| Author |
Topic |
|
ynotredrum
Starting Member
7 Posts |
 Posted - 2011-01-01 : 21:17:19
|
| Hi,I'm a data analyst that is used to a local SAS interface (although I've used server-side). I work in non-profit, and our organization's server is very slow and unreliable (constantly goes down). However, our data files are only 5gb, so I would like to download the data onto my hard-drive and complete all my data analysis locally. I have been using Access, but my SQL skills are finally at the point that I am finally beginning to realize how horrible this interface is.The other alternative is to work on the server, but it goes down with such regularity that it's hard to get work done. I have SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 on a Windows 7 (home edition) platform.1. Is there a way I can set something up on my computer so that I can run queries off of databases that I have downloaded locally?2. If so, will SQL Server 2005/Visual Studio 2005 suffice, or do I need to download something else/buy something else?3. If so, what format does the data need to be downloaded as (i.e., in SAS, it was a .sas7bat file)?Thanks! |
|
|
tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
|
|
ynotredrum
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-01 : 22:03:31
|
| Thanks for the quick reply - I think these follow-up questions are going to show the extent of my newbness, but here goes:-How do I "grab a backup from production"? I can export the data from the server (I've currently exported the database with its tables into a Microsoft Access Document - is there an easy conversion tool?)-When I open management studio, it prompts me to connect to a server - I hit cancel, then what do I do?Also, is this a common request? I hate to ask people super basic questions like this, but couldn't find a guide/any requests I could understand in the history, but if there is one, I am pretty competent and should be able to follow it... |
 |
|
|
tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-01 : 22:40:30
|
| Is there anyone at your company that you can have help you with this? Whoever setup the backups on the SQL Server should be able to help get you the needed file. Once you have that file, you can then restore it using the restore GUI inside Management Studio.And yes you have to connect to a server in Management Studio. Did you only install the client tools or do you also have the SQL Server engine on your local machine?Tara KizerMicrosoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Serverhttp://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/Subscribe to my blog |
|
|
|
ynotredrum
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-01 : 23:40:35
|
| I asked and they told me that it wasn't possible to run it locally (then again, I work for an urban school district so tech services are much, much worse than my last job in the private sector, which is why I'm trying to find the answer on my own). I'm on a 10-month fellowship and trying to make the most impact in a bureaucracy-laden organization. It's for the kids!I've installed Microsoft SQL Server 2005 package. I am not sure whether I have installed the SQL server engine on my machine - is there an easy way to check? I see the following items in my start menu list:-SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio-SQL Server Management Studio-Deployment Wizard-Database Engine Tuning Advisor-SQL Server ProfilerAlso, I'm sure this another dumb question, but why do I need to use a client + server interface locally for this? If I want to run a perl script, I can just run an install.exe file (I understand this may not be part of the Microsoft SQL package, but shouldn't there be some open-sourced goody on the web that does this?) |
|
|
|
tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-01 : 23:43:19
|
| You have to run the engine because you have to restore the database to it.To see if you have the engine, check the Services applet in Control Panel and search for anything that starts with SQL. Let us know what you find. Are you sure that the source server at your organization is using SQL Server though? We need to know what the source of the data is. If it's SQL Server, then we can help you. If it's not SQL Server, then you'll likely need to find help on another site that specializes in whatever source you are using.Tara KizerMicrosoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Serverhttp://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/Subscribe to my blog |
|
|
|
ynotredrum
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-02 : 04:42:18
|
| Not sure where to find the services applet in Win 7 Control Panel. In the Programs and Features tab I see SQLXML4 - is that it?The organization definitely is using SQL ServerThanks again for your help! |
|
|
|
dataguru1971
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
1464 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-02 : 10:48:47
|
Once you have SQL installed, you should be able to connect through SSMS easily enough if the source data is SQL server.Why aren;t you using SAS? PC SAS, and Enterprise Guide are pretty simple to use for data analytics, and you can easily pass SQL (proc sql) commands to query and evaluate the data. You said you have SQL Management Studio available on your PC. You should be able to connect to the SQL database using the same credentials you had from SAS, and you can use that tool to query the data. You can also create a local version of the database and import the data from the source into that local version.
Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. |
|
|
|
SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-02 : 13:23:50
|
Just a remainder, the syntax for writing queries in SAS is very different from the queries in T-SQL.
N 56°04'39.26"E 12°55'05.63" |
|
|
|
ynotredrum
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-02 : 15:31:12
|
| Sorry I wasn't clear - I used SAS for the last four years in the private sector. Unfortunately, they don't give discounts to non-profit organizations, and we can't afford the $4000/year fee at my new jobThe organization is using SQL server, but rather than work off the server (which is down every other day), I want to work off the downloaded datasets on my own computer (which I currently have in access form, but could probably get in another form). |
|
|
|
tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
|
|
ynotredrum
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-02 : 18:50:15
|
| Permissions that allow me to view all the databases and run queries, but not change any of the data. |
|
|
|
tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
|
|
ynotredrum
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-02 : 22:29:32
|
| Unfortunately, no. I'm not sure why this is the case - if I can export all the data to Microsoft Access format, why can't I export it to my harddrive in the format required for an SQL Server (assuming I have that software on my computer) |
|
|
|
tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
Posted - 2011-01-02 : 22:39:47
|
| Are you able to right click on the database and use the export wizard? If so, then that's enough permissions. You'd then use the import wizard on your local machine. The import wizard should be able to tell the format of the file, so it should be able to create the objects for you. The objects may not end up being identical to your production server though, so that would be a risk.Backup/restore would give you an identical database, but you are going to have to request the sysadmin provide you the backup file.Tara KizerMicrosoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Serverhttp://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/Subscribe to my blog |
|
|
|
|
Getting an old SAS user setup on a local machine