4 comments about A Guide to SQL Featuring Oracle.

1. A fantastic book for learning SQL. I did not have Oracle and was learning on Microsoft Access instead, but I found the book very helpful nonetheless. The author does a good job of explaining SQL and databases. This book is also a very handy reference when programming. I still find myself using it as a guide when writing SQL statements in my programs. Overall a good book. I recommend it for SQL beginners and highly recommend it for users of Oracle.



2. I've had some programming experience, but can't say I'm an excellent programmer. This book really clued me in how just how versatile SQL can be. It slowly builds your knowledge and feeds it just enough to keep you interested for more. I've since purchased other books by Loney published by Oracle Press and have found them to be dry reads in comparison. After reading this book, I feel confident enough to take on PL/SQL. My limited programming skill is not a hindrance to learning SQL. Now.

   An excellent beginner's book.




3. I would definitely recommend this book to any beginer who has no idea what SQL is really all about. It starts off by introducing a fairly simple database and then builds on various queries and aspects of the database. I found it helpful making a copy of the database layout page which I then placed next to my monitor for constant referals. In just a few days I was confidently tackling our Oracle database at work and now no longer have that 'unknown' fear when facing any SQL related problems. Though for complex SQL scripts I would recommend a more advanced book.



4. Sorry Authors but I can never seem to find what I am after here. e.g. Looking for info on "aggregate" terms - no reference to it. e.g. Looking for information on oracle date handling - not enough info to be useful.

   I need something more heavy duty really. Might be okay for someone starting out - but I doubt it.

5 comments about Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit.

1. The SQL exams are designed for experienced users. For those, like myself, without experience, be prepared to spend a little more time than the other exams getting ready for this one. Based on all of the information I gathered, including the exam itself, I agree with the general sentiments,"It is a hard exam, not due to the difficult level of questions, but from the lack of information available." I used Sybex, Microsoft Press, Exam Cram, and Readiness Review, along with the transcender software. While I passed, on the first try, it highlighted the deficiencies of the study guides. Recommendation: The Books OnLine on the Trial SQL CD-ROM and / or the "Inside SQL" by Microsoft Press (title may be a little off...) came through as strong candidates to help you get your MCDBA. As a DB novice the Microsoft Readiness Review was helpful in understanding the logic behind choosing say clustered vs. non clustered indexes; and using entity relationships with normalization to improve performance. RE: SQL Admin, however, I found the Microsoft Press dual titles on SQL Admin and SQL Design to be very useful; after the Admin exam unfortunately... Hopefully, this may be of some benefit for you. Best of luck!



2. The explanations are easy enough to follow along. The SQL code works for the chapters I read. I'd recommend it especially at the Amazon used price.



3. Everything the other reviewers have said is true. Regardless, I looked for something better and came back to this book. Today I passed 70-029 and added an MCDBA to my MCSE. Be prepared to be tenacious with this material. It took me a year of catch-as-catch can study. This book should be your main study material with Transcender exams your proof of understanding. However, if you're just starting, go directly to SQL 2000 and skip SQL 7.0. From a job perspective, the best part of SQL is that it's in demand, and there aren't many people who can pass the exam.



4. It should have 4.5 stars. This book is great for learning everything you need to know for getting SQL Sever 7.0 up and running (and I mean running not walking). This book is a well structured course that takes you through all the way for implementing databases on SQL Server. The only con I found is that It promotes Client-server arquitecture and has no mention on n-tier system (except for the beginning where it's barely mentioned). But at the end this is a very good book for learning SQL 7 administration .



5. I purchased this book with the 70-029 exam in mind. Dislike other reviewers I didn't have any experience in Microsoft SQL Server, I was migrating from the AI/X DB2 world. This book is superficial in important aspects like index tunning and distributed queries. I finally had to adopt a different strategy based on sample tests and Microsoft Books On Line to pass the 70-029 with a less than satisfactory 755 mark.

5 comments about Oracle Built in Packages.

1. Oracle should just have O'Reilly publish all of their documentation. Though I haven't had a need to use 85% of Oracle's packages, the ones that I have read are thoroughly documented. Even the author (Steve Feuerstein) mentioned that there are even MORE builtin packages that he didn't put into his book. Word is that he may add more of them.

