Is SQL Server in your bag of tricks?

May 31, 2009

Is SQL Server in your bag of tricks?
If you’re subscribed to the Alpha Software newsletter, you already know about our upcoming Alpha Five/SQL Server Web applications webinar taking place on Wednesday, June 3 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The course will also be recorded, and will be made available for viewing or downloading to registered users.

Microsoft SQL Server is the database engine of choice for millions of businesses. And with the availability of the free edition — SQL Server Express 2005/2008 — and its increased capacity, it’s accessible by everyone. With the right SQL Server and Alpha Five skills, you can build highly scalable database applications, and greatly improve your marketability in this competitive economy.

But where do you start? Amazon lists over 1,300 books devoted to SQL Server. Not to mention all the courses available, plus Microsoft’s official certification programs. Plus, it takes years of dedication to become a true SQL Server guru.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a guru to take advantage of SQL Server right now. Using Alpha Five as the front end, you can build new SQL Server based applications, migrate existing data to SQL Server, and manage data already in SQL Server, quickly and easily.

In our two-hour training session, hosted by Jim Dusoe, founder of BMSI Software and long-time Alpha fanatic, you’ll learn

How to choose the right version of SQL Server
How to install SQL Server
How to create SQL Server tables
How and why to use stored procedures and triggers
How to use SQL Server Views
How to Use AlphaDAO to work with SQL Server

And because this webinar focuses on Web applications, you’ll also see step-by-step instructions on how to provision a server with both Alpha Five and SQL Server. We’ll show you

The advantages of Web vs. Desktop Applications
How to set up the Alpha Five (Web) Application Server for use with SQL Server
How to run the Alpha Five Application Server as a service (using a free toolkit from Microsoft)

For those who can’t make it, you’ll receive access to the webinar recording at no charge with your paid registration. Registration for this two-hour training course is only $99, so sign up today!

My thoughts in ink on Inc.
Earlier this year, Inc. published a fascinating article about Markus Frind and his online dating company, PlentyOfFish. More specifically, how Frind conquered the online dating world and now lives comfortably working 10 hours a week while paying himself more than $5 million a year. The word entrepreneur sounds pretty good now, eh?

Inc. makes it sound easy. But in this case, it wouldn’t be for 95 percent of entrepreneurs. That’s because Frind knows how to program computers. Most people do not. As I said in my comment, it takes more than a good idea to build a thriving Web business.

Great ideas aren’t in short supply. But software tools that empower entrepreneurs to build their big ideas are lacking. As you know, we’re trying to change that at Alpha Five by giving you everything you (yes, YOU, the non-programmer) need to get your idea off the ground.

Have a look at the comment for the full scoop, and a little preview of an idea we have here at Alpha that will help entrepreneurs network, build, fund, and market their own “big-idea” Web apps. But you’ll hear more on that, coming soon.