BizTalk blog posts 02/2013 - 05/2013

The past time I haven't posted a lot on this blog, especially not much blog posts on BizTalk subjects. This doesn't mean that I haven't done any BizTalk related blog posts, I just haven't done it on my personal blog for a while... I've mostly posted on my companies blog, where I am the sole contributor and administrator.

But for all of you loyal readers of my personal blog, I thought it would be nice to give an overview of all of my latest posts. I'm thinking of doing this every once in a while to keep all of you updated on ALL of my posts.

So here goes for the period till May 2013...

• BizTalk error: ‘The message found multiple request response subscriptions’: solution to sending messages to multiple request-response send ports
• BizTalk file mask difference for windows 7 and windows server 2008 r2: A difference in file mask usage between windows 7 and windows server 2008 r2
• BizTalk360 v6.0: new features explained: a quick view on some of the improvements introduced in the new BizTalk360 version 6.0
• BizTalk Server 2013 is now RTM!: the announcement of the new BizTalk version release on MSDN, with the new features listed
• BTS2013 features explained: XslCompiledTransform: I started a new series on viewing some of the new features of BizTalk 2013 in more detail, the first one was about the XslCompiledTransform
• BTS2013 features explained: Improvements in dynamic send ports: follow up post on a new BizTalk 2013 feature on the Improvements in dynamic send ports
• BTS2013 features explained: Dependency tracking: an in depth view of the new dependency tracking feature of BizTalk 2013
• First Cumulative Update for BizTalk 2013… available through Microsoft Update!: the announcement that the very first cumulative update was released for BizTalk 2013, and that it even was available through Microsoft Update
• BAM error: Failed to list permissions for BAM view – System.Data.SqlTypes.SqlNullValueException: Data is Null: a solution to a BAM issue I encountered

Hope you enjoy these blog posts!

CU1 for BizTalk 2013... using Microsoft Update!

The Microsoft Team has just announced the release of the very first Cumulative Update For BizTalk 2013.

But an even more surprising news is that it is available using Microsoft Update!... This is the very first time a BizTalk Update can be obtained with Microsoft Update, as before it had to be done by downloading it manually through the hotfix download. An amazing improvement if you ask me, making it a whole lot easier for administrators.

The update will still be available through the hotfix download though.

The Content of the Cumulative Update

The very first CU for BizTalk 2013 brings 3 fixes:

• User cannot perform certain database-related operations in BizTalk Server 2013
• BAM tools cannot be configured in a multi-node BizTalk Server 2013 environment
• The vertical scroll bar on the target schema does not work correctly when you use Visual Studio to design a BizTalk Server 2013 map

How to install using Microsoft Update

The following steps are applicable if you have Microsoft Update enabled in the machine where BizTalk Server is installed.

1. Log into a server where BizTalk Server is already installed, and Microsoft Update is enabled
2. Check for windows update
3. Notice available fixes for BizTalk Server under optional updates
4. Select the update and install

(Perform the above operations in each of the BizTalk nodes)

The original announcement can be found here.

Error: The self-extracting zip file is part of a multidisk zip file

I tried to install the Cumulative update package 14 for SQL Server 2008 R2.

After requesting the update on http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2703280, I got an email containing a link to download the file 449383_intl_x64_zip.exe. After downloading the file an trying to run the self extracting zip file, I got following error:

This self-extracting zip file is part of a multidisk zip file. Please insert the last disk of the set.

There is no other option than pressing the OK-button.And after pressing the OK-button 3 times, I got following error message:


An error occured while unzipping. One or more files were not succesfully unzipped. The error code is 110.

The solution for this seemed to be to just download the file from the given link in my email again.
After this I could succesfully run the self-extracting zip file an install my cumulative update package.

Cumulative update package 4 for BizTalk Server 2010

As of yesterday, BizTalk 2010 has a fourth cumulative update available already!
This CU includes 8 product updates based on customer escalations.

Download & info: Cumulative update package 4 for BizTalk Server 2010

BizTalk Server: List of Service Packs and Cumulative Updates available

Each BizTalk Server and Biztalk Adpater pack version already has several service packs and cumulative updates available.
To keep track of all available BTS updates Sandro Pereira made a handy overview on his blog.

BizTalk Server: List of Service Packs and Cumulative Updates available « Sandro Pereira BizTalk Blog

Cumulative update package 4 for BizTalk Server 2009

Microsoft released a new update package for BTS 2009. Cumulative update package 4 is now available here.


