Glossary (Report Builder 3.0)

.bak

The file name extension of an auxiliary file, created either automatically or upon command, that contains the second-most-recent version of a file and that bears the same file name.

.NET Framework

An integral Windows component that supports building, deploying, and running the next generation of applications and XML Web services. It provides a highly productive, standards-based, multilanguage environment for integrating existing investments with next generation applications and services, as well as the agility to solve the challenges of deployment and operation of Internet-scale applications. The .NET Framework consists of three main parts: the common language runtime, a hierarchical set of unified class libraries, and a componentized version of ASP called ASP.NET.

access control list

In Windows-based systems, a list of access control entries (ACE) that apply to an entire object, a set of the object's properties, or an individual property of an object, and that define the access granted to one or more security principals.

accessor

A data structure or group of structures created by the consumer that describes how row or parameter data from the data store is to be laid out in the consumer's data buffer, enabling providers to optimize access. An accessor is a collection of bindings.

activation

The process of starting a service program in response to a Service Broker message.

ActiveX Data Objects

A data access interface that communicates with OLE DB-compliant data sources to connect to, retrieve, manipulate, and update data.

ActiveX Data Objects MultiDimensional.NET

A .NET managed data provider that provides access to multidimensional data sources, such as Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services.

ad hoc reporting

A reporting system that enables end users to run queries and create custom reports without having to know the technicalities of the underlying database schema and query syntax.

add-in

A supplemental program that can extend the capabilities of an application program.

adjective phrasing

A way of expressing a relationship in English in which an entity is described by an adjective.

ADO MD

A high-level, language-independent set of object-based data access interfaces optimized for multidimensional data applications.

adornment

A control or status area that is attached to the edge of a pane or window, such as a toolbar or ruler.

aggregate

A single value that is composed of multiple values.

aggregate

Pertaining to a combination of multiple values.

aggregate query

A query (SQL statement) that summarizes information from multiple rows by including an aggregate function such as Sum or Avg.

aggregation

A table or structure containing pre-calculated data for an online analytical processing (OLAP) cube. Aggregations support the rapid and efficient querying of a multidimensional database.

aggregation wrapper

A wrapper that encapsulates a COM object within another COM object.

alias

An alternative label for some object, such as a file or data collection.

alignment

A condition whereby an index is built on the same partition scheme as that of its corresponding table.

AMO

A collection of .NET namespaces included with Analysis Services, used to provide administrative functionality for client applications.

Analysis Services

A feature of Microsoft SQL Server that supports online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining for business intelligence applications. Analysis Services organizes data from a data warehouse into cubes with precalculated aggregation data to provide rapid answers to complex analytical queries.

ancestor

In a tree structure, the element of which a given element is a child. Equivalent to a parent element.

anchor cap

A line cap where the width of the cap is bigger than the width of the line.

animation manager

A core component of an animation application and the central programmatic interface for managing (creating, scheduling, and controlling) animations. 

anonymous subscription

A type of pull subscription for which detailed information about the subscription and the Subscriber is not stored.

antialiasing

A software technique for smoothing the jagged appearance of curved or diagonal lines caused by poor resolution on a display screen. Methods of anti-aliasing include surrounding pixels with intermediate shades and manipulating the size and horizontal alignment of the pixels.

API

A set of routines that an application uses to request and carry out lower-level services performed by a computer's operating system. These routines usually carry out maintenance tasks such as managing files and displaying information.

API support

A set of routines that an application uses to request and carry out lower-level services performed by a computer's operating system. These routines usually carry out maintenance tasks such as managing files and displaying information.

application definition file

An XML file that fully describes a single Notification Services application. The ADF file contains the schemas for the events, subscriptions, and notifications; the rules for matching events with subscriptions; and may provide the name of the XSLT file used to format generated notifications.

application programming interface

A set of routines that an application uses to request and carry out lower-level services performed by a computer's operating system. These routines usually carry out maintenance tasks such as managing files and displaying information.

application time

The clock time supplied by applications which must communicate their application time to the StreamInsight server so that all temporal operators refer to the timestamp of the events and never to the system clock of the host machine.

arbitration port

A TCP/IP port used by the cache hosts to determine whether a cache host in the cluster has become unavailable. The port number that is used for arbitration can be different on each cache host.

arithmetic overflow

A condition that results from calculating a column value that exceeds the column's specified size.

assembly

A managed application module containing class metadata and managed code as an object in SQL Server, against which CLR functions, stored procedures, triggers, user-defined aggregates, and user-defined types can be created in SQL Server.

atom feed

An XML structure that contains metadata about content, such as the language version and the date when the content was last modified, and is sent to subscribers by using the Atom Publishing Protocol (AtomPub).

attribute

A single characteristic or additional piece of information (financial or non-financial) that exists in a database.

attribute relationship

The hierarchy associated with an attribute containing a single level based on the corresponding column in a dimension table.

auditing

The process an operating system uses to detect and record security-related events, such as an attempt to create, to access, or to delete objects such as files and directories. The records of such events are stored in a file known as a security log, whose contents are available only to those with the proper clearance.

authenticator

A data structure used by one party to prove that another party knows a secret key. In the Kerberos authentication protocol, authenticators include timestamps, to prevent replay attacks, and are encrypted with the session key issued by the Key Distribution Center (KDC).

autocommit mode

The default transaction management mode for the Database Engine. The Database Engine automatically starts a transaction for each individual Transact-SQL statement. When the statement completes, the transaction is committed or rolled back based on the success or failure of the statement.

automatic failover

In a database mirroring session, a failover initiated by the witness and mirror upon the failure of the principal server (if the database is in a synchronized state).

auto-protection

In DPM, a feature that automatically identifies and adds new data sources for protection.

axis

A set of tuples. Each tuple is a vector of members. A set of axes defines the coordinates of a multidimensional data set.

backing stream

The existing stream, that the new stream will be based on.

backup copy

A duplicate of a program, a disk, or data, made either for archiving purposes or for safeguarding files.

backup file

A duplicate of a program, a disk, or data, made either for archiving purposes or for safeguarding files.

backup set

A collection of files, folders, and other data that have been backed up and stored in a file or on one or more tapes.

base backup

A data backup of a database or files upon which a differential backup is fully or partially based. The base backup is the most recent full or file backup of the database or files.

base object

The object that a synonym references.

basic marker map

A map that displays a marker at each location (for example, cities) and varies marker color, size, and type.

batch job

A set of computer processes that can be run without user interaction.

batching

The process of sending changes in small groups instead of in a one-shot transfer of the data in its entirety.

billion

In American usage (as is usual with microcomputers), a thousand million, or 109. Computer terminology uses the prefixes giga-for 1 billion and nano-for 1 billionth.

binder

A tool/module that creates a binding/bindery.

bit pattern

A combination of bits, often used to indicate the possible unique combinations of a specific number of bits. For example, a 3-bit pattern allows 8 possible combinations and an 8-bit pattern allows 256 combinations.

blittable type

A data type that has a unique characteristic and an identical presentation in memory for both managed and unmanaged environments. It can be directly shared.

BLOb

A discrete packet of binary data that has an exceptionally large size, such as pictures or audio tracks stored as digital data, or any variable or table column large enough to hold such values. The designation "binary large object" typically refers to a packet of data that is stored in a database and is treated as a sequence of uninterpreted bytes.

block

A Transact-SQL statement enclosed by BEGIN and END.

blocking transaction

A transaction that causes another transaction to fail.

Boolean expression

An expression that yields a Boolean value (true or false). Such expressions can involve comparisons (testing values for equality or, for non-­Boolean values, the < [less than] or > [greater than] relation) and logical combination (using Boolean operators such as AND, OR, and XOR) of Boolean expressions.

bound stream

An event stream that contains all the information needed to produce events. Either the information is an already instantiated data source, or the information is sufficient for the StreamInsight server to start the data source.

box plot chart

A statistical type of chart that uses boxes to indicate statistical distribution and easily identify outlier points. There are five values: upper quartile, lower quartile, High Box, Low Box, and Median.

browse button

A button that displays a dialog box to help users select a valid value.

B-tree

A tree structure for storing database indexes.

buffer pool

A block of memory reserved for index and table data pages.

built-in functions

A group of predefined functions provided as part of the Transact-SQL and Multidimensional Expressions languages.

bulk copy

An action of copying a large set of data.

bulk import

To load a large amount of data, usually in batches, from a data file or repository to another data repository.

bulk log backup

A backup that includes log and data pages changed by bulk operations. Point-in-time recovery is not allowed.

Bulk Smart Card Issuance Tool

A software program running on a client computer that a certificate manager can use to simultaneously issue multiple certificates.

Business Intelligence Development Studio

A project development and management tool for business intelligence solution developers. It can be used to design end-to-end business intelligence solutions that integrate projects from Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).

business logic handler

A merge replication feature that allows you to run custom code during the synchronization process.

business rules

The logical rules that are used to run a business

cache client

A .NET application that uses the Windows Server AppFabric client APIs to communicate with and store data to a Windows Server AppFabric distributed cache system.

cache invalidation

The process of flagging an object in the cache so that it will no longer be used by any cache clients. This occurs when an object remains in cache longer than the cache time-out value (when it expires).

cache notification

An asynchronous notification that can be triggered by a variety of cache operations on the cache cluster. Cache notifications can be used to invoke application methods or automatically invalidate locally cached objects.

cache port

A TCP/IP port used by cache hosts to transmit data to and from the cache clients. The port number used for the cache port can be different on each cache host. These settings are maintained in the cluster configuration settings.

cache service

A distributed, in-memory, application cache service that accelerates the performance of Windows Azure and SQL Azure applications by allowing data to be kept in-memory.

cache-aside programming pattern

A programming pattern in which if the data is not present in the cache, the application, not the distributed cache system, must reload data into the cache from the original data source.

calculated column

A type of column that displays the results of mathematical or logical operations or expressions instead of stored data.

calculated field

A field defined in a query that displays the result of an expression rather than displaying stored data. The value is recalculated each time a value in the expression changes.

calculation condition

A Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) logical expression that is used to determine whether a calculation formula will be applied against a cell in a calculation subcube.

calculation pass

A stage of calculation in a multidimensional cube in which applicable calculations are evaluated.

calculation subcube

The set of multidimensional cube cells that is used to create a calculated cells definition. The set of cells is defined by a combination of MDX set expressions.

call-level interface

The interface supported by ODBC for use by an application.

cap

For paths that contain unconnected ends, such as lines, the end of a stroke. You can change the way the stroke looks at each end by applying one of four end cap styles: flat cap, round cap, square cap, and triangle cap.

carousel view

In PowerPivot Gallery, a specialized view where the preview area is centered and the thumbnails that immediately precede and follow the current thumbnail are adjacent to the preview area.

cascading update

For relationships that enforce referential integrity between tables, the updating of all related records in the related table or tables when a record in the primary table is changed.

case key

The element of a case by which the case is referenced within a case set.

catastrophic error

An error that causes the system or a program to fail abruptly with no hope of recovery. An example of a fatal error is an uncaught exception that cannot be handled.

CD-ROM

A form of storage characterized by high capacity (roughly 650 MB) and the use of laser optics instead of magnetic means for reading data.

cellset

In ADO MD, an object that contains a collection of cells selected from cubes or other cellsets by a multidimensional query.

CEP

The continuous and incremental processing of event streams from multiple sources based on declarative query and pattern specifications with near-zero latency.

