easy Web-Based Ad Hoc Reporting Tools

Modern business intelligence is heavily driven by technology for accessing data and generating actionable reports that will help enterprise stakeholders and management personnel in taking informed decisions. These tasks are time sensitive in nature and require quick and relevant data analysis, charts and report generation as per the demands of the situation, without having to rely upon an already overburdened IT department. This is where web based ad hoc reporting tools come into play, allowing users to analyze reports and generate relevant information for impending business decisions in a quick and easy manner. Let’s see how:

Modern web based ad hoc reporting tools are designed to be used by non-technical personnel. This means any report you require or data you need to access can be fetched, processed and customized without the need of coding. These online programs also allow users to define a data access policy and clearance levels to maintain the security and integrity of a database. Once the right people get access to the right data, Visual SQL query builders and online SQL editors can be used to generate legitimate SQL queries, fetch data, generate reports, charts and access dashboards without the need for using any code.

Ad hoc reporting tools are designed to support business intelligence functions and hence, they are rigged to generate more intuitive, interactive and accurate reports for better decision making. Line charts, pie charts, scatter plots, bar graphs, maps, grids, choropleths, counters and tables can easily be created using the easy and convenient tools offered by these tools. Web based ad hoc reporting systems also allow for business intelligence collaboration and data sharing based on set access and clearance rules along with the option of password setting and data encryption to prevent information leaks or theft. All in all, these tools are designed to offer comprehensive business intelligence solutions to users who do not possess requisite SQL coding knowledge in a web based access format.

Using online ad hoc reporting tools has been known to aid in faster and more efficient decision making, especially when you take into account the option of accessing and processing data remotely through the cloud. It is definitely something that your enterprise will benefit from.

Blog Source URL: https://www.datasparc.com/analyze-reports-quick-easy-web-based-ad-hoc-reporting-tools/

Create an Amazing Database with Oracle Database Client Software

Oracle database client software is a free, lightweight and easy to use tool that enables users to create amazing databases and connect to the same locally or remotely for development or product deployment. This software is a package of components such as SQLNet and ASO that allow Windows or Mac computers to communicate with Oracle servers that contain databases in a distributed computing environment. However, using this tool for creating and managing a database can prove to be tough if one doesn’t possess requisite coding knowledge and technical expertise. This is where web based client software for Oracle database like DBHawk comes into play. With a sleek and intuitive interface, these software enable just about anyone to create an amazing database through your web browser. Let’s explore further:

• Database browser and Editor: DBHawk Oracle client database software allows users to view database tables and filter data quite easily. Once can also use it to insert, create, delete, and update data, or update clob and blob data, and use column manager to view, add and edit column details.

• Data import and export: Web based oracle client database software like DBHawk allows users to export table data into multiple formats such as HTML, INSERT, CSV, and PDF and even import data into a database from CSV files. The system also allows you to save the imported data as a job or set it to run at regular intervals.

• Database constraints and rules: If you wish to apply constraints and rules on your database to ensure its integrity and security, Web based oracle client database software allows you to use new foreign key, unique key and primary key as well as check, enable, disable, or drop constraints. You can also click on a name to access detailed information on parameters such as ‘last changed’, ‘reference owner’, ‘reference table’, ‘delete rule’, and ‘reference columns’.

Choose a web-based Oracle database client software to create an amazing database directly through your web browser without any hassle.

Blog Source URL: https://www.datasparc.com/create-amazing-database-oracle-database-client-software/