SQL Server 2005 SP3 Offers Performance Improvements for Reporting in SharePoint

SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 was recently released and it include performance enhancements for environment running SQL Reporting Services in SharePoint Integrated Mode.
Taken from the "What's New" Section of the SP3 Documentation:

In SharePoint integrated mode, reports typically run slower than the same reports run in native mode. The main cause of this latency can be attributed to SharePoint object model calls that are made. In SQL Server 2005 SP3, the number of SharePoint object model calls that SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (SSRS) makes are optimized. This optimization reduces some of the latency when you compare report performance with native mode.

Keeping your Desktop Icons Ship Shape with Desktop Restore

I like to use Windows Desktop to launch shortcuts to my favorite and most used applications.  I have the icons arranged in a particular way so that I can find and launch them easily.  If you do this yourself or have tried to do this in the past you may have noticed that from time to time Windows will rearrange the desktop icons when the screen resolution is adjusted, certain applications are launched or if the shell restarts unexpectedly.  When this happens it is often a major inconvenience to readjust all of the icons only to have it happen again the next time you attach to a projector or launch a certain game.

Desktop Restore to the rescue.  Desktop Restore is a shell extension that was created by Jamie O'Connell and can be found on his company's web site at midiox.com.  This little beauty makes saving and restoring you desktop icon locations a snap by providing additional menu items when you right-click the desktop.

It supports multiple monitors and multiple layout configurations.  If you like using your desktop to launch your applications and like to have your icons in just the right place I strongly encourage you to checkout Desktop Restore.  I have been using it for a couple years now and think it is a great utility.

Speaking about SPAXO at the Cincinnati SharePoint User Group

I will be speaking at the Cincinnati SharePoint User Group this Thursday, December 4th. I will be giving the dirt on the ins and outs of the SPAXO Feature that Randy Drisgill and I created. If you are in the area and are able to make it, stop by and see how it works! You could also get yourself a copy of one of Shane Young's latest books like Inside SharePoint Administration or Professional Microsoft Search: SharePoint 2007 and Search Server 2008.