CERN

A physics research center located in Geneva, Switzerland, where the original development of the World Wide Web took place under the leadership of Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 as a method to facilitate communication among members of the scientific community.

certificate enrollment

The process of requesting, receiving, and installing a certificate.

Certificate Lifecycle Manager Client

A suite of Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) client tools that assist end users with managing their smart cards. The tools include the Smart Card Self Service Control, the Smart Card Personalization Control, and the Certificate Profile Update Control. See Smart Card Self-Service Control, Smart Card Personalization Control, Certificate Profile Update Control.

certificate manager Web portal

A Web application running on the Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) server. This portal allows certificate administrators to administer other users’ certificates and smart cards. The certificate subscriber and certificate manager Web portals are both accessed through the same universal resource locator (URL); however, the content displayed is based on a user's roles and permissions.

certificate revocation

The process of revoking a digital certificate.

certificate subscriber Web portal

A Web application running on the Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) server. This component of the CLM server interacts directly with users in a self-service mode. The specific functionality is based upon Active Directory group memberships and permissions. The certificate subscriber and certificate manager Web portals are both accessed through the same universal resource locator (URL); however, the content displayed is based on a user's roles and permissions.

change applier

An object that performs conflict detection, conflict handling, and change application for a batch of changes.

change script

A text file that contains SQL statements for all changes made to a database, in the order in which they were made, during an editing session.

changing dimension

A dimension that has a flexible member structure, and is designed to support frequent changes to structure and data.

character set

A grouping of alphabetic, numeric, and other characters that have some relationship in common. For example, the standard ASCII character set includes letters, numbers, symbols, and control codes that make up the ASCII coding scheme.

checkpoint

An event in which the Database Engine writes dirty buffer pages to disk. Each checkpoint writes to disk all the pages that were dirty at the last checkpoint and still have not been written to disk.

child

In a tree structure, the relationship of a node to its immediate predecessor.

chunk

A specified amount of data.

clause

In Transact-SQL, a subunit of an SQL statement. A clause begins with a keyword.

clear text

Data in its unencrypted or decrypted form.

CLI

The interface supported by ODBC for use by an application.

clickthrough report

A report that displays related report model data when you click data within a rendered Report Builder report.

client

A computer or program that connects to or requests the services of another computer or program.

client cursor

A cursor that is implemented on the client. The entire result set is first transferred to the client, and the client API software implements the cursor functionality from this cached result set.

client type

Information that determines how a cache client functions and impacts the performance of your application. There are two client types: a simple client type and a routing client type.

CLM credentials

User account information that can be used to authenticate a user to Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM). These credentials can be in the form of domain credentials or one-time passwords.

CLM Enrollment Agent

A Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) extended permission in Active Directory that allows a user or group to perform certificate requests on behalf of another user. The issued certificate’s subject will contain the target user’s name, rather than the requestor’s name.

CLM Renew

A Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) extended permission in Active Directory that allows the initiation, running, or completion of an enrollment request. The renew request replaces a user’s certificate that is near its expiration date with a new certificate that has a new validity period.

CLM Request Enroll

A Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) extended permission in Active Directory that allows the initiation, running, or completion of an enrollment request.

CLM Request Renew

A Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) extended permission in Active Directory that allows the initiation, running, or completion of an enrollment request. The renew request replaces a user’s certificate that is near its expiration date with a new certificate that has a new validity period.

CLM Request Unblock Smart Card

A Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) extended permission in Active Directory that enables a smart card’s User Personal Identification Number (PIN) to be reset, allowing access to the key material on a smart card and for that material to be re-established.

clock vector

A collection of clock vector elements that represents updates to a replica. Any change that occurs between 0 and the tick count is contained in the vector.

CLR function

A function created against a SQL Server assembly whose implementation is defined in an assembly created in the .NET Framework common language runtime (CLR).

CLR trigger

A trigger created against a SQL Server assembly whose implementation is defined in an assembly created in the .NET Framework common language runtime (CLR).

cluster configuration storage location

The shared location (or shared storage location) where cluster configuration information is persisted. It can be a shared file or a database.

cluster node

An individual computer in a server cluster.

cluster repair

A repair operation in which all missing or corrupt files are replaced, all missing or corrupt registry keys are replaced and all missing or invalid configuration values are set to default values.

clustered server

A server that belongs to a server cluster.

coarse-grained lock

A lock that applies to a large amount of code or data.

code element

The minimum bit combination that can represent a unit of encoded text for processing or exchange.

code point

The minimum bit combination that can represent a unit of encoded text for processing or exchange.

collation

A set of rules that determines how data is compared, ordered, and presented.

collection item

An instance of a collector type that is created with a specific set of input properties and collection frequency, and that is used to gather specific types of data.

collection set

A group of collection items with which a user can interact through the user interface.

collocate

To select a partitioned table that contains related data and join with this table on the partitioning column.

color range

The range of colors available to a display device.

color scale

A scale that displays the results of color rules only.

column binding

The binding of an Analysis Services object to a column in a data source view.

column filter

A filter that restricts columns that are to be included as part of a snapshot, transactional, or merge publication.

column set

An untyped XML representation that combines all the sparse columns of a table into a structured output.

column-level constraint

A constraint definition that is specified within a column definition when a table is created or altered.

COM

An object-based programming model designed to promote software interoperability; it allows two or more applications or components to easily cooperate with one another, even if they were written by different vendors, at different times, in different programming languages, or if they are running on different computers running different operating systems.

command prompt

An interface between the operating system and the user in which the user types command language strings of text that are passed to the command interpreter for execution.

commit

An operation that saves all changes to databases, cubes, or dimensions made since the start of a transaction.

commodity channel index formula

A formula that calculates the mean deviation of the daily average price of a commodity from the moving average. A value above 100 indicates that the commodity is overbought, and a value below -100 indicates that the commodity is oversold.

compilation error

An error which occurs while compiling an application. These compilation errors typically occur because syntax was entered incorrectly.

complete database restore

A restore of a full database backup, the most recent differential database backup (if any), and the log backups (if any) taken since the full database backup.

Component Object Model

An object-based programming model designed to promote software interoperability; it allows two or more applications or components to easily cooperate with one another, even if they were written by different vendors, at different times, in different programming languages, or if they are running on different computers running different operating systems.

composed environment

A virtual environment that was created from virtual machines. Those virtual machines were created outside of Microsoft Test Manager and are already deployed on a host group.

composite key

A key whose definition consists of two or more fields in a file, columns in a table, or attributes in a relation.

computed column

A virtual column in a table whose value is computed at run time.

COM-structured storage file

A component object model (COM) compound file used by Data Transformation Services (DTS) to store the version history of a saved DTS package.

concurrency

A process that allows multiple users to access and change shared data at the same time. The Entity Framework implements an optimistic concurrency model.

concurrency model

A way in which an application can be designed to account for concurrent operations that use the same cached data. Windows Server AppFabric supports optimistic and pessimistic concurrency models.

conditional expression

An expression that yields a Boolean value (true or false). Such expressions can involve comparisons (testing values for equality or, for non-­Boolean values, the < [less than] or > [greater than] relation) and logical combination (using Boolean operators such as AND, OR, and XOR) of Boolean expressions.

config file

A file that contains machine-readable operating specifications for a piece of hardware or software or that contains information on another file or on a specific user, such as the user's logon ID.

configuration file

A file that contains machine-readable operating specifications for a piece of hardware or software or that contains information on another file or on a specific user, such as the user's logon ID.

conflict detection

The process of determining which operations were made by one replica without knowledge of the other, such as when two replicas make local updates to the same item.

conflict resolver

A special mechanism which handles resolving of conflict situations.

connection manager

A logical representation of a run-time connection to a data source.

consistency unit

The minimal unit of data synchronization. Because all changes that have the same consistency unit are sent together, synchronization can never be interrupted with part of a consistency unit applied.

constraint conflict

A conflict that violates constraints that are put on items or change units, such as the relationship of folders or the location of identically-named data within a file system.

contained database

A SQL Server database that includes all of the user authentication, database settings, and metadata required to define and access the database, and has no configuration dependencies on the instance of the SQL Server Database Engine where the database is installed.

content formatter

The part of the distributor that turns raw notification data into readable messages.

contention

On a network, competition among stations for the opportunity to use a communications line or network resource.

continuation media

The series of removable backup media used after the initial medium becomes full, allowing continuation of the backup operation.

contract

A Service Broker object that defines the message types that can be exchanged within a given conversation.

control-break report

A report that summarizes data in user-defined groups or breaks. A new group is triggered when different data is encountered.

conversation endpoint

The object which represents a party participating in the conversation.

conversation handle

An handle which uniquely defines a conversation.

correlated subquery

A subquery that references a column in the outer statement. The inner query is run for each candidate row in the outer statement.

countersign

To sign a document already signed by the other party.

crawl

The process of scanning content to compile and maintain an index.

cross-database ownership chaining

An ownership chain that spans more than one database.

CTI event

A special punctuation event that indicates the completeness of the existing events.

cube role

A collection of users and groups with the same access to a cube. A cube role is created when you assign a database role to a cube, and it applies only to that cube.

cursor

An entity that maps over a result set and establishes a position on a single row within the result set.

cursor library

A part of the ODBC and DB-Library application programming interfaces (APIs) that implements client cursors

custom rule

In a role, a specification that limits the dimension members or cube cells that users in the role are permitted to access.

custom volume

A volume that is not in the DPM storage pool and is specified to store the replica and recovery points for a protection group member.

DAC

A application that captures the SQL Server database and instance objects used by a client-server or 3-tier application.

DAC package

An XML manifest that contains all of the objects defined for the DAC; the package gets created when a developer builds a DAC project.

DAC placement policy

A PBM policy that comprises a set of conditions, which serve as prerequisites on the target instance of SQL Server where the DAC can be deployed.

data adapter

An object used to submit data to and retrieve data from databases, Web services, and Extensible Markup Language (XML) files.

data binning

The process of grouping data into specific bins or groups according to defined criteria.

data co-location

In DPM, a feature that enables protection of multiple data sources on a single volume or on the same tape. This allows you to store more data on each volume or tape.

Data Control Language

The subset of SQL statements used to control permissions on database objects.

data corruption

A process wherein data in memory or on disk is unintentionally changed, with its meaning thereby altered or obliterated.

data definition language

A language that defines all attributes and properties of a database, especially record layouts, field definitions, key fields, file locations, and storage strategy.

data dictionary

A database containing data about all the databases in a database system. Data dictionaries store all the various schema and file specifications and their locations. They also contain information about which programs use which data and which users are interested in which reports.

data explosion

The exponential growth in size of a multidimensional structure, such as a cube, due to the storage of aggregated data.

data feed

An XML data stream in Atom 1.0 format.

data flow component

A component of SQL Server 2005 Integration Services that manipulates data.

data flow task

The task that encapsulates the data flow engine that moves data between sources and destinations, providing the facility to transform, clean, and modify data as it is moved.

data integrity

The accuracy of data and its conformity to its expected value, especially after being transmitted or processed.

data mart

A subset of the contents of a data warehouse that tends to contain data focused at the department level, or on a specific business area.

data mining

The process of identifying commercially useful patterns or relationships in databases or other computer repositories through the use of advanced statistical tools.

data mining model training

The process a data mining model uses to estimate model parameters by evaluating a set of known and predictable data.