Content:

• BizTalk Server EDI support: FIX: A TA1 interchange acknowledgement is not returned when you use a two-way receive port to receive EDI interchanges in BizTalk Server
• BizTalk Server Design Tools: FIX: Visual Studio crashes when you build a project in BizTalk Server 2009 if message types are classes from a referenced .NET project
• Microsoft BizTalk Server Adapters: FIX: "Error encountered while querying virtual server state for URL" error when you configure WSS adapter in BizTalk Server 2009

!! Important Note:
After you apply this cumulative update, the settings for the DTA Purge and Archive Job roll back to default. This may cause backlog in the BizTalk Tracking (BizTalkDTADb) database. It is recommended to re-configure the job. For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site: How to Configure the DTA Purge and Archive Job

Cumulatieve updatepakket 2 for BizTalk Server 2010

Microsoft released the Cumulatieve updatepakket 2 for BizTalk 2010

This cumulative update package for Microsoft BizTalk Server 2010 contains hotfixes for the BizTalk Server 2010 issues that were resolved after the release of BizTalk Server 2010．

More info: Cumulatieve updatepakket 2 for BizTalk Server 2010

BizTalk Server 2009 CU package 3 available

The cumulative update package 3 for BizTalk Server 2009 is available.

included hotfixes:

• BizTalk Server EDI support
• The EDI batching orchestration does not release batches on time in BizTalk Server 2006 R2 and in BizTalk Server 2009
• AS2 messages remain active after they are processed when the "Track Message Bodies - Request message after port processing" option is enabled on a send port in a BizTalk Server 2009 environment
• BizTalk Server Administration Tools & Configuration Tools
• "The group BizTalk Isolated Host Users doesn't exist" error message is logged when you configure the Exception Web Services by using the ESB Configuration Tool in a BizTalk Server 2009 environment
• All the tracking options under "Track Events" are selected unexpectedly after a BizTalk orchestration is created or updated in BizTalk Server 2009
• Applications stop responding or crash when System Center Operations Manager monitors BizTalk Server 2009 applications
• BizTalk Server Message Box and Message Agent, Pipelines & Tracking
• Performance decreases when a server that is running BizTalk Server 2009 processes a large batch of messages after you customize the settings of the "Large Message Threshold" option and of the "Large Message Fragment size" option
• Error message when you receive a MIME or SMIME document in BizTalk Server: "Item has already been added"
• BizTalk Server XLANG engine
• White space is removed if a message is processed by a mapping operation that is included in a Construct Message shape in BizTalk Server
• BizTalk Server Setup
• Cumulative update package 2 for BizTalk Server 2009 fails if a BizTalk group uses a database that uses a case-sensitive collation

Prerequisites
To apply this update, you must have BizTalk Server 2009 installed. For detailed information about how to install this update, see the Readme.txt file that is included in the update package.

Notes

• You have to stop the following services before you apply this update:
• ENTSSO
• IISADMIN
• WINMGMT
• BTSNTSVC
• To install this update in a BizTalk group that includes multiple BizTalk servers, install this server update on each server individually instead of concurrently.

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2557149

Released: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 and SQL Server Denali CTP3

This week is packed with big announcements: Microsoft released SQL Server Code Name “Denali” Community Technology Preview 3 (CTP3) with breakthrough innovations that will help our customers to shape their Business Intelligence (BI) future; and Microsoft also released SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 with important improvements of our existing technologies.

Also PowerPivot for Microsoft Excel 2010 was updated as a separate download.

Source: Released: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 - Analysis Services and PowerPivot Team Blog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1

Service Pack 1 is available for SQL Server 2008 R2.

What’s New in SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1

Dynamic Management Views for increased supportability:
sys.dm_exec_query_stats DMV is extended with additional columns to improve supportabilities over troubleshooting long-running queries. New DMVs and XEvents on select performance counters are introduced to monitor OS configurations and resource conditions related to the SQL Server instance.

ForceSeek for improved querying performance :
Syntax for FORCESEEK index hint has been modified to take optional parameters allowing it to control the access method on the index even further. Using old style syntax for FORCESEEK remains unmodified and works as before. In addition to that, a new query hint, FORCESCAN has been added. It complements the FORCESEEK hint allowing specifying ‘scan’ as the access method to the index. No changes to applications are necessary if you do not plan to use this new functionality.

Data-tier Application Component Framework (DAC Fx) for improved database upgrades:
The new Data-tier Application (DAC) Framework v1.1 and DAC upgrade wizard enable the new in-place upgrade service for database schema management. The new in-place upgrade service will upgrade the schema for an existing database in SQL Azure and the versions of SQL Server supported by DAC. A DAC is an entity that contains all of the database objects and instance objects used by an application. A DAC provides a single unit for authoring, deploying, and managing the data-tier objects. For more information, see Designing and Implementing Data-tier Applications.

Disk space control for PowerPivot:
This update introduces two new configuration settings that let you determine how long cached data stays in the system. In the new Disk Cache section on the PowerPivot configuration page, you can specify how long an inactive database remains in memory before it is unloaded. You can also limit how long a cached file is kept on disk before it is deleted.

