5 comments about Mastering SQLServer 2000.

1. I'm an ASP Developer. This book has let me down many times, I'm at the point now where if I have a question about SQL Server, I use online resources rather than wasting my time with this book.

   I suppose if I were a DBA I would enjoy the book more? Not Sure. With ASP and SQL Server both being Microsoft Products, coupled with the fact that the 2 often go hand in hand in complex projects, I wonder why they barely touched on how ASP relates to SQL Server.

   This book is certainly not aimed towards developers. Things like Views and Stored Procedures are not written very well at all which leaves me to look towards other resources and to leave this book collection on the shelf.

   I supposed I got this becasue the Mastering ASP 3 book is such a gem, a true art work of knowededge. Don't be fooled with this one!!




2. This is solely for the first review to balance things out a bit - the book is not Mastering ASP - you need Professional ASP 3.0 by Wrox Press for that. Review the book for how it handles the product for which it was written. I just bought the book today and will post a review when I'm done - but I wanted to clarify #1's problem.



3. Mastering SQL Server 2000 is one of the books that I see carried the most often onto a client site when doing SQL technical support. The text covers just about every aspect of SQL from a setup and administrative point of view as well as the basics of database theory. If you want a single general reference then this book works very well. On the other hand, if you want a detailed reference on programming SQL then there are better texts.

   The book covers the administration of an SQL Server in great detail including explaining why you would use a particular feature and why you may not want to use it in a different scenario. For setting up a system and managing it this book it hard to beat.

   Whether you are a new user, experienced user or an administrator, this book is hard to beat for theory, detailed information and administration of a Windows SQL Server 2000 system. Highly recommended read and required on any administrator's bookshelf.




4. This book covers heaps of basic and advanced practical techniques in Sql Server 2000. I have been benefiting a lot for my DBA job from this book. Strongly recommended!



5. As I've found to be true for most of the Mastering series of technical publications, the Mastering SQL Server 2000 was outstanding. Especially good for a technically adept IT professional looking for an introduction to the intracacies of SQL Server.

5 comments about Beginning SQL Server 2000 for Visual Basic Developers.

1. This is an excellent introduction to SQL Server 2000 for Visual Basic 6.0 developers. I used this book and Robert Vieira's Professional SQL Server 2000 Programming (Also by Wrox) to study for the Designing and Implementing Databases using Microsoft SQL Server 2000 exam (70-229). The 2 chapters on XML were especially good. Thearon does his best work when he works solo and this book is one of his best. I have his SQL Server 7 book and both books are well-written. I really like the "Hardware Tracking" tutorial that he follows for most of the book. This tutorial will also help with your Visual Basic skills. I have learned several new VB tricks just by following along. I hope that Thearon writes a Beginning SQL Server 2000 for Visual Basic.Net Developers.



2. I had to learn SQL programming with Visual Basic 6 in about a month's time for a project. This book taught me everything I needed to know to deliver the application. Everytime I came across a stumbling block in my code or in SQL Server 2000 I found the answer in this book.

   This book will make you feel that you not only know how to make Visual Basic talk to SQL Server, it will make you feel you know more than the basics of SQL Server itself. Previous to reading this book I had no idea what a stored procedure was, or how a query works in SQL Server (I had worked extensively with Microsoft Access, and these skills were not necessarily transferable to SQL Server, though many of the concepts are similar). Now I know my way around SQL Server 2000. This book fulfilled a dual purpose.

   There are chapters on Database design, SQL Server installation, SQL Server security, Querying, Stored Procedures, the SQL language, IIS, and XML. Most of the book is taken up with what developers do everyday: the storage and manipulation of data. Over 300 pages of the book is dedicated to data in general, and how to get the most out of it using VB and SQL Server.

   If you need to create a VB6 (there is no discussion of VB.NET since the book predates it) database application using SQL Server, this is the book to start with. Its bulk pays off.




3. It's very good Books with good Price and (Wrox Press)



4. OK for beginners who want to know some of the innards of SQL server, but there are two major faults. One is that newbies to networkable machines will find themselves crushed under the weight of networking and communications jargon that the author never explains, and Win98 machines can't handle half of the book. Second, the last third of the book for some 200 pages has nothing to do with VB: the samples are written entirely in XML, DHTML, and a mere snippet of VBScript. There are better VB tools for creating Web apps that can handle big datasets and ActiveX, whereas XML has enfuriatingly slow performance and an unattractive and inflexible interface that looks like something pounded out on a typewriter (remember those?). 5 stars for the first two-thirds, zilch for the remainder.