Data Processor component

A component of the report server engine that processes data.

data provider

A known data source specific to a target type that provides data to a collector type.

data region

A report item that provides data manipulation and display functionality for iterative data from an underlying dataset.

data segment

The portion of memory or auxiliary storage that contains the data used by a program.

data source view

A named selection of database objects--such as tables, views, relationships, and stored procedures, based on one or more data sources--that defines the schema referenced by OLAP and data mining objects in an Analysis Services databases. It can also be used to define sources, destinations, and lookup tables for DTS tasks, transformations, and data adapters.

data viewer

A graphical tool that displays data as it moves between two data flow components at run time.

Data Warehouse

The database that stores operations data for long periods of time. This data is then used by the Operations Manager reporting server to build reports. By default, this database is named OperationsManagerDW.

database catalog

The part of a database that contains the definition of all the objects in the database, as well as the definition of the database.

database engine

The program module or modules that provide access to a database management system (DBMS).

Database Explorer

A simple database administration tool that lets the user perform database operations such as creating new tables, querying and modifying existing data, and other database development functions.

database language

The language used for accessing, querying, updating, and managing data in relational database systems.

database manager

A layer of software between the physical database and the user. The DBMS manages all access to the database.

Database Mirroring Monitor

A tool used to monitor any subset of the mirrored databases on a server instance.

database mirroring partners

A pair of server instances that act as role-switching partners for a mirrored database.

database reference

A path, expression or filename that resolves to a database.

database schema

The names of tables, fields, data types, and primary and foreign keys of a database.

database snapshot

A read-only, static view of a database at the moment of snapshot creation.

Database view

A read-only, static snapshot of a source database at the moment of the view's creation.

data-driven subscription

A subscription that takes generated output for subscription values (for example, a list of employee e-mail addresses).

data-tier application

A application that captures the SQL Server database and instance objects used by a client-server or 3-tier application.

data-tier application package

An XML manifest that contains all of the objects defined for the DAC; the package gets created when a developer builds a DAC project.

DB

A collection of data formatted/arranged to allow for easy search and retrieval.

DBMS

A layer of software between the physical database and the user. The DBMS manages all access to the database.

DDL trigger

A special kind of trigger that executes in response to Data Definition Language (DDL) statements.

decision support

Systems designed to support the complex analytic analysis required to discover business trends.

declaration

A binding of an identifier to the information that relates to it. For example, to make a declaration of a constant means to bind the name of the constant with its value. Declaration usually occurs in a program's source code; the actual binding can take place at compile time or run time.

Declarative Management Framework Facet

A set of logical pre-defined properties that model the behavior or characteristics for certain types of managed targets (such as a database, table, login, view,etc) in policy-based management.

dedicated administrator connection

A dedicated connection that allows an administrator to connect to a server when the Database Engine will not respond to regular connections.

default database

The database the user is connected to immediately after logging in to SQL Server.

default language

The human language that SQL Server uses for errors and messages if a user does not specify a language.

default result set

The default mode that SQL Server uses to return a result set back to a client.

deferred transaction

A transaction that is not committed when the roll forward phase of recovery completes and that cannot be rolled back during database startup because data needed by roll back is offline. This data can reside in either a page or a file.

DEK

A bit string that is used in conjunction with an encryption algorithm to encrypt and decrypt data.

DELETE clause

A part of a DML Statement that contains the DELETE keyword and associated parameters.

delimited identifier

An object in a database that requires the use of special characters (delimiters) because the object name does not comply with the formatting rules of regular identifiers.

delivery channel type

The protocol for a delivery channel, such as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or File.

delivery protocol

The set of communication rules used to route notification messages to external delivery systems.

deploy

To build a DAC instance, either directly from a DAC package or from a DAC previously imported to the SQL Server Utility.

dequeue

To remove from a queue.

deserialization

The process of converting an object from a serial storage format to binary format in the form of an object that applications can use. This happens when the object is retrieved from the cache cluster with the Get client APIs.

destination

A synchronization provider that provide its current knowledge, accept a list of changes from the source provider, detect any conflicts between that list and its own items, and apply changes to its data store.

destination provider

A synchronization provider that provide its current knowledge, accept a list of changes from the source provider, detect any conflicts between that list and its own items, and apply changes to its data store.

device type

A value from a developer-defined list that specifies the types of devices that a given application will support.

diacritical mark

A mark placed over, under, or through a character, usually to indicate a change in phonetic value from the unmarked state.

diamond-shape relationship

A chain of attribute relationships that splits and rejoins but that contains no redundant relationships. For example, Day->Month->Year and Day->Quarter->Year have the same start and end points, but do not have any common relationships.

differential backup

A backup containing only changes made to the database since the preceding data backup on which the differential backup is based.

digest delivery

A method of sending notifications that combines multiple notifications within a batch and sends the resulting message to a subscriber.

dimension

A structural attribute of a cube that organizes data into levels. For example, a Geography dimension might include the members Country, Region, State or Province, and City.

dimension granularity

The lowest level available to a particular dimension in relation to a particular measure group. The "natural" or physical grain is always that of the key that joins the main dimension table to the primary fact table.

dimension level

The name of a set of members in a dimension hierarchy such that all members of the set are at the same distance from the root of the hierarchy. For example, a time hierarchy may contain the levels Year, Month, and Day.

dimension member property

A characteristic of a dimension member. Dimension member properties can be alphanumeric, Boolean, or Date/Time data types, and can be user-defined or predefined.

direct connect

The state of being connected to a back-end database, so that any changes you make to a database diagram automatically update your database when you save the diagram or selected items in it.

dirty page

A buffer page that contains modifications that have not been written to disk.

disabled index

Any index that has been marked as disabled. A disabled index is unavailable for use by the database engine. The index definition of a disabled index remains in the system catalog with no underlying index data.

discretize

To put values of a continuous set of data into groups so that there are a discrete number of possible states.

distinct count measure

A measure commonly used to determine for each member of a dimension how many distinct, lowest-level members of another dimension share rows in the fact table.

distributed query

A single query that accesses data from multiple data sources.

distribution cleanup agent

A scheduled job that runs under SQL Server Agent. After all Subscribers have received a transaction, the agent removes the transaction from the distribution database. It also cleans up snapshot files from the file system after entries corresponding to those files have been removed from the distribution database.

distribution retention period

In transactional replication, the amount of time transactions are stored in the distribution database.

DMF

One of a set of built-in functions that returns server state information about values, objects, and settings in SQL Server.

DML trigger

A stored procedure that executes when data in a specified table is modified.

DMX

In Analysis Services, a statement that performs mining tasks programmatically.

domain

A collection of computers in a networked environment that share a common database, directory database, or tree. A domain is administered as a unit with common rules and procedures, which can include security policies, and each domain has a unique name.

domain integrity

The validity of entries for a specific column of data.

domain service

A service that encapsulates the business logic of an application. It exposes a set of related domain operations in a service layer.

double byte character set

A character set that can use more than one byte to represent a single character. A DBCS includes some characters that consist of 1 byte and some characters that consist of 2 bytes. Languages such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean use DBCS.

down

Not functioning, in reference to computers, printers, communications lines on networks, and other such hardware.

DPM Client

The Data Protection Manager (DPM) Client enables the user to protect and recover their data as per the company protection policy configured by their backup administrator.

DPM Management Shell

The command shell, based on Windows PowerShell (Powershell.exe), that makes available the cmdlets that perform functions in Data Protection Manager.

DPM Online account

A user account that DPM uses to start the DPM Online service.

DPM Online protection

The process of using DPM online to protect data from loss or corruption by creating and maintaining replicas and recovery points of the data online.

DPM Online recovery

The process by which an administrator recovers previous versions of protected data from online recovery points on an internet-connected DPM server.

DPM Online replica

A complete copy of an online-protected data source on DPM Online. Each member of an online protection group on the DPM server is associated with a DPM Online replica.

DPM Self-Service Recovery Configuration Tool

A tool that enables DPM administrators to authorize end users to perform self-service recovery of data by creating and managing DPM roles (grouping of users, objects, and permissions).

DPM Self-Service Tool for SQL Server

A tool for SQL Server that enables backup administrators to authorize end users to recover backups of SQL Server databases from DPM, without further action from the backup administrator.

DPM SST for SQL Server

A tool for SQL Server that enables backup administrators to authorize end users to recover backups of SQL Server databases from DPM, without further action from the backup administrator.

DQS knowledge base

A repository of metadata that is used by Data Quality Services to improve the quality of data. This metadata is created either by the user interactively or by the Data Quality Services platform in an automated knowledge discovery process.

drill-through report

A secondary report that is displayed when a user clicks an item in a report. Detailed data is displayed in the same report.

DSN

The collection of information used to connect an application to a particular ODBC database.

dump

A duplicate of a program, a disk, or data, made either for archiving purposes or for safeguarding files.

dynamic cursor

A cursor that can reflect data modifications made to the underlying data while the cursor is open.

dynamic locking

The process used by SQL Server to determine the most cost-effective locks to use at any one time.

dynamic management view

A set of built-in views that return server state information about values, objects, and settings in SQL Server.

dynamic routing

Routing that adjusts automatically to the current conditions of a network. Dynamic routing typically uses one of several dynamic-routing protocols such as Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Compare static routing.

eager loading

A pattern of loading where a specific set of related objects are loaded along with the objects that were explicitly requested in the query.

effective policy

The set of enabled policies for a target.

encryption

The process of converting readable data (plaintext) into a coded form (ciphertext) to prevent it from being read by an unauthorized party.

end cap

For paths that contain unconnected ends, such as lines, the end of a stroke. You can change the way the stroke looks at each end by applying one of four end cap styles: flat cap, round cap, square cap, and triangle cap.

endpoint mapper

A service on a remote procedure call (RPC) server that maintains a database of dynamic endpoints and allows clients to map an interface/object UUID pair to a local dynamic endpoint.

enroll

To add an instance of SQL Server to the set of SQL Server instances managed by a utility control point.

Enrollment Agent

A user account used to request smart card certificates on behalf of another user account. A specific certificate template is applied to an Enrollment Agent.

entity

In Reporting Services, a logical collection of model items, including source fields, roles, folders, and expressions, presented in familiar business terms.

envelopes formula

A financial formula that calculates "envelopes" above and below a moving average using a specified percentage as the shift. The envelopes indicator is used to create signals for buying and selling. You can specify the percentage the formula uses to calculate the envelopes.

equirectangular projection

In a map report item, a very simple equidistant cylindrical projection in which the horizontal coordinate is the longitude and the vertical coordinate is the latitude. 

error log

A file that lists errors that were encountered during an operation.

ETL

The act of extracting data from various sources, transforming data to consistent types, and loading the transformed data for use by applications.

event

The basic unit of data processed by the StreamInsight server. Each event contains a header that defines the event kind and the temporal properties of the event. An event (except the CTI event) typically contains an event payload, which is a .NET data structure that contains the data associated with the event.

event category

In SQL Trace, a grouping of similar and logically related event classes.

event chronicle rule

One or more Transact-SQL statements that manage the data in the event chronicle.

event classification

A means of differentiating types of events that occur on the cache client and cache host. The Windows Server AppFabric log sinks follow the classification established with the System.Diagnostics.TraceLevel enumeration.

event handler

A software routine that executes in response to an event.

event kind

Event metadata that defines the event type.

event notification

A special kind of trigger that sends information about database events to a service broker.

event provider

A provider that monitors a source of events and notifies the event table when events occur.

event table

A table in the application database that stores event data.