   Excellent book.

   Gio




2. Very little about Oracle build-in packages. Much more about O'reilly's own build-in packages, it is more like a kind of ads.

   I want to use packages, doesn't mean I want O'reilly packages. If you want to sell O'reilly packages, name the book accordingly.

   I wanted to know more about the numerous oracle standard build-in packages, this book didn't help me.




3. This book is absolutely necessary to get oriented in Oracle documentation. It covers PL/SQL packages that are of major interest both for application developers and those of us who want to automate DBA functions. Wonderful writing and excellent code samples are very helpful!

   Some examples of DBA-related packages are DBMS_SQL which takes care of dynamic SQL (chapter 2) and DBMS_JOB for cron-type PL/SQL scripts.

   Chapter 3 covers DBMS_PIPE and DBMS_ALERT packages necessary to implement servers running inside Oracle independently from host operating system.

   Chapter 6 describes DBMS_OUTPUT and UTL_FILE. DMS_OUTPUT is well-known for its put_line procedure which prints short (up to 256 bytes) strings to SQLPLUS console. However, from this book one can find out how to increase standard overall output size for this package - which may be crucial for testing. UTL_FILE takes care of ASCII file I/O for PL/SQL.

   Considering Large Objects management (chapter 8), we remember this is 1998 book, it does not cover latest Oracle object-related features like types or collections. Now ASCII documents (such as news articles) can be kept in VARARRAYs rather than in CLOBs.

   ORACLE BUILT-IN PACKAGES is more of a reference than a tutorial, it leaves for the reader to find out what functionality is actually needed and for what technical purpose.




4. I code and teach a lot of PL/QL, and this is the only book I have found which goes into any depth on these built-ins. It tells me most everything I want to know. However, you have to dig through tons of sample code from his PL/SQL products. In most cases, you won't find a clear example of the Oracle built-in packages (you know, the ones the book is supposed to be about?). Instead, there are huge, unneccesarily complex examples of how to use the author's bloated code (which is for sale, btw).

   There is no doubt he is the foremost author on PL/SQL, but it's not worth digging through the junk and arrogance. To quote the back cover:
   "I work with built-in packages every day, and nobody kicks sand in my face-- at least when it comes to PL/SQL!" Given the amount of his own code he buried them under, I doubt he ever even *sees* the Oracle built-ins anymore.
   We have used his other books as texts for professional training, and the students have the same complaints. They are better than the manuals which come with Oracle, but not by much. (If you want a good PL/SQL book, check out Oracle PL/SQL Programming by Scott Urman. Doesn't cover built-ins much, but its far better than the Feuerstein PL/SQL or Advanced PL/SQL books).
   Summary: Better than the manuals, if you like searching for needles in haystacks.




5. This serves as a good reference book. Saved lot of time many, many times. I bought this book 2+ yrs ago and still helps me out. But I think this book needs a major update. Oracle8i is a new beast altogether (I didn't work with 9i yet) and there are tons of new built-in packages that are very useful.

No comments about Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services Unleashed.

1 comments about Microsoft Access 2003 Quick Reference Card - Handy Durable Tri-Fold MS Access 2003 Tip & Tricks Guide. 6 Total Pages. Stores Easily. Ultimate Reference for Shortcuts, Tips & Cheats for MS Access 2003 data base software. (Software Quick Reference Cards).

1. 
   MS-ACCESS 2003 Quick Reference Card - All Good! The six-page laminated card is all that it says it is... I was looking for something a little more advanced, but it is detailed and instructive in walking you through the major functions and objects... A good, basic reference. It shipped from BrainStorm, Inc. on-time and received as promised. All in all, a good transaction.

2 comments about MySQL Enterprise Solutions.

1. I like the way this author writes. I was amazed at the network configurations to move MySQL to a higher level. I was inspired by his positive attitude and straight forward approach to solving any MySQL problem -- "Lets make it work" and gave lots of tips and advice in a very orgainized manner.