5. I have used this book and it has proven to be a highly resourceful Visual Basic and SQL Server book, that I am anxiously waiting for the release of Beginning VB.NET Databases by the same author!!!.

No comments about DB2 Explained for Sybase Professionals.

5 comments about Administrator's Guide to SQL Server 2005 (Microsoft Windows Server System Series).

1. The Administrator's Guide to SQL Server 2005 is a great reference for DBAs and System Administrators planning to implement and maintain SQL Server 2005. While the book is written for Administrators, database developers will benefit from it as well. For example, one of my day to day activities includes testing various SQL Server configurations before they are implemented into production environments that require near 100% uptime. The chapter covering high-availability provided thorough step by step instructions on how to set up database mirroring and replication. I was especially delighted to find instructions on how to create a production-like test environment using virtual machine technology at the end of the chapter. Each chapter is well written and loaded with good practical advice. I highly recommend this book!



2. A pet peeve i have w/ Microsoft books is they just mirror the help files. This admin guide is not much more than regurgitated help files. I was hoping for some useful examples, closer to real life problems & solutions. Not there. Plz use the help files in Books Online to look up topics THEN examine the same topic in this book at a local bookstore BEFORE buying it.



3. During reading the first 3 chapters. this book was very promising. The the author kept repeating himself "I will show you how to do this, to do that". But after the first 3 chapters, his writing becomes dull. Nothing useful to go on reading. Maybe He was rushing to publish this book or the style that he prepared to go into his writing just died out. Whatever reason, one thing I learned from this book is: What a SQL Server DBA is supposed to do on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. I read so many 5 stars books going into details about writing code to backup, restore, scheduling...etc. But those books forget one point: What a SQL Server DBA is supposed to do on a daily basis. Maybe it is not important for an experienced DBA but it may be important for other I.T guys who want to be DBA. That's why we read books for.
   After all if you are looking for a deep down details of T-SQL programming, Integration Services, Report Services...etc. Then this book is not for you. If you'd like to know what you are supposed to do as a DBA, this book may be helpful to you.



4. First, I'm not a DBA but I install, maintain, and use SQL Server 2005 in lab and workgroup settings.
   
   I found this book to work well as an advance organizer and a good source of advice for DBA tasks. I've use the book mainly for topic overviews and guidance on management issues. (I haven't read the reporting and BI chapters -- at least not yet.) I've found the checklists helpful and the script snippets very useful. Scripts, of course, are a great way to capture and document your actions and the book often takes this approach to tasks.
   
   Reviewers who mention the content of SQL Server 2005 books are right that the content is likely to be in Books On Line (BOL). However, I bought this book to organize and filter these topics for me. If you can get what you need from BOL as quickly and conveniently as you can with this book then use BOL. I can't, so I bought a copy.



5. Way too much, here's what I'm gonna tell you and not enough telling you. Also way too much background and theory instead of actually doing anything.

3 comments about The Rational Guide to Scripting SQL Server 2005 Integration Services Beta Preview (Rational Guides).

1. This is a small text with a no frills, practical style. Book starts with a good architecture overview but focuses on real-world examples for the remainder. Sample code and bonus sections are very helpful and its chocked with best practices/tips along the way.
   
   For DBA types unfamiliar with .NET this book is not a .NET tome but it does show you how to utilize .NET for more efficient SSIS development.
   
   Considering the cost it's an incredible value and after 1 day I've incorporated some of the books content into a project for my customer.
   
   The only down-side was the bonus content wasn't available on the publisher's site when I bought the book - but even that had a plus...I got a personal email from the publisher explaining the situation. Doesn't get much better than that.



2. I had high hope for this book because it was reasonably priced and I wanted to familiarize myself with SSIS. It turns out that this is more a book for folks who already know some things about SSIS. It still would have been useful to me except for the fact that most of the example code does not work. I even downloaded it from the publisher and it still doesn't work. Maybe the finished product is different from when the book was published but I couldn'd find any email address for the author and no way to report this problem.
   
   I guess what they say is true, you get what you pay for.



3. I bought this book to learn about scripting in SSIS, and found it very straight forward and comprehensive. It packs a lot in 190 pages, and after you register the book online, you will get extra chapters and code.
   I was expecting it to be very technical, but I found it easy to read, and enjoyable. The title does not do it justice. It has a great overview of SSIS as well as a detailed review scripting. Also, don't let the "Beta Preview" in the title throw you, it also applies to the official release of SQL Server 2005.
   I like the "Rational Guide" format, and I really like their site. I will be giving this book to not only my developers, but also to my team leads and project managers.

5 comments about MCAD/MCSE/MCDBA 70-229 Exam Cram 2: Designing & Implementing Databases w/SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (Exam Cram 2).