Everyone

A type of user account.

exclusive lock

A lock that prevents any other transaction from acquiring a lock on a resource until the original lock on the resource is released at the end of the transaction.

execution tree

The path of data in the data flow of a SQL Server 2005 Integration Services package from sources through transformations to destinations.

expiration

The point at which an object has exceeded the cache time-out value. When an object expires, it is evicted.

explicit hierarchy

In Master Data Services, a hierarchy that uses consolidated members to group other consolidated and leaf members. 

explicit transaction

A group of SQL statements enclosed within transaction delimiters that define both the start and end of the transaction.

exploded pie chart

A pie chart that displays the contribution of each value to a total while emphasizing individual values, by showing each slice of the pie as "pulled out," or separate, from the whole.

export format

UI text for subscriptions and HTML viewer. Corresponds to rendering extensions.

expression host assembly

All expressions found within a report are that are compiled into an assembly. The expression host assembly is stored as a part of the compiled report.

Extended property

User-defined text (descriptive or instructional including input masks and formatting rules) specific to a database or database object. The text is stored in the database as a property of the database or object.

extended stored procedure

A function in a dynamic link library (DLL) that is coded using the SQL Server Extended Stored Procedure API. The function can then be invoked from Transact-SQL using the same statements that are used to execute Transact-SQL stored procedures.

Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation

A declarative, XML-based language that is used to present or transform XML data.

extent

On a disk or other direct-access storage device, a continuous block of storage space reserved by the operating system for a particular file or program.

extract

To build a DAC package file that contains the definitions of all the objects in an existing database, as well as instance objects that are associated with the database.

facet

A set of logical pre-defined properties that model the behavior or characteristics for certain types of managed targets (such as a database, table, login, view,etc) in policy-based management.

facet property

A predefined property that applies to a specific facet in Policy-Based Management.

fact dimension

A relationship between a dimension and a measure group in which the dimension main table is the same as the measure group table.

factory method

A method, usually defined as static, whose purpose is to return an instance of a class.

failed transaction

A transaction that encountered an error and was not able to complete.

failover clustering

A high availability process in which an instance of an application or a service, running over one machine, can fail-over onto another machine in the failover cluster in the case the first one fails.

fail-safe operator

A user who receives the alert if the designated operator cannot be reached.

fatal error

An error that causes the system or a program to fail abruptly with no hope of recovery. An example of a fatal error is an uncaught exception that cannot be handled.

feed consumer

A software component that extracts items from a FeedSync feed and applies them to a destination replica by using a synchronization provider.

fiber mode

A situation where an instance of SQL Server allocates one Windows thread per SQL scheduler, and then allocates one fiber per worker thread, up to the value set in the max worker threads option.

field length

In bulk copy, the maximum number of characters needed to represent a data item in a bulk copy character format data file.

field terminator

In bulk copy, one or more characters marking the end of a field or row, separating one field or row in the data file from the next.

file differential backup

A backup of one or more files containing only changes made to each file since its most recent file backup. A file differential backup requires a full file backup as a base.

file mapping

The association of a file's contents with a portion of the virtual address space of a process.

file rollover

The process when a program closes a file, based on a certain event, and creates a new file.

file-mapping object

An object that maintains the association of a file's contents with a portion of the virtual address space of a process.

filter forgotten knowledge

The knowledge that is used as the starting point for filter tracking. A filter-tracking replica can save storage space by removing ghosts and advancing the filter forgotten knowledge to contain the highest version of the ghosts that have been removed.

filtered replica

A replica that stores item data only for items that are in a filter, such as a media storage replica that stores only songs that are rated as three stars or better.

fine-grained lock

A lock that applies to a small amount of code or data.

fixed database role

A predefined role that exists in each database. The scope of the role is limited to the database in which it is defined.

FK

A key in a database table that comes from another table (also know as the "referenced table") and whose values match the primary key (PK) or unique key in the referenced table.

flatten

To convert a nested structure into a flat structure.

flattened rowset

A multidimensional data set presented as a two-dimensional rowset in which unique combinations of elements of multiple dimensions are combined on an axis.

flexible identifier

An identifier that is assigned to various synchronization entities, such as replicas. The identifier can be of fixed or variable length.

folder hierarchy

A bounded namespace that uniquely identifies all reports, folders, shared data source items, and resources that are stored in and managed by a report server.

foreign key

A key in a database table that comes from another table (also know as the "referenced table") and whose values match the primary key (PK) or unique key in the referenced table.

foreign table

A table that contains a foreign key.

forward-only cursor

A cursor that cannot be scrolled; rows can be read only in sequence from the first row to the last row.

full backup

A backup of an entire database.

full outer join

A type of outer join in which all rows in all joined tables are included, whether they are matched or not. For example, a full outer join between titles and publishers shows all titles and all publishers, even those that have no match.

full-text catalog

A collection of full-text index components and other files that are organized in a specific directory structure and contain the data that is needed to perform queries.

full-text query

As a SELECT statement, a query that searches for words, phrases, or multiple forms of a word or phrase in the character-based columns (of char, varchar, text, ntext, nchar, or nvarchar data types). The SELECT statement returns those rows meeting the search criteria.

Full-Text service

The SQL Server component that performs the full-text querying.

function

A piece of code that operates as a single logical unit. A function is called by name, accepts optional input parameters, and returns a status and optional output parameters. Many programming languages support functions.

fuzzy matching

In Integration Services, a lookup methodology that uses an approximate matching algorithm to locate similar data values in a reference table.

gap depth

A measure that specifies the distance between data series that are displayed along distinct rows, as a result of clustering.

garbage collector

The part of the operating system that performs garbage collection.

gather-write operation

A performance optimization where the Database Engine collects multiple modified data pages into a single write operation.

generated code

Code that is automatically generated for the client project based on operations and entities exposed in the middle tier when a RIA Services link exists between the server and client projects.

geographic data

A type of spatial data that stores ellipsoidal (round-earth) data, such as GPS latitude and longitude coordinates.

ghost

An item or change unit in a filtered replica that was in the filter and has moved out.

ghost row

Row in the leaf level of an index that has been marked for deletion, but has not yet been deleted by the database engine.

global default

A default that is defined for a specific database and is shared by columns of different tables.

global identifier

A unique identifier that is assigned to a data item. The identifier must be unique across all clients. A global identifier is a flexible identifier and so can be any format, but it is typically a GUID and an 8-byte prefix.

global subscription

A subscription to a merge publication with an assigned priority value used for conflict detection and resolution.

granularity

A description, from "coarse" to "fine", of a computer activity or feature (such as screen resolution, searching and sorting, or time slice allocation) in terms of the size of the units it handles (pixels, sets of data, or time slices). The larger the pieces, the coarser the granularity.

graphical query designer

A query designer provided by the Reporting Services that allows the user to interactively build a query and view the results for data source types SQL Server, Oracle, OLE DB, and ODBC.

group

A collection of users, computers, contacts, and other groups that is used as security or as e-mail distribution collections. Distribution groups are used only for e-mail. Security groups are used both to grant access to resources and as e-mail distribution lists.

half-width character

In a double-byte character set, a character that is represented by one byte and typically has a full-width variant.

hard page-break renderer

A rendering extension that maintains the report layout and formatting so that the resulting file is optimized for a consistent printing experience, or to view the report online in a book format.

hard-coding

The process of putting string or character literals in the main body of code, instead of in external resource files.

hardware token

A secure device that provides cryptographic capabilities, typically by providing private keys used in Public-key cryptography.

heat map

A type of map presentation where the intensity of color for each polygon corresponds to the related analytical data. For example, low values in a range appear as blue (cold) and high values as red (hot).

heterogeneous data

Data stored in multiple formats.

high availability

A Windows Server AppFabric feature that supports continuous availability of cached data by storing copies of that data on multiple cache hosts.

high watermark

A memory consumption threshold on each cache host that specifies when objects are evicted out of memory, regardless of whether they have expired or not, until memory consumption goes back down to the low watermark.

hint

An option or strategy specified for enforcement by the SQL Server query processor on SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements. The hint overrides any execution plan the query optimizer might select for a query.

holdability

Refers to the possibility of leaving result sets open ("on hold") that have been processed and are normally closed after this. For instance: "SQL Server supports holdability at the connection level only."

holdout data

A percentage of training data that is reserved for use in measuring the accuracy of the structure of the data mining model.

Home

Root folder in report server folder namespace.

homogeneous data

Data that comes from multiple data sources that are all managed by the same software.

hopping window

A type of window in which consecutive windows "hop" forward in time by a fixed period. The window is defined by two time spans: the period P and the window length L. For every P time unit a new window of size L is created.

hot standby

A standby server that can support rapid failover without a loss of data from committed transactions.

HSM

A secure device that provides cryptographic capabilities, typically by providing private keys used in Public-key cryptography.

HTML Viewer

UI element consisting of a report toolbar and other navigation elements used to work with a report.

Hypertext Markup Language

An application of the Standard Generalized Markup Language that uses tags to mark elements, such as text and graphics, in a document to indicate how Web browsers should display these elements to the user and should respond to user actions.

identifying relationship

A relationship where the primary key of the principal entity is part of the primary key of the dependent entity. In this kind of relationship, the dependent entity cannot exist without the principal entity.

identity property

A property that generates values that uniquely identify each row in a table.

ideographic character

A character in an Asian writing system that represents a concept or an idea, but not a particular word or pronunciation.

immediate updating subscription

A subscription to a transactional publication for which the user is able to make data modifications at the Subscriber. The data modifications are then immediately propagated to the Publisher using the two-phase commit protocol (2PC).

implicit transaction

A connection option in which each SQL statement executed by the connection is considered a separate transaction.

inactive data source

A data source that has been backed up on the DPM server but is no longer being actively protected.

incoming message

A message that has been sent across one or more messaging systems. It may have been sent only to you or to many other recipients. Incoming messages are placed in a receive folder designated to hold messages of a particular class. You can set up a different receive folder for each message class that you handle or use one folder for all of the classes.

independent association

An association between entities that is represented and tracked by an independent object.

index page

A database page containing index rows.

inference attack

A type of security threat in which a malicious user is able to derive the value of data without actually accessing it, for example by monitoring the response time to a query.

information technology

The formal name for a company's data processing department.

initial synchronization

The first synchronization for a subscription, during which system tables and other objects that are required by replication, and the schema and data for each article, are copied to the Subscriber.

inner join

An operation that retrieves rows from multiple source tables by comparing the values from columns shared between the source tables. An inner join excludes rows from a source table that have no matching rows in the other source tables.

InProc

A circumstance where the COM object’s code is loaded from a DLL file and is located in the same process as the client.

input member

A member whose value is loaded directly from the data source instead of being calculated from other data.

input source

Any table, view, or schema diagram used as an information source for a query.

insensitive cursor

A cursor that does not reflect data modification made to the underlying data by other users while the cursor is open.

Insert Into query

A query that copies specific columns and rows from one table to another or to the same table.

instance

A copy of SQL Server running on a computer.

instance query provider

A provider that allows you to issue queries against an instance store. For example, a SQL query provider lets you query for workflow instances stored in a SQL Server database. When you execute a cmdlet that queries for instances against an instance store, the cmdlet internally uses the query provider to retrieve instances from that store.

instance store provider

In Windows AppFabric, a provider that allows you to create instance store objects. For example, a SQL store provider allows clients to create SQL workflow instance store objects, which in turn allows clients to save and retrieve workflow instances to and from a persistence store.

integrity

The accuracy of data and its conformity to its expected value, especially after being transmitted or processed.

intent lock

A lock that is placed on one level of a resource hierarchy to protect shared or exclusive locks on lower-level resources.

interactive structured query language

An interactive command prompt utility provided with SQL Server that lets users run Transact-SQL statements or batches from a server or workstation and view the results that are returned.

interface implication

If an interface implies another interface, then any class that implements the first interface must also implement the second interface. Interface implication is used in an information model to get some of the effects of multiple inheritance.

