No comments about Oracle 8i : PL/SQL.

5 comments about MCSE Database Design on SQL Server 7 Exam Cram (Exam: 70-029).

1. Recently, Microsoft has changed their exam. While this book is good and gives you the base, you won't be able to pass the 70-028 exam with this book alone. The book gives you a lot of terminology which appeared in the prior exams i'm sure. So, watch out, buy a more current edition of a cram book. This book has lost it's status from a "Cram Book" to "Wanna know how to use SQL 7.0". I did recently take the test and it was quite different to both this book and the testing book written by the authors.



2. This book does not cover all topics in the exam. The topics actually covered in this book are generally too vague.



3. This exam is tough. Questions are long, strain your brain to the last drop.

   But I still gives this book a four. Why ?? First, it explains database design concept in a sharp and crispy manner. Second, it lists down all the necessary refence systematically. I still use it today during my database design project.

   But this book is NOT for the exam. The exam emphasis on data modelling, concept and case-scenerio. This book is poor in this aspect. I think Transcender helps me more in the exam.

   In short, nice book as reference material, not for exam.




4. I have had good experiences with other Exam Cram books, but this one is not very good at all. There are so many errors and omissions that you don't know what information you can trust to be accurate and what information you need to look up somewhere else. These are not just typos, they are actual concepts that are incorrect. I verified this through a Microsoft Press book, MSDN, and actually doing it in SQL. I actually looked on the Exam Cram website for errata for this book, and there wasn't any. I emailed them as well, but they just wanted me to tell them where the errors were. They also told me that they assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Huh??? What am I paying for??!!! Bottom Line: Look for a more accurate and complete book. Also, use the product and get Transcender.



5. The author's of this book were absolutely out of their minds to call this a "Cram" book. There are so many errors in this thing that it couldn't POSSIBLY be used as a serious resource for the exam. As a reference for AFTER you've passed - perhaps. My recommendation? Look elsewhere folks for something that actually gives you what you pay for. This book does nothing of the sort.

No comments about Accelerated SQL Server 2008.

2 comments about The Developer's Handbook to DB2 for Common Servers (Mcgraw-Hill Series on Database Warehousing and Data Management).

1. This book is well written and heavy on examples. The DB2 Developers Handbook was written by Roger becuase he was unhappy working with the documentation supplied by IBM. All his experiences are in this book. Excellent author - Excellent book.



2. This is an excellent reference book with plenty of samples in both C and C++ languages. However, the URL in the back cover of the book for electronic copy of all the samples is no longer active. According to the author, the web site is deactivated due to IBM no longer supports the Common Servers product, it would be better for the user to buy his new book(s).

No comments about My SQL/PHP Database Applications.

No comments about Manual de Oracle XML.

No comments about MICROSOFT SQL SERVER TRAINING VOLUME 2.

No comments about Upgrading and Migrating to Sybase SQL Server 11.

No comments about Migrating to LINQ to SQL in TheBeerHouse and ASP.NET 2.0 Website Programming Problem Design Solution (Wrox Briefs).

5 comments about SQL Server 2000 XML Distilled.

1. The people who wrote this book have a great deal of real-world experience using these technologies, and it shows. While the SQL Server product documentation and the first generation of SQL Server XML books are great for giving you a categorical treatment of the features, this book emphasizes the techniques that are proving to be most useful while providing experience-based warnings about potential pitfalls in other techniques. It's also great for getting perspective on pros and cons when you are designing something that could be implemented in multiple ways using SQL Server XML.



2. This is what a technical publication should be. The book covers all aspects of SQLXML, from programming to administrative issues (including security concerns -- everyone needs to do more of that). It even discusses some of the other technologies out there, such as Oracle's integration with XML and the native xml datatype. If you are using or thinking of using SQLXML, I'd consider this book to be required reading.



3. This book is technically competent, but goes right past the two most important factors; if you are developing XML, then you will probably be using Java, and that if you are developing applications (even with XML) on SQL server, then you are probably using COM+. Sorry.



4. This book is an excellent addition to the documentation provided with SQLXML, especially if you are just starting to use SQLXML. The book helps you decide if SQLXML is right for your situation. If it is, the book will continue to walk you through some real examples, covering some of the pros and cons of different methods. Being a developer, I highly recommend this book if you are using or considering to use SQLXML in a Microsoft environment.



5. This book covers all the gaps that exist in the XML feature list provided on MSDN and TechNet. The examples are succinct and to the point and the text is very well written. The examples in the book clearly illustrate the point that the author is trying to make and the common pitfalls are documented very well as well. I had always had difficulty in understanding XML features in RDBMS and this book helped me a lot to overcome those fears.