Recent Reading

I just finished reading Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services 2005 by Brian Larson. It's a pretty good introductory book, and after reading the first 11 chanpters, and skimming the last couple, I think I've got a pretty good idea on how to get started with SSRS2005. Unfortunately, by the time I actually get to use any of this, we'll probably be on SSRS2008, and I'll have to get the next version, but hopefully there won't be a lot of changes.

I'm currently digging into SQL Server Free Text searching and other search engines to be used for searching relational databases. The SQL Free Text search has a few major downsides:
1. It can only index one database
2. You need to actively update the database indexes on a schedule, or the search will not get accurate information
3. You need to specify the columns to include in your searches through your indexing.

This may still work to do what I need, but there will be a lot more effort than originally planned.

I am also researching and comparing LINQ, CSLA, NHibernate and the Microsoft Entity Frameworks for use in my data layers. No winners yet, as they all offer benefits. The biggest loser in using these tools is WCF, since using WCF removes a great deal of the capabilities built into each of these tools for CRUD operations.

Finally, I've been cracking open Visual Studio 2008, mainly to look at LINQ and new ASP.NET functionality.

More to learn, always more to learn.