Source:Download details: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 Community Technology Preview

SQL Server 2008 Developer Training Kit

Learning how to develop with the rich data types, programming models and new development paradigms in SQL Server 2008?
Microsoft has a training kit available to do this with slides, demos and hands-on labs.

DOWNLOAD: SQL Server 2008 Developer Training Kit

Since Januari 2011 there is also an update available.

New Content: Build Your First Microsoft BI Solution with SQL Server 2008 R2
This update includes a rich new set of content designed for developers who want to learn how to build their first Microsoft Business Intelligence solution with SQL Server 2008 R2. Microsoft BI solutions leverage your existing technology investments in .NET, SQL Server and Office to develop rich integrated reporting and analytics experiences that empower users to gain access to accurate, up-to-date information for better, more relevant decision making. This content is a complete training course that contains eleven units covering all the key aspects of Microsoft BI solution development. You can find it by navigating to the Getting Started - BI Developers page. Here is a summary of what’s included:
31 presentations (PowerPoint slides, videos and transcripts included)
27 demos (installer scripts, videos and transcripts included)
12 hands on labs (installer scripts included)

More Info + Download: SQL Server 2008 R2 Update for Developers Training Kit

Cumulative update package 2 for BizTalk Server 2009

Microsoft has released CU2 for BizTalk Server 2009 and details can be found here:
Cumulative update package 2 for BizTalk Server 2009

BELUX MSDN and TechNet Desktop Gadget

Stay up to date with the latest news from MSDN and TechNet in Belgium and Luxembourg via the new desktop gadget for Windows Vista and Windows 7. It’s free, easy to install and very practical: you won’t miss anything of the latest tech news, blogs, videos and event registrations, as they are all fed right into your desktop!

Downoad: http://gallery.live.com/LiveItemDetail.aspx?li=1f7425ec-9b30-4d71-ac92-242837a10c41
Blog: Install the BELUX MSDN and TechNet Desktop Gadget to stay up to date - Katrien DG's MSDN Blog

Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1 Released

Service Pack 1 for Visual studio is now released. Preliminary support is added for HTML5, the IntelliSense also nows all html5 tags.
Other new features in this SP1 for Visual Studio 2010 can be found here

download: Download details: Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1 (Installer)

Announcing Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1

MSDN subscribers can already download SP1 for Visual Studio 2010.
On March 10, it will be generally available.

Source: Announcing Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1 - Jason Zander's WebLog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 is now available

Download: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932)

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 available on February 22nd

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 will be available for everyone on February 22nd.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-available-for-everyone/

SQL Server 2008 R2 Update for Developers Training Kit (January 2011 Update)

The SQL Server 2008 R2 Update For Developers Training Kit January 2011 Update is released. This is a great resource for developers, trainers, consultants and evangelists who need to understand the key improvements introduced in SQL Server 2008 R2 from a developer perspective. It contains a rich set of presentations, demos, hands-on labs and videos that are perfect for self-paced learning or for conducting your own training.

You can download the training kit now at the following URL:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9710868

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP4 is released

Service Pack 4 (SP4) for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is now available for download. SQL Server 2005 service packs are cumulative, and this service pack upgrades all service levels of SQL Server 2005 to SP4 . You can use these packages to upgrade any of the following SQL Server 2005 editions:
- Enterprise
- Enterprise Evaluation
- Developer
- Standard
- Workgroup

SQL Server 2005 SP4 includes SQL Server 2005 SP3 cumulative update 1 to 11, customer requested fixes, along with instances of the SQL Server 2005 SP4 database Engine support for DAC operations.

link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=b953e84f-9307-405e-bceb-47bd345baece&displaylang=en
link for the express edition: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=26435597-b28e-4568-9d16-017bdf47abdc&displaylang=en

There is also a SP4 released for the SQL 2005 feature pack.
The Feature Pack is a collection of standalone install packages that provide additional value for SQL Server 2005. It includes:
- Latest versions of redistributable components for SQL Server 2005
- Latest versions of add-on providers for SQL Server 2005
- Latest versions of backward compatibility components for SQL Server 2005

link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=7768393b-71fa-4281-83eb-cab08be4fb76&displaylang=en

Cumulative update package for BizTalk Server 2009

Recently Microsoft released a cumulative update package 1 for BTS 2009.
This package contains 60 fixes with 55 applying to BizTalk Server 2009 and 5 to UDDI as well as added support to HIPAA 5010. The release has 32 and 64bit downloads and can be obtained either by contacting Customer Services or by requesting the download via the online self-service feature.


link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2429050

another update package recently released by microsoft is the cumulative update package 1 for BizTalk adapter pack 2.0.  It includes 11 fixes that apply to the SAP Adapter, Oracle Adapter and the baseline framework itself. It applies to any system using the BizTalk Adapter Pack 2.0 (and .NET solutions consuming the adapters, BizTalk Server 2006 R2 SP1, and BizTalk Server 2009).


link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2444952