International Electrotechnical Commission

One of two international standards bodies responsible for developing international data communications standards. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) works closely with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to define standards of computing. They jointly published the ISO/IEC SQL-92 standard for SQL.

interprocess communication

The ability of one task or process to communicate with another in a multitasking operating system. Common methods include pipes, semaphores, shared memory, queues, signals, and mailboxes.

interval event model

The event model of an interval event.

IP address

A binary number that uniquely identifies a host (computer) connected to the Internet to other Internet hosts, for the purposes of communication through the transfer of packets.

IPsec

A set of industry-standard, cryptography-based services and protocols that help to protect data over a network.

ISQL

An interactive command prompt utility provided with SQL Server that lets users run Transact-SQL statements or batches from a server or workstation and view the results that are returned.

item-level role assignment

A security policy that applies to an item in the report server folder namespace.

iterate

To execute one or more statements or instructions repeatedly. Statements or instructions so executed are said to be in a loop.

job history

Log that keeps a historical record of jobs.

join column

A column referenced in a join condition.

join filter

A filter used in merge replication that extends the row filter of one table to a related table.

join path

A series of joins indicating how two tables are related.

Kagi chart

A chart, mostly independent of time, used to track price movements and to make decisions on purchasing stock.

key

In encryption, authentication, and digital signatures, a value used in combination with an algorithm to encrypt or decrypt information.

key

A column or group of columns that uniquely identifies a row (primary key), defines the relationship between two tables (foreign key), or is used to build an index.

key column

A column whose contents uniquely identify every row in a table.

key performance indicator

A predefined measure that is used to track performance of a strategic goal, objective, plan, initiative, or business process. A KPI is evaluated against a target. An explicit and measurable value taken directly from a data source. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are used to measure performance in a specific area, for example, revenue per customer.

key recovery

The process of recovering a user's private key.

keyset-driven cursor

A cursor that shows the effects of updates made to its member rows by other users while the cursor is open, but does not show the effects of inserts or deletes.

KPI

A predefined measure that is used to track performance of a strategic goal, objective, plan, initiative, or business process. A KPI is evaluated against a target. An explicit and measurable value taken directly from a data source. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are used to measure performance in a specific area, for example, revenue per customer.

Language for non-Unicode programs

A Regional and Language Options setting that specifies the default code pages and associated bitmap font files for a specific computer that affects all of that computer's users. The default code pages and fonts enable a non-Unicode application written for one operating system language version to run correctly on another operating system language version.

language service scanner

A component that is used to identify types of tokens in source code. This information is used for syntax highlighting and for quickly identifying token types that can trigger other operations, for example, brace matching.

latency

The delay that occurs while data is processed or delivered.

lazy schema validation

An option that delays checking the remote schema to validate its metadata against a query until execution in order to increase performance. 

lead host

A cache host that has been designated to work with other lead hosts and to keep the cluster running at all times.

leaf level

The bottom level of a clustered or nonclustered index, or the bottom level of a hierarchy.

leaf node

A node with no child objects represented in the tree.

least recently used

The type of eviction used by the cache cluster, where least recently used objects are evicted before the most recently used objects.

level

The name of a set of members in a dimension hierarchy such that all members of the set are at the same distance from the root of the hierarchy. For example, a time hierarchy may contain the levels Year, Month, and Day.

lightweight pooling

An option that provides a means of reducing the system overhead associated with the excessive context switching sometimes seen in symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) environments by performing the context switching inline, thus helping to reduce user/kernel ring transitions.

linked dimension

A reference in a cube to a dimension in a different cube (that is, a cube with a different data source view that exists in the same or a different Analysis Services database). A linked dimension can only be related to measure groups in the source cube, and can only be edited in the source database.

linked server

A definition of an OLE DB data source used by SQL Server distributed queries. The linked server definition specifies the OLE DB provider required to access the data, and includes enough addressing information for the OLE DB provider to connect to the data.

linking table

A table that has associations with two other tables, and is used indirectly as an association between those two tables.

little endian

Pertaining to a processor memory architecture that stores numbers so that the least significant byte is placed first.

local Distributor

A server that is configured as both a Publisher and a Distributor for SQL Server Replication.

local subscription

A subscription to a merge publication that uses the priority value of the Publisher for conflict detection and resolution.

localization

The process of adapting a product and/or content (including text and non-text elements) to meet the language, cultural, and political expectations and/or requirements of a specific local market (locale).

lock escalation

The process of converting many fine-grain locks into fewer coarse-grain locks, thereby reducing system overhead.

log chain

A continuous sequence of transaction logs for a database. A new log chain begins with the first backup taken after the database is created, or when the database is switched from the simple to the full or bulk-logged recovery model. A log chain forks after a restore followed by a recovery, creating a new recovery branch.

Log Reader Agent

In Replication, the executable that monitors the transaction of each database configured for transactional replication, and copies the transactions marked for replication from the transaction into the distribution database.

log shipping

Copying, at regular intervals, log backup from a read-write database (the primary database) to one or more remote server instances (secondary servers). Each secondary server has a read-only database, called a secondary database, that was created by restoring a full backup of the primary database without recovery. The secondary server restores each copied log backup to the secondary database. The secondary servers are warm standbys for the primary server.

log shipping job

A job performing one of the following log-shipping operations: backing up the transaction log of the primary database at the primary server (the backup job), copying the transaction log file to a secondary server (the copy job), or restoring the log backup to the secondary database on a secondary server (the restore job). The backup job resides on the primary server; the copy and restore jobs reside on each of the secondary servers. See also: primary database, primary server, secondary database, secondary server.

logic error

An error, such as a faulty algorithm, that causes a program to produce incorrect results but does not prevent the program from running. Consequently, a logic error is often very difficult to find.

logical record

A merge replication feature that allows you to define a relationship between related rows in different tables so that the rows are processed as a unit.

login security mode

A security mode that determines the manner in which an instance of SQL Server validates a login request.

Low Box

The lowest value of a box on a Box Plot chart.

low whisker

The lowest value that is not an outlier on a box plot chart.

LSN

A unique number assigned to each entry in a transaction log. LSNs are assigned sequentially according to the order in which entries are created.

made-with knowledge

In synchronization processes, the current knowledge of the source replica, to be used in conflict detection.

managed code

Code that is executed by the common language runtime environment rather than directly by the operating system. Managed code applications gain common language runtime services such as automatic garbage collection, runtime type checking and security support, and so on. These services help provide uniform platform- and language-independent behavior of managed-code applications.

management data warehouse

A relational database that is used to store data that is collected.

Management Studio

A suite of management tools included with Microsoft SQL Server for configuring, managing, and administering all components within Microsoft SQL Server.

many-to-many dimension

A relationship between a dimension and a measure group in which a single fact may be associated with many dimension members and a single dimension member may be associated with a many facts. To define this relationship between the dimension and the fact table, the dimension is joined to an intermediate fact table and the intermediate fact table is joined, in turn, to an intermediate dimension table that is joined to the fact table.

many-to-one relationship

A relationship between two tables in which one row in one table can relate to many rows in another table.

map control

A JavaScript control that contains the objects, methods, and events that you need to display maps powered by Bing Maps™ on your Web site.

map layer

A child element of the map, each map layer including elements for their map members and map member attributes.

map tile

One of a number of 256 x 256 pixel images that are combined to create a Bing map. A map tile contains a segment of a view of the earth in Mercator projection, with possible road and text overlays depending on the style of the Bing map.

MAPI

A messaging architecture that enables multiple applications to interact with multiple messaging systems across a variety of hardware platforms. MAPI is built on the Component Object Model (COM) foundation.

marker

A visual indicator that identifies a data point. In a map report, a marker is the visual indicator that identifies the location of each point on the point layer.

market basket analysis

A standard data mining algorithm that analyzes a list of transactions to make predictions about which items are most frequently purchased together.

master data management

The technology, tools, and processes required to create and maintain consistent and accurate lists of master data of an organization.

Master Data Services

A master data management application to consistently define and manage the critical data entities of an organization.

master file

The file installed with earlier versions of SQL Server used to store the master, model, and tempdb system databases and transaction logs and the pubs sample database and transaction log.

master server

A server that distributes jobs and receives events from multiple servers.

matrix data region

A report item on a report layout that displays data in a variable columnar format.

MDS

A master data management application to consistently define and manage the critical data entities of an organization.

measure

In a cube, a set of values that are usually numeric and are based on a column in the fact table of the cube. Measures are the central values that are aggregated and analyzed.

media family

Data written by a backup operation to a backup device used by a media set. In a media set with only a single device, only one media family exists. In a striped media set, multiple media families exist. If the striped media set is unmirrored, each device corresponds to a family. A mirrored media set contains from two to four identical copies of each media family (called mirrors). Appending backups to a media set extends its media families.

media set

An ordered collection of backup media written to by one or more backup operations using a constant number of backup devices.

median price formula

A formula that calculates the average of the high and low prices.

member

A single position or item in a dimension. Dimension members can be user-defined or predefined and can have properties associated with them.

member expression

A valid Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) expression that returns a member.

memo

A type of column that contains long strings, typically more than 255 characters.

memory clerk

A memory management component that allocates memory.

merge tombstone

A marker created when a constraint conflict is resolved by merging the two items in conflict.

Message Queuing

A Microsoft technology that enables applications running at different times to communicate across heterogeneous networks and systems that may be temporarily offline.

Messaging Application Programming Interface

A messaging architecture that enables multiple applications to interact with multiple messaging systems across a variety of hardware platforms. MAPI is built on the Component Object Model (COM) foundation.

method

In object-oriented programming, a named code block that performs a task when called.

Microsoft Sequence Clustering algorithm

Algorithm that is a combination of sequence analysis and clustering, which identifies clusters of similarly ordered events in a sequence. The clusters can be used to predict the likely ordering of events in a sequence based on known characteristics.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express

A lightweight and embeddable version of Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools

A free, easy-to-use version of the SQL Server Express data platform that includes the graphical management tool: SQL Server Management Studio (SMSS) Express.

Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5 for Devices

A file that installs the SQL Server Compact 3.5 devices runtime components.

Microsoft SQL Server PowerPivot for Microsoft Excel

A SQL Server add-in for Excel.

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Report Builder

A report authoring tool that features a Microsoft Office-like authoring environment and features such as new sparkline, data bar, and indicator data visualizations, the ability to save report items as report parts, a wizard for creating maps, aggregates of aggregates, and enhanced support for expressions.