2. I wasn't very impressed with this book. There was lots of general common sense statements that don't need to be said. The author glosses over installing MySQL from source. The majority of the book deals with version 3.2. If you know nothing about databases and MySQL is your first, you might get a little out of this book. If you have some experience with databases, you will get little from this book. If you are a DBA you will get nothing from this book.

5 comments about MCSE Training Kit (Exam 70-228): Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2000 System Administration (Pro Certification).

1. I've worked on SQL Server, taken this exam, and tutored others in SQL Server. Overall this book is as at least as good as the competition. It is much better written and editted than most other books on SQL Server, although as some other reviewers have said you sometimes hope for more detail. This book alone won't prepare you for the test, but it is a required one in my opinion. Some other good books are Sybex's "Mastering SQL Server 2000", Microsoft's "Inside SQL Server 2000", and of course SQL Server's "Books Online". Practice tests like Transcender or the Microsoft Readiness Review are an absolute requirement to pass the test, which is in my opinion one of the harder ones given by Microsoft.

   A book that was a totally self sufficient standalone preparation for the test would be several times the size of this volume! This one is as good as anything available.




2. I have taken 6 of 7 exams for MCSE. I agree with the previous review that this is a very difficult exam. I doubt that any one book will do it for you on this one unless you have a lot of hands on experience.

   The book covers all the basics but you must also know the following that this book does NOT cover:
   1. Know your T-SQL very well.
   2. Know all about indexes and how they affect performance.
   3. Know some about db design, keys etc.
   4. Know how to diagnose poor query performance.

   Good Luck




3. I just recently started my SQL class, so I don't know everything, but I do know that as far as books go, this one isn't bad. For people who just want to get a paper certifiction as soon as possible...and then get fired job after job after job because they still don't know..., I suppose it isn't so hot....maybe that's why these kind of books get a lot of bad reviews. Here's a hint: I think it was meant to be used in a course with an actual instructor, and yes, you just might have to think and put some time in on it. SQL takes a good year to get down anyways, this book is just meant to introduce concepts, terms, and other information.



4. Though I have not yet taken any exam (aiming for mcdba), I find this book really good. I am one of those who wants to learn a bit a theory as well, not just the practical parts. And I find this book to cover all of my expetations... A little minus for the boring chapters about upgrading Sql-s 6.5 and 7.0 though:), I hope that when I get to the age when I am supposed to find me a work (and hopefully something that has with sql-s to do) that they have done the upgrading before I arrive:D



5. I started studying for the exam with this book and I noticed that this book has poor information for the following areas:
   
   Clustering
   DTS packages
   Stored procedures, triggers, views.
   
   I recommend to look for the 70-229 training book to complement to this one and study the books online.
   
   This book contains useful information for the following areas:
   
   Installation
   Upgrades
   Replications

5 comments about Writing Stored Procedures for Microsoft SQL Server (Sams Professional).

1. If I wanted a printed version of the BOL, I'd just print it out. There's far too much stuff here straight out of the BOL. I get the impression the guy doesn't know his subject material very well. I wish I hadn't wasted my time with this one.



2. It seems to me that the authors don't have real working experience on either sybase or microsoft sql server.



3. I've got over 300 technical books on my bookshelves and this is probably one of the worst. Apparently the publisher/author wanted to be 'first out of the gate' in order to cash in or something, because this is just a rehashing (sometimes verbatim!) of the Books Online that comes with the program. Anyone can copy-and-paste, but it takes a true master to take an oftentimes dry subject and make it understandable as well as enjoyable. If you're looking for just such a master, Grasshopper, than leave this page immediately and go look at Ken Henderson's "The Guru's Guide to SQL Server Stored Procedures, XML, and HTML." Trust me -- you'll be glad you did. Namaste!



4. Though this book helped me breeze through a project
   and enabled me to write stored procedures even with
   minimal SQL experience, I noticed that the information in
   this book can be found online. If you can manage to look
   at the monitor for hours at a time then don't buy this book,
   you can readily get the information online.



