3 comments about Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 in 21 Days.

1. The opening page of this book states, "This book assumes no prior SQL Server knowledge." And yet, many of the concepts and terms used are either used before they are defined, or not defined at all. For example, what's the difference between "char" and "varchar"? This is one question which is not answered anywhere in this book. Would it have killed them to produce a chart with int, float, char, varchar, etc down the left and a description of each down the right? Where is a detailed description of the "Count" function? "Count" is mentioned on page 463, but it is never officially defined or introduced. Worse yet, the most common usage of the command, "Count(*)", is never mentioned at all!

   The book is confusingly-laid-out, constantly referring to subjects which haven't been covered yet. The note "See chapter x", where x is further along in the book, appears everywhere.

   The book is badly edited and dif! ficult to read. Many parts I could make sense out of only after reading other books on SQL.

   There is a lot of good information in this book, but finding it is difficult, and once you do find it, it tends to fall just short of telling you everything you need to know.

   This book is definitely NOT for beginners. If you've never worked with SQL before, this book will not help you get started.




2. I was experienced with Access and Sybase dbANYWHERE before I read this book, and had a pretty good knowledge of SQL. Obviously some readers buy this book with the assumption that it is an introductory book on SQL; and then wrote negative reviews on Amazon. It is not. It is a good, and concise introduction to how to use Microsoft's flagship RDBMS, MS SQL Server. I found the book to be useful with many good examples, and good coverage of potentially confusing topics like transaction processing and triggers. I recommend the book to readers with knowledge of SQL who would like to migrate their applications to MS SQL Server.



3. Sams' Teach Yourself in 21 Days series of books often has authors scrambling to cram and organise a whole field of information into three weeks, no more no less. This offering on the MS SQL Server 6.5 succumbs to that same fate.

   Clearly, in order to follow the schedule religiously one must have a relatively firm footing on SQL and free time on his or her hands as well, as some chapters are intensive, to say the least.

   Although the four authors adopted an lighter style of writing, the layout nullifies most of their good intentions.

   Now most SQL operations could be carried out within the command line or the GUI-enabled Enterprise Manager, and I had a frustrating time ruling out the command-line sections as I solely wanted to use the GUI interface.

   What would make this book more friendly would be to have a short introduction on a particular feature, and to expound the individual methods through intelligent indentation or icon usage along the sidebar.

   It would also be appreciated if the Transact-SQL commands peculiar to MS SQL 6.5 be emphasized.

   I am sure that with better attention to details the book would have been a good introduction to the SQL 6.5 Server. As it is I would advise readers to scour for a more suitable offering.

No comments about ISO/IEC 9075-3:2003, Information technology - Database languages - SQL - Part 3: Call-Level Interface (SQL/CLI).

No comments about ESKYE LAUNCHES BLEND SQL SUITE OF WINERY SOFTWARE.: An article from: Worldwide Databases.

No comments about CramSession's Implementing a Database Design on Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 : Certification Study Guide.

No comments about Microsoft Acces 2000 Guia de Campo Con Disquete.

No comments about Developing Client/Server Systems Using Sybase SQL Server System 10.

No comments about SQL Loader Users Guide Version 1.0.

1 comments about Access 2000 Manual de Uso al Maximo: Manuales Compumagazine, en Espanol / Spanish (Compumagazine; Coleccion de Libros & Manuales).

1. Este libro es excelente para tener al lado de la computadora mientras se trabaja en una base de datos. Principalmente tuve la necesidad de hacer una tabla con varias consultas y el libro me guio entre las varias herramientas que se pueden aplicar, para facilitar una busqueda. Pude guiarme en Access sin necesidad de recurrir a la ayuda del programa.

5 comments about Using Oracle 8 (Using).

1. First let me qualify by saying I have worked with Oracle for over 4 years and that I read this book as a refresher to learn the new features of Oracle 8. I mostly stick with the O'Reilly series, but I have to say this is a very good reference book. Who ever gave this book one star is full of crap. If you knew all of the concepts and procedures for running Oracle that are contained in this book, then you are on your way to becoming an Oracle DBA. Notice I said "on your way", which means that you would not yet be qualified to be an Oracle DBA after reading this book, but you would have an excellent foundation of the material that an expert DBA needs and uses everyday. There may have been a few mistakes here or there, but for $30 it's the best deal you'll ever find.



2. I am primarily a Solaris system admin who wants to learn more about the inside of Oracle and what it takes to keep it up and running. The O'Reilly titles were a major disappointment since most of their stuff usually rocks, but let's hope for better 2nd editions on those along with some good tutorial material. The Oracle Press titles are totally disorganized and a major embarassment! David Austin has put together a great book with Using Oracle 8, and if you have to suffer through NT (and thank God I don't), he has plenty of material on Oracle Enterprise Mgr (all of chapter 4). Then he moves on to the nitty gritty, with a Unix-oriented or at least generic "pure Oracle" approach. I have spent two weeks browsing and reading various Oracle books and good choices are hard to find. I strongly recommend Alomari's "Oracle8 and Unix Performance Tuning" as well.



3. The book does not have the in-depth coverage that expert SQL users would expect. If you are a beginner then it may suit you just fine. There are not enough nuts and bolts for people like me who really need the complete reference book.



4. A very good book on Oracle8 administration, performance tuning, backup and recovery. Full of well organized useful information.



5. I come from Iraq and when you want to get a new dook it, the search operation is more defficalt because you know please help me to get more information about learning oracl by the way I'm programmer thanck you for your help .

No comments about Sybase and Microsoft end their database software marketing partnership; reports say Sybase will soon unveil new multimedia products and partners.: An article from: Software Industry Report.