Microsoft SQL Server System CLR Types

A stand-alone package, part of SQL Server 2008 R2 Feature Pack, that contains the components implementing the geometry, geography, and hierarchy id types in SQL Server.

middleware

Software that sits between two or more types of software and translates information between them. Middleware can cover a broad spectrum of software and generally sits between an application and an operating system, a network operating system, or a database management system.

mining structure

A data mining object that defines the data domain from which the mining models are built.

mirror database

In a database mirroring session, the copy of the database that is normally fully synchronized with the principal database.

mirrored media set

A media set that contains two to four identical copies (mirrors) of each media family. Restore operations require only one mirror per family, allowing a damaged media volume to be replaced by the corresponding volume from a mirror.

model database

A database that is installed with Microsoft SQL Server and that provides the template for new user databases. SQL Server creates a database by copying in the contents of the model database and then expanding the new database to the size requested.

modulo

An arithmetic operation whose result is the remainder of a division operation. For example, 17 modulo 3 = 2 because 17 divided by 3 yields a remainder of 2. Modulo operations are used in programming.

msdb

A database that stores scheduled jobs, alerts, and backup/restore history information.

multibase differential

A differential backup that includes files that were last backed up in distinct base backups.

multicast delivery

A method for delivering notifications that formats a notification once and sends the resulting message to multiple subscribers.

multidimensional OLAP

A storage mode that uses a proprietary multidimensional structure to store a partition's facts and aggregations or a dimension.

multiplier

In arithmetic, the number that indicates how many times another number (the multiplicand) is multiplied.

multithreaded server application

An application that creates multiple threads within a single process to service multiple user requests at the same time.

mutex

A programming technique that ensures that only one program or routine at a time can access some resource, such as a memory location, an I/O port, or a file, often through the use of semaphores, which are flags used in programs to coordinate the activities of more than one program or routine.

My Subscriptions

A page that lists all subscriptions that a user owns.

named instance

An installation of SQL Server that is given a name to differentiate it from other named instances and from the default instance on the same computer.

named update

A custom service operation that performs an action which is different than a simple query, update, insert, or delete operation.

naming convention

Any standard used more or less universally in the naming of objects, etc.

native compiler

A compiler that produces machine code for the computer on which it is running, as opposed to a cross-compiler, which produces code for another type of computer. Most compilers are native compilers.

natural hierarchy

A hiearchy in which at every level there is a one-to-many relationship between members in that level and members in the next lower level.

nested query

A SELECT statement that contains one or more subqueries.

network software

Software that enables groups of computers to communicate, including a component that facilitates connection to or participation in a network.

nickname

When used with merge replication system tables, a name for another Subscriber that is known to already have a specified generation of updated data.

NLS API

Set of system functions in 32-bit Windows containing information that is based on language and cultural conventions.

noise word

A word such as 'the' or 'an' that is not useful for searches, or that a crawler should ignore when creating an index.

non-contained database

A SQL Server database that stores database settings and metadata with the instance of SQL Server Database Engine where the database is installed, and requires logins in the master database for authentication.

nonleaf member

A member with one or more descendants.

nonrepeatable read

An inconsistency that occurs when a transaction reads the same row more than once, and a separate transaction modifies that row between reads.

notification

A message or announcement sent to the user or administrator of a system. The recipient may be a human or an automated notification manager.

NUL

A "device," recognized by the operating system, that can be addressed like a physical output device (such as a printer) but that discards any information sent to it.

null key

A null value that is encountered in a key column.

nullability

The attribute of a column, parameter, or variable that specifies whether it allows null data values.

NUMA node

A group of processors with its own memory and possibly its own I/O channels.

numeric expression

Any expression that evaluates to a number. The expression can be any combination of variables, constants, functions, and operators.

object lifetime

The span of time a cached object resides in cache and is available to be retrieved by cache clients. The object expires when its lifetime ends. Expired objects cannot be retrieved by cache clients, but remain in memory of the cache host until they are evicted. Specified as time to live (TTL).

ODS library

A set of C functions that makes an application a server. ODS library calls respond to requests from a client in a client/server network. Also manages the communication and data between the client and the server. ODS library follows the tabular data stream (TDS) protocol.

offline restore

A restore during which the database is offline.

OLAP cube

A set of data that is organized and summarized into a multidimensional structure that is defined by a set of dimensions and measures.

one-time password

Passwords produced by special password generating software or by a hardware token and that can be used only once.

online restore

A restore in which one or more secondary filegroups, files belonging to secondary filegroups, or pages are restored while the database remains online. Online restore is available only in the SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition (including the Evaluation and Developer Editions).

operation code

The portion of a machine language or assembly language instruction that specifies the type of instruction and the structure of the data on which it operates.

operator

A sign or symbol that specifies the type of calculation to perform within an expression. There are mathematical, comparison, logical, and reference operators.

optimize synchronization

An option in merge replication that allows you to minimize network traffic when determining whether recent changes have caused a row to move into or out of a partition that is published to a Subscriber.

origin object

An object in a repository that is the origin in a directional relationship.

outer join

A join that includes all the rows from the joined tables that meet the search conditions, even rows from one table for which there is no matching row in the other join table.

output column

In SQL Server Integration Services, a column that the source adds to the data flow and that is available as input column to the next data flow component in the data flow.

overfitting

A problem in data mining when random variations in data are misclassified as important patterns. Overfitting often occurs when the data set is too small to represent the real world.

package

A collection of control flow and data flow elements that runs as a unit.

Pad index

An option that specifies the space to leave open on each page in the intermediate levels of the index.

page

To return the results of a query in smaller subsets of data, thus making it possible for the user to navigate through the result set by viewing 'pages' of data.

page fault

The interrupt that occurs when software attempts to read from or write to a virtual memory location that is marked "not present."

pager

A pocket-sized wireless electronic device that uses radio signals to record incoming phone numbers or short text messages. Some pagers allow users to send messages as well.

PAL

The primary mechanism for securing the Publisher. It contains a list of logins, accounts, and groups that are granted access to the publication.

parallel processing

A method of processing that can run only on a computer that contains two or more processors running simultaneously. Parallel processing differs from multiprocessing in the way a task is distributed over the available processors. In multiprocessing, a process might be divided up into sequential blocks, with one processor managing access to a database, another analyzing the data, and a third handling graphical output to the screen. Programmers working with systems that perform parallel processing must find ways to divide a task so that it is more or less evenly distributed among the processors available.

parameterized report

A published report that accepts input values through parameters.

partial backup

A backup of all the data in the primary filegroup, every read-write filegroup, and any optionally specified files. A partial backup of a read-only database contains only the primary filegroup.

partial differential backup

A partial backup that is differential relative to a single, previous partial backup (the base backup). For a read-only database, a partial differential backup contains only the primary filegroup.

particle

A very small piece or part; an indivisible object.

partition scheme

A database object that maps the partitions of a partition function to a set of filegroups.

partitioned snapshot

In merge replication, a snapshot that includes only the data from a single partition.

partitioned table parallelism

The parallel execution strategy for queries that select from partitioned objects. As part of the execution strategy, the query processor determines the table partitions that are required for the query and the proportion of threads to allocate to each partition. In most cases, the query processor allocates an equal or almost equal number of threads to each partition, and then executes the query in parallel across the partitions.

partitioning column

The column of a table or index that a partition function uses to partition a table or index.

pass order

The order of evaluation (from highest to lowest calculation pass number) and calculation (from lowest to highest calculation pass number) for calculated members, custom members, custom rollup formulas, and calculated cells in a multidimensional cube.

pass-through query

An SQL-specific query you use to send commands directly to an ODBC database server.

password authentication

The process of verifying the identity of a user, computer, process, or other entity by validating the credentials provided by the entity. Common forms of credentials are digital signatures, smart cards, biometric data, and a combination of user names and passwords.

password provider

A one-time-password generation and validation component for user authentication.

PBM

A set of built-in functions that return server state information about values, objects, and settings in SQL Server. Policy Based Management allows a database administrator to declare the desired state of the system and checks the system for compliance with that state.

performance tools

Tools that you can use to evaluate the performance of a solution. Performance tools can have different purposes; some are designed to evaluate end-to-end performance while others focus on evaluating performance of a particular aspect of a solution.

persistence database

A type of persistence store that stores workflow instance state and workflow instance metadata in a SQL Server database.

pessimistic concurrency

A method of managing concurrency by using a lock technique to prevent other clients from updating the same object at the same time.

PHP

An open source scripting language that can be embedded in HTML documents to execute interactive functions on a Web server. It is generally used for Web development.

physical name

The name of the path where a file or mirrored file is located. The default is the path of the Master.dat file followed by the first eight characters of the file's logical name.

Pickup folder

The directory from which messages are picked up.

PIN

A unique and secret identification code similar to a password that is assigned to an authorized user and used to gain access to personal information or assets via an electronic device.

pivot

To rotate a table-valued expression by turning the unique values from one column in the expression into multiple columns in the output, and perform aggregations where they are required on any remaining column values that are wanted in the final output.

PivotTable

An interactive technology in Microsoft Excel or Access that can show dynamic views of the same data from a list or a database.

placeholder item

An artificial address, instruction, or other datum fed into a computer only to fulfill prescribed conditions and not affecting operations for solving problems.

plan guide

A SQL Server module that attaches query hints to queries in deployed applications, without directly modifying the query.

platform invoke

The functionality provided by the common language runtime to enable managed code to call unmanaged native DLL entry points.

PMML

An XML-based language that enables sharing of defined predictive models between compliant vendor applications.

point depth

The depth of data points displayed in a 3D chart area.

point event model

The event model of a point event.

pointer

A needle, marker, or bar that indicates a single value displayed against a scale on a report.

poison message

A message containing information that an application cannot successfully process. A poison message is not a corrupt message, and may not be an invalid request.

policy-based management

A set of built-in functions that return server state information about values, objects, and settings in SQL Server. Policy Based Management allows a database administrator to declare the desired state of the system and checks the system for compliance with that state.

polling

The process of periodically determining the status of each device in a set so that the active program can process the events generated by each device, such as whether a mouse button was pressed or whether new data is available at a serial port. This can be contrasted with event-driven processing, in which the operating system alerts a program or routine to the occurrence of an event by means of an interrupt or message rather than having to check each device in turn.

polygon layer

The layer in a map report that displays spatial data as areas, for example, areas that indicate geographical regions such as counties.

positioned update

An update, insert, or delete operation performed on a row at the current position of the cursor.

PowerPivot data

A SQL Server Analysis Services cube that is created and embedded through Microsoft SQL Server PowerPivot for Microsoft Excel.

PowerPivot service

A middle tier service of the Analysis Services SharePoint integration feature that allocates requests, monitors server availability and health, and communicates with other services in the farm.

PowerPivot Web service

A Web service that performs request redirection for processing requests that are directed to a PowerPivot Engine service instance that is outside the farm.