5. I disagree with the negative comments given to this book. Even if it IS simply a rewrite of Books Online (a complaint of other reviewers), it's done in a very easy to read style - and the order of topics covered worked well for me. I've been programming with VBA for years, but was totally new to stored procedures - and this book has me tackling stored procedures with confidence. I'm impressed. I'm guessing this is NOT a good book for the person who has been working with stored procedures for a long time and wants fine-tuning - some of the examples are a bit simplistic - BUT it IS a good book for the beginner. Maybe even more important, unlike most "beginner" books, the author includes solid conceptual foundations - explaining the why as well as the process.

No comments about Replication and English Query (Microsoft(r) SQL Server(tm) 2000 Reference Library).

5 comments about Beginning Databases with PostgreSQL.

1. I've been a PostgreSQL user for over a year, but I wanted to know more about databases in general and PostgreSQL in particular. "Beginning Databases with PostgreSQL" (BDWP) answered the questions I had and introduced me to the power of this open source database. My favorite aspect of the book was its use of "Try It Out" sections, where readers experiment with sample tables provided at the publisher's web site. These hands-on exercises reinforced the lessons of the text. I was able to install, configure, and manipulate a PostgreSQL database on FreeBSD following the authors' guidance. Windows fans can follow the authors' instructions for running PostgreSQL on Cygwin. Few other books give such attention to detail.
   
   The book's major drawback is its sloppy grammar and frequent, repeating typos. The term 'However' appeared in many sentences for no good reason. Commas also popped up in odd locations. Thanks to the publisher's web site errata listing, I was able to correct most of the book's technical mistakes. Still, these other errors were unnerving.
   
   Since I'm not a developer, I didn't pay much attention to chapters 13-17, where the authors describe ways to access a database using C, PHP, Perl, and Java. I was content with the user- and administrator-based material of the first 12 chapters. If you use a PostgreSQL database or need to create one, I recommend BDWP. You won't gain insight into the deeper mysteries of database administration, but the hands-on lessons will provide enough tools to get you started.



2. This is a very well-written introduction to relational databases and PostgreSQL in particular. The authors meticulously describe how to install the database on both a Windows and a Linux platform, how to compile the source, how to setup ODBC drivers to enable access to the database through MS Access, and all the various free utilities that exist. They then walk the reader very carefully through a thorough introduction to SQL, database design, normal forms, and the built-in functions of the database. The final section of the book presents a variety of methods for writing front-end applications using either PHP, C, Perl, or Java. As a Java programmer, I found the Java chapter very well-written.

   Overall, this is a good beginning book. It will not turn you into an expert on database design, nor does it offer an encyclopedic PostgreSQL reference. But it is a perfect starting point for those who have chosen to explore this great database system.




3. This is a Wrox book, which to me means it is probably not very concise or well written, but it has a pretty good amount of information; and the title says "Beginning Databases with PostgreSQL", so my expectation was for something a little bit more useful and germane than a " for Dummies" or "Teach yourself in ". And that is pretty much what I got. The book does not cost a lot, it is pretty easy to read, it covers most of the things good beginning relational database books usually do, and it does it in the context of PostgreSQL.

   If I had to choose between this and "Practical PostgreSQL", which is the only comparable book out right now (mid 2002), I would probably choose the latter, but I think it would be better to get both, since they are both presenting similar information pretty well, but slightly differently, so I think reading both would result in a better overall understanding.




4. My most favorites PostgreSQL book and even can be used for the beginner to learn about the database design as well as some of the good SQL statements (I have learnt some of the SQL commands from this book for my PHP and MySql web application). The spoon-feeding style of explanation is very clear and lots of examples will help any beginner up and running in no time! I am waiting for the second edition and hopefully will be loaded with more JSP and servlet examples.



5. I think the index is weak.
   This is a good book if you can get your hands on it. I learned how to set up and use PostgreSQL, even though I was new to FreeBSD. I was able to build a very good web app based on PostgreSQL and PHP, because I learned how to write stored procedures, and triggers, and how to write out the database schema in a text file. I'd had no prior experience with using a database server.
   3 years after purchase, I still refer to this book. It's especially valuable for the server-side programming section, however, I've refered to it for the forms of the SELECTS, INSERTS, UPDATES, and subqueries. it's a very good book for database beginners. very good! 4.5 because of the weak index.
   
   If I lost this book, I would buy it again.