Transformations, best practices boosted for SQL Server Microsoft on Wednesday detailed tools planned for increasing database administration capabilities in the current and upcoming versions of the company’s SQL Server database.The company revealed the details during its 2003 Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) Community Summit meeting in Seattle.One of the tools to be featured in the planned “Yukon” version of SQL Server due in 2004, a reconstituted Data Transformation Services (DTS) technology for extracting, transforming, and loading (ETL) of data, is intended to provide scalable and manageable ETL services. DTS will feature graphical debugging and built-in transformations such as “fuzzy lookup” to allow developers to more easily develop enterprise applications. Also to be featured in the DTS architecture are transaction support, the ability to restart, data error handling, and data cleansing. An API for developers enables DTS to be extended with custom data sources, transformations, workflow tasks, and other objects.Microsoft on Wednesday also announced the beta availability of Best Practices Analzyer (BPA) for SQL Server 2000, a tool intended to help DBAs develop better SQL Server applications and avoid common errors in managing database installations. The tool features configuration recommendations on subjects ranging from availability and backup and recovery, to management and performance. In addition, the tool can help DBAs plan for future use of the system.The BPA tool is available for download at www.microsoft.com/sql. Software DevelopmentTechnology IndustrySmall and Medium Business