PowerShell-based cache administration tool

The exclusive management tool for Windows Server AppFabric. With more than 130 standard command-line tools, this new administration-focused scripting language helps you achieve more control and productivity.

precomputed partition

A performance optimization that can be used with filtered merge publications.

prediction

A data mining technique that analyzes existing data and uses the results to predict values of attributes for new records or missing attributes in existing records. For example, existing credit application data can be used to predict the credit risk for a new application.

prefix characters

A set of 1 to 4 bytes that prefix each data field in a native-format bulk-copy data file.

prerequisite knowledge

The minimum knowledge that a destination provider is required to have to process a change or change batch.

primary database

In a log shipping, a read-write database whose transaction log is backed up at regular intervals for restoring onto one or more secondary databases.

primary DPM server

A DPM server that protects file or application data sources.

primary protection

A type of protection in which data on the protected server is directly protected by a primary DPM Server.

primary table

The "one" side of two related tables in a one-to-many relationship. A primary table should have a primary key and each record should be unique.

principal server

In database mirroring, the partner whose database is currently the principal database.

private key

The secret half of a cryptographic key pair that is used with a public key algorithm. Private keys are typically used to decrypt a symmetric session key, digitally sign data, or decrypt data that has been encrypted with the corresponding public key.

procedure cache

The part of the SQL Server memory pool that is used to store execution plans for Transact-SQL batches, stored procedures, and triggers.

profit chart

A diagram that displays the theoretical increase in profit that is associated with using various data models.

properties page

A dialog box that displays information about an object in the interface.

property mapping

A mapping between a variable and a property of a package element.

protected computer

A computer that contains data sources that are protection group members.

protocol

A standard set of formats and procedures that enable computers to exchange information.

provider

A software component that allows a replica to synchronize its data with other replicas.

proximity search

Full-text query searching for those occurrences where the specified words are close to one another.

public key

The nonsecret half of a cryptographic key pair that is used with a public key algorithm. Public keys are typically used when encrypting a session key, verifying a digital signature, or encrypting data that can be decrypted with the corresponding private key.

publication access list

The primary mechanism for securing the Publisher. It contains a list of logins, accounts, and groups that are granted access to the publication.

publication retention period

In merge replication, the amount of time a subscription can remain unsynchronized.

Publisher

A server that makes data available for replication to other servers. A Publisher also detects changed data and maintains information about all publications at the site.

publishing server

A server running an instance of Analysis Services that stores the source cube for one or more linked cubes.

pull

The process of retrieving data from a network server.

pull subscription

A subscription created and administered at the Subscriber. The Distribution Agent or Merge Agent for the subscription runs at the Subscriber.

push

The process of sending data to a network server.

push subscription

A subscription created and administered at the Publisher.

qualifier

A modifier containing information that describes a class, instance, property, method, or parameter. Qualifiers are defined by the Common Information Model (CIM), by the CIM Object Manager, and by developers.

quantum

A brief period of time when a given thread executes in a multitasking operating system. It performs the multitasking before it is rescheduled against other threads with the same priority. Previously known as a "time slice."

query binder

An object that binds an existing StreamInsight query template to specific input and output adapters.

query designer

A tool that helps a user create the query command that specifies the data the user wants in a report dataset.

query hint

A hint that specifies that the indicated hints should be used throughout the query. Query hints affect all operators in the statement.

query template

The fundamental unit of query composition. A query template defines the business logic required to continuously analyze and process events submitted to and emitted by the StreamInsight server.

Queue Reader Agent

The executable that reads the changes from subscribers in the queue and delivers the changes to the publisher.

quoted identifier

An object in a database that requires the use of special characters (delimiters) because the object name does not comply with the formatting rules of regular identifiers.

ragged hierarchy

A hierarchy in which one or more levels do not contain members in one or more branches of the hierarchy.

range partition

A table partition that is defined by specific and customizable ranges of data.

range query

A query that specifies a range of values as part of the search criteria, such as all rows from 10 through 100.

rapid application development

A method of building computer systems in which the system is programmed and implemented in segments, rather than waiting until the entire project is completed for implementation. Developed by programmer James Martin, RAD uses such tools as CASE and visual programming.

raw destination adapter

An SSIS destination that writes raw data to a file.

Raw File destination

An SSIS destination that writes raw data to a file.

raw source adapter

An SSIS source that reads raw data from a file.

RDBMS

A database system that organizes data into related rows and columns as specified by a relational model.

RDL Sandboxing

A feature that makes it possible to detect and restrict specific types of resource use by individual tenants in a scenario where multiple tenants share a single Web farm of report servers.

recover

To put back into a stable condition. A computer user may be able to recover lost or damaged data by using a program to search for and salvage whatever information remains in storage. A database may be recovered by restoring its integrity after some problem has damaged it, such as abnormal termination of the database management program.

recovery branch

A range of LSNs that share the same recovery branch GUID. A new recovery branch originates when a database is created or when RESTORE WITH RECOVERY generates a recovery fork. A multiple-branch recovery path is possible that includes ranges of LSNs that cover two or more recovery fork points.

recovery interval

The maximum amount of time that the Database Engine should require to recover a database.

recovery path

The sequence of data and log backups that have brought a database to a particular point in time (known as a recovery point). A recovery path is a specific set of transformations that have evolved the database over time, yet have maintained the consistency of the database. A recovery path describes a range of LSNs from a start point (LSN,GUID) to an end point (LSN,GUID). The range of LSNs in a recovery path can traverse one or more recovery branches from start to end.

rectangle

A report item that can be used as a container for multiple report items or as a graphical element on a report.

recursive partitioning

The iterative process, used by data mining algorithm providers, of dividing data into groups until no more useful groups can be found.

redo phase

The phase during recovery that applies (rolls forward) logged changes to a database to bring the data forward in time.

reference data

Data characterized by shared read operations and infrequent changes. Examples of reference data include flight schedules and product catalogs. Windows Server AppFabric offers the local cache feature for storing this type of data.

reference table

The source table to use in fuzzy lookups.

referencing key

A key in a database table that comes from another table (also know as the "referenced table") and whose values match the primary key (PK) or unique key in the referenced table.

region

A container of data, within a cache, that co-locates all cached objects on a single cache host. Cache Regions enable the ability to search all cached objects in the region by using descriptive strings, called tags.

registration model

A defined method for submitting and approving enrollment requests. An enterprise generally chooses one registration model and modifies their management policies accordingly.

regressor

An input variable that has a linear relationship with the output variable.

relational engine

A component of SQL Server that works with the storage engine. It is responsible for interpreting Transact-SQL search queries and mapping out the most efficient methods of searching the raw physical data provided by the storage engine and returning the results to the user.

relational store

A data repository structured in accordance with the relational model.

relative date

A range of dates that is specified by using comparison operators and return data for a range of dates.

remote data access

A service that provides a simple way for a smart device application to access (pull) and send (push) data to and from a remote SQL Server database table and a local SQL Server Mobile Edition database table. RDA can also be used to issue SQL commands on a server running SQL Server.

remote login identification

The login identification assigned to a user for accessing remote procedures on a remote server.

remote service binding

A Service Broker object that specifies the local security credentials for a remote service.

remote table

A table stored in an OLE DB data source that is separate from the current instance of SQL Server.

rendered report

A fully processed report that contains both data and layout information, in a format suitable for viewing (such as HTML).

rendering object model

Report object model used by rendering extensions.

replica

A particular repository of information to be synchronized.

replica key

A 4-byte value that maps to a replica ID in a replica key map.

replication

The process of copying content and/or configuration settings from one location, generally a server node, to another. Replication is done to ensure synchronization or fault tolerance.

Report Builder

A report authoring tool that features a Microsoft Office-like authoring environment and features such as new sparkline, data bar, and indicator data visualizations, the ability to save report items as report parts, a wizard for creating maps, aggregates of aggregates, and enhanced support for expressions.

report definition

The blueprint for a report before the report is processed or rendered. A report definition contains information about the query and layout for the report.

Report Designer

A collection of design surfaces and graphical tools that are hosted within the Microsoft Visual Studio environment.

report history

Collection of previously run copies of a report.

report intermediate format

Internal representation of a report.

report layout template

A pre-designed table, matrix, or chart report template in Report Builder.

Report Manager

A Web-based report management tool

report part

A report item that has been published separately to a report server and that can be reused in other reports.

Report Project

A template in the report authoring environment.

report rendering

The action of combining the report layout with the data from the data source for the purpose of viewing the report.

report server administrator

A user with elevated privileges who can access all settings and content of a report server. A report server administrator is a user who is assigned to the Content Manager role, the System Administrator role, or both. All local administrators are automatically report server administrators, but additional users can become report server administrators for all or part of the report server namespace.

report server execution account

The account under which the Report Server Web service and Report Server Windows service run.

report snapshot

A static report that contains data captured at a specific point in time.

repository

A database containing information models that, in conjunction with the executable software, manage the database.

repository object

A COM object that represents a data construct stored in a repository type library.

Repository Type Information Model

A core object model that represents repository type definitions for Metadata Services.

reserved character

A keyboard character that has a special meaning to a program and, as a result, normally cannot be used in assigning names to files, documents, and other user-generated tools, such as macros. Characters commonly reserved for special uses include the asterisk (*), forward slash (/), backslash (\), question mark (?), and vertical bar (|).

resource

A special variable that holds a reference to a database connection or statement.

resource data

A type of data that is characterized by shared, concurrently read and written into operations, and accessed by many transactions. Examples of resource data include user accounts and auction items.

restore

A multi-phase process that copies all the data and log pages from a specified backup to a specified database (the data-copy phase) and rolls forward all the transactions that are logged in the backup (the redo phase). At this point, by default, a restore rolls back any incomplete transactions (the undo phase), which completes the recovery of the database and makes it available to users.

result set

The set of records that results from running a query or applying a filter.

retract event

An internal event kind used to modify an existing insert event by modifying the end time of the event.

revocation delay

The period of time between when the credential revocation request is placed and when the credentials are actually revoked.

RIA Services link

A project-to-project link reference that facilitates generating presentation tier code from middle tier code.

right outer join

An outer join in which all the records from the right side of the RIGHT JOIN operation in the query's SQL statement are added to the query's results, even if there are no matching values in the joined field from the table on the left.

RMO

A managed code assembly that encapsulates replication functionalities for SQL Server.

role definition

The collection of task permissions associated with a role.

role-playing dimension

A single database dimension joined to the fact table on a different foreign keys to produce multiple cube dimensions.

roll forward

To apply logged changes to the data in a roll forward set to bring the data forward in time.

roll up

To collect subsets of data from multiple locations in one location.

route

A Service Broker object that specifies the network address for a remote service.

routing table

A data structure used by the routing client to track the connectivity information of all cache hosts in the cache cluster. It is maintained by lead hosts in the cluster. It allows a routing client to obtain cached data directly from the cache host on which the data resides.

row lock

A lock on a single row in a table.

row-overflow data

varchar, nvarchar, varbinary, or sql_variant data stored off the main data page of a table or index as a result of the combined widths of these columns exceeding the 8,060-byte row limit in a table.

rs utility

Report scripting tool.

rsconfig utility

Server connection management tool.

rule firing

The process of running one of the application rules (event chronicle rules, subscription event rules, and subscription scheduled rules) defined in the application definition file.

run-time error

A software error that occurs while a program is being executed, as detected by a compiler or other supervisory program.

sampling

A statistical process that yields some inferential knowledge about a population or data set of interest as a whole by observing or analyzing a portion of the population or data set.

savepoint

A location to which a transaction can return if part of the transaction is conditionally canceled or encounters an error, hence offering a mechanism to roll back portions of transactions.

scalar

A factor, coefficient, or variable consisting of a single value (as opposed to a record, an array, or some other complex data structure).

scale break line

A line drawn across a chart area to indicate a significant gap between a high and low range of values on the chart.

Scheduling and Delivery Processor

A component of the report server engine that handles scheduling and delivery. Works with SQL Agent.

schema snapshot

A snapshot that includes schema for published tables and objects required by replication (triggers, metadata tables, and so on), but not user data.

scope

The extent to which an identifier, such as an object or property, can be referenced within a program. Scope can be global to the application or local to the active document.

script memory

The local memory (the client-side RAM) that is used by a PHP script.

SDK

A set of routines (usually in one or more libraries) designed to allow developers to more easily write programs for a given computer, operating system, or user interface.

search key

The value that is to be searched for in a document or any collection of data.

secondary DPM server

A DPM server that protects one or more primary DPM servers in addition to file and application data.

secondary server

In a log shipping configuration, the server instance where the secondary database resides. At regular intervals, the secondary server copies the latest log backup from the primary database and restores the log to the secondary database. The secondary server is a warm standby server.

securable

Entities that can be secured with permissions. The most prominent securables are servers and databases, but discrete permissions can be set at a much finer level.

security extension

A component in Reporting Services that authenticates a user or group to a report server.

security identifier

In Windows-based systems, a unique value that identifies a user, group, or computer account within an enterprise. Every account is issued a SID when it is created.

self-join

A join in which records from a table are combined with other records from the same table when there are matching values in the joined fields. A self-join can be an inner join or an outer join. In database diagrams, a self-join is called a reflexive relationship.

self-tracking entity

An entity built from a Text Template Transformation Toolkit (T4) template that has the ability to record changes to scalar, complex, and navigation properties.

semantic object

An object that can be represented by a database object or other real-world object.

semantics

In programming, the relationship between words or symbols and their intended meanings.

sensitive cursor

A cursor that can reflect data modifications made to underlying data by other users while the cursor is open.

sequenced collection

A collection of destination objects of a sequenced relationship object.

serial number

A number assigned to a specific inventory item to identify it and differentiate it from similar items with the same item number.

server

A computer that provides shared resources, such as files or printers, to network users.

server cursor

A cursor implemented on the server.

server subscription

A subscription to a merge publication with an assigned priority value used for conflict detection and resolution.

Service Broker

A technology that helps developers build scalable, secure database applications.

service principal

An entity that represents a service at the key distribution center (KDC). A service principal generally does not correspond to a human user of the system, but rather to an automated service providing a resource, such as a file server.

service program

A program that uses Service Broker functionality. A service program may be a Transact-SQL stored procedure, a SQLCLR stored procedure, or an external program.

session state

In ASP.NET, a variable store created on the server for the current user; each user maintains a separate Session state on the server. Session state is typically used to store user-specific information between postbacks.

setup initialization file

A text file, using the Windows .ini file format, that stores configuration information allowing SQL Server to be installed without a user having to be present to respond to prompts from the Setup program.

shadow copy

A static image of a set of data, such as the records displayed as the result of a query.

sharding

A technique for partitioning large data sets, which improves performance and scalability, and enables distributed querying of data across multiple tenants.

shared data source item

Data source connection information that is encapsulated in an item. Can be managed as an item in the report server folder namespace.

shared lock

A lock created by nonupdate (read) operations.

shopping basket analysis

A standard data mining algorithm that analyzes a list of transactions to make predictions about which items are most frequently purchased together.

SID

In Windows-based systems, a unique value that identifies a user, group, or computer account within an enterprise. Every account is issued a SID when it is created.

Silverlight business application

A template that provides many common features for building a business application with a Silverlight client. It utilizes WCF RIA Services for authentication and registration services.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

A member of the TCP/IP suite of protocols that governs the exchange of electronic mail between message transfer agents.

single-byte character set

A character encoding in which each character is represented by 1 byte. Single byte character sets are mathematically limited to 256 characters.

single-user mode

A state in which only one user can access a resource.

SKU

A unique identifier, usually alphanumeric, for a product. The SKU allows a product to be tracked for inventory purposes. An SKU can be associated with any item that can be purchased. For example, a shirt in style number 3726, size 8 might have a SKU of 3726-8.

slice

A subset of the data in a cube, specified by limiting one or more dimensions by members of the dimension.

sliding window

A window of fixed length L that moves along a timeline according to the stream’s events. With every event on the timeline, a new window is created, starting at the event’s start time.

slipstream installation

A type of installation that integrates the base installation files for an operating system or program with its service packs, updates or patches, and enables them to be installed in a single step.

Smart Card Personalization Control

An ActiveX control that performs all Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) smart card application management activities on a client computer.

smart card reader

A device that is installed in computers to enable the use of smart cards for enhanced security features.

smart card unblocking

The action of binding a smart card with administrative credentials to reset the the personal identification number (PIN) attempt counter.

snap-in

A type of tool that you can add to a console supported by Microsoft Management Console (MMC). A stand-alone snap-in can be added by itself; an extension snap-in can be added only to extend the function of another snap-in.

snapshot isolation level

A transaction isolation level in which each read operation performed by a transaction returns all data as it existed at the start of the transaction. Because a snapshot transaction does not use locks to protect read operations, it will not block other transactions from modifying any data read by the snapshot transaction.

Snapshot Share

A share available for the storage of snapshot files. Snapshot files contain the schema and data for published tables.

snowflake schema

An extension of a star schema such that one or more dimensions are defined by multiple tables. In a snowflake schema, only primary dimension tables are joined to the fact table. Additional dimension tables are joined to primary dimension tables.

soft page-break renderer

A rendering extension that maintains the report layout and formatting so that the resulting file is optimized for screen-based viewing and delivery, such as on a Web page or in the ReportViewer controls.

software profile

A Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) profile created when a request is performed using a profile template that only includes software-based certificate templates.

solution explorer

A component of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio that allows you to view and manage items and perform item management tasks in a solution or a project.

sort order

A way to arrange data based on value or data type. You can sort data alphabetically, numerically, or by date. Sort orders use an ascending (1 to 9, A to Z) or descending (9 to 1, Z to A) order.

source

The SSIS data flow component that makes data from different external data sources available to the other components in the data flow.

source adapter

A data flow component that extracts data from a data store.

source control

A set of features that include a mechanism for checking source code in and out of a central repository. It also implies a version control system that can manage files through the development lifecycle, keeping track of which changes were made, who made them, when they were made, and why.

source database

A database on the Publisher from which data and database objects are marked for replication as part of a publication that is propagated to Subscribers. For a database view, the database on which the view is created.

source partition

An Analysis Services partition that is merged into another and is deleted automatically at the end of the merger process.

sparkline

A miniature chart that can be inserted into text or embedded within a cell on a worksheet to illustrate highs, lows, and trends in your data.

sparse file

A file that is handled in a way that requires much less disk space than would otherwise be needed. Sparse support allows an application to create very large files without committing disk space for those regions of the file that contain only zeros. For example, you can use sparse support to work with a 42-GB file in which you need to write data only to the first 64 KB (the rest of the file is zeroed).

spatial data

Data that is represented by 2D or 3D images. Spatial data can be further subdivided into geometric data (data that can use calculations involving Euclidian geometry) and geographic data (data that identifies geographic locations and boundaries on the earth).

SQL

A database query and programming language widely used for accessing, querying, updating, and managing data in relational database systems.

SQL expression

Any combination of operators, constants, literal values, functions, and names of tables and fields that evaluates to a single value.

SQL Server

A family of Microsoft relational database management and analysis systems for e-commerce, line-of-business, and data warehousing solutions.

SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition

SQL Server product name (edition)

SQL Server component

A SQL Server program module developed to perform a specific set of tasks - e.g., data transformation, data analysis, reporting.

SQL Server data-tier application project

A Visual Studio project used by database developers to create and develop a DAC. DAC projects get full support from Visual Studio and VSTS source code control, versioning, and development project management.

SQL Server EUR

A tool for SQL Server that enables backup administrators to authorize end users to recover backups of SQL Server databases from DPM, without further action from the backup administrator.

SQL Server Express

An edition of a Microsoft relational database design and management system for e-commerce, line-of-business, and data warehousing solutions.

SQL Server instance auto-protection

A type of protection that enables DPM to automatically identify and protect databases that are added to instances of SQL Server that are configured for auto-protection.

SQL Server PowerPivot for Excel

A SQL Server add-in for Excel.

SQL Server Reporting Services

A server-based report generation environment for enterprise, Web-enabled reporting functionality so you can create reports that draw content from a variety of data sources, publish reports in various formats, and centrally manage security and subscriptions.

SQL Server Trace

A set Transact-SQL system stored procedures to create traces on an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine.

SQL Server Utility dashboard

A dashboard that provides an at-a-glance summary of resource health for managed SQL Server instances and data-tier applications. Can also be referred to as the SQL Server Utility detail view or the list view with details.

SQL Server Utility viewpoints

A feature of SQL Server Utility that provides administrators a holistic view of resource health through an instance of SQL Server that serves as a utility control point (UCP).

SQL Trace

A set Transact-SQL system stored procedures to create traces on an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine.

SQL-92

The version of the SQL standard published in 1992.

SSL

A protocol that improves the security of data communication by using a combination of data encryption, digital certificates, and public key cryptography. SSL enables authentication and increases data integrity and privacy over networks. SSL does not provide authorization or nonrepudiation.

SSRS

A server-based report generation environment for enterprise, Web-enabled reporting functionality so you can create reports that draw content from a variety of data sources, publish reports in various formats, and centrally manage security and subscriptions.

staged data

Data imported into staging tables during the staging process in SQL Server Master Data Services.

staging process

The process used in SQL Server Master Data Services to import data into staging tables and then process the staged data as a batch prior to importing it into the master database. 

staging table

A table in SQL Server Master Data Services that is populated with business data during the staging process.

standby file

In a restore operation, a file used during the undo phase to hold a "copy-on-write" pre-image of pages that are to be modified. The standby file allows reverting the undo pass to bring back the uncommitted transactions.

standing query

An instantiation of a query template that runs within the StreamInsight server performing continuous computation over the incoming events.

star query

A query that joins a fact table and a number of dimension tables.

start angle

The angle of rotation, between 0 and 360, at which the scale will begin. The zero (0) position is located at the bottom of the gauge, and the start angle rotates clockwise. For example, a start angle of 90 degrees starts the scale at the 9 o'clock position.

statement

A compiled T-SQL query.

static row filter

A filter available for all types of replication that allows you to restrict the data replicated to a Subscriber based on a WHERE clause.

step into

To execute the current statement and enter Break mode, stepping into the next procedure whenever a call for another procedure is reached.

stock keeping unit

A unique identifier, usually alphanumeric, for a product. The SKU allows a product to be tracked for inventory purposes. An SKU can be associated with any item that can be purchased. For example, a shirt in style number 3726, size 8 might have a SKU of 3726-8.

stoplist

A specific collection of so-called stopwords, which tend to appear frequently in documents, but are believed to carry no usable information.

storage engine

A component of SQL Server that is responsible for managing the raw physical data in your database. For example, reading and writing the data to disk is a task handled by the storage engine.

stored procedure

A precompiled collection of SQL statements and optional control-of-flow statements stored under a name and processed as a unit. They are stored in an SQL database and can be run with one call from an application.

stream

An abstraction of a sequence of bytes, such as a file, an I/O device, an inter-process communication pipe, a TCP/IP socket, or a spooled print job. The relationship between streams and storages in a compound file is similar to that of files and folders.

StreamInsight Event Flow Debugger

A stand-alone tool in the Microsoft StreamInsight platform that provides event-flow debugging and analysis.

StreamInsight server

The core engine and adapter framework components of Microsoft StreamInsight. The StreamInsight server can be used to process and analyze the event streams associated with a complex event processing application.

strip line

Horizontal or vertical ranges that set the background pattern of the chart in regular or custom intervals. You can use strip lines to improve readability for looking up individual values on the chart, highlight dates that occur at regular intervals, or highlight a specific key range.

striped media set

A media set that uses multiple devices, among which each backup is distributed.

Structured Query Language

A database query and programming language widely used for accessing, querying, updating, and managing data in relational database systems.

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