1. This book is a good, general introduction to the 70-229 exam concepts - but I had to couple it with the Transcender practice exam before I felt comfortable taking the exam. The exam topics are so broad that the book doesn't do enough to emphasize when to use what. It also skips some important topics (sp_cursoropen) and its practice tests include Full Text Searches which the book notes are unlikely to be on the exam. To the editors: A 'databases' index entry with three pages of sub-entries is redundant in a book about databases. I love the Exam Cram series, but this was the poorest book of the bunch.



2. A good review book explains all the topics in a consise fasion this book does explain the topics that well is a bit disorganized and has topics missing. There are better review books out the for SQL 2K



3. 
   I used this book as part of my revision portfolio. i found it a comprehensive reference in my revision for Exam 70-229. it is light on a couple of stuff ie: XML , estimating the size of a database and such. but all in all after reading it, i felt like i had a clear grasp of all the areas i needed to know about & prepare for , for the exam. Having that confidence helped in moving forward to the next phase ie: tackling past questions.
   
   what i liked about this book :
   - it lists the various objectives of the exam & there is a chapter for each Exam objective.
   - it is a comprehensive read at 321 pages.
   - there are exam questions after every chapter, Relating to that chapter
   - there is a CD with 50 questions set in an application that simulates the exam room scenario.
   - on the ExamCram2 site, a section features 64-100 additional questions & answers
   - Answers with explanations are provided with every question featured in the book.
   
   However, i also coupled my preparation with the following and when it came to crunch this is what made all the difference when taking the exam: u might want to check these out
   
   (and this is why i cant give the book alone all 5 points of credit)
   
   (1.) SQL Server 2000 Fast Answers ISBN: 1590595920
   value:( the only place i found anything on estimating the size of a database , (apart from BOL) and past question scenario explanations. besides that, this is also a very good reference for 70-229 & 70-228. -- Sack is a good SQL Server author
   (2.) SQL Tips & Techniques: ISBN:1931841454
   Value:(for matters SQL ie: using ROLLUP,CUBE , T-sql rules, cursors, triggers, sprocs, server security elements, the works. a magnificent reference. with plenty of examples-(very important).I cherish this author.
   (3.)Portable DBA SQL Server. ISBN:0072230169
   Value:(if u read this before the ExamCram2 book, you'll feel much more prepared for ExamCram2 and the past questions stage.it helped consolidate my knowledge and identify areas of weakness.
   
   However, if you have used other study aids or big 700page type Tombs, or feel resonably confident of your understanding, or have identified your areas of weakness & really just need a bit of practise for the exam, then this is what u should do instead.
   (Go on The fast track)
   (a.) Get a copy of Transcender certification for Exam 70-229 answer all 132 qestions and read the expanations where u go wrong.
   (b.) Get a copy of Testking Exam 70-229, anything from version 1.x up is good, answer all 107 or 238 questions on the various problem scenarios and study the explanations where u go wrong.
   (c.)visit braindumps dot com and get the latest exam 70-229 brain dump. answer all 107+ questions. understand the stuff & leave no stone unturned.
   
   schedule and sit the exam when you've finished with these various example scenario questions.u r ready.
   
   Ace the exam.
   
   listen, there are many other books that i referenced, but what i think is most important (after revising and knowing your stuff) is to pass the actual exam in 160minutes & 44 questions. you need to tackle question regarding problem scenarios in order to sharpen your wits about applying/selecting/choosing the right solution /tool or strategy within any given problem scenario. this is the crunch of it. do that ,and u pass.
   
   End of.
   
   oh, for those wondering, i took the exam just thursday last ie:(30th March 2006); scored 93% ie: 931. The pass mark is 700 ie: 70%.
   
   Good luck.
   
   cheers :-)



4. If you have several years experience with MS SQL 2000 you may be able to pass the 70-229 with this book only. A great way to measure your readiness is by taking the test that comes included in the CD. If you pass it with an 85 or above, I'll say you're ready. If you don't, this book should be enough to prepare you for the test.
   
   I also discovered that this book is a compressed regurgitation of the "MCSE SQL Server 2000 Database Design and Implementation Training Guide" (ISBN 0789729970) written by the same author a few years earlier. I definitely recommend the Exam Cram 2 instead of the one mentioned in this paragraph.
   
   One thing I found very interesting is that the questions in the CD are extremely similar to the ones in the actual test. It will definitely give you a good sense of what the test is going to be like. Make sure you pass 3 practice tests with 85 or above before you go and take the real test.
   
   Good luck!



5. I previously studied and aced the 70-228 exam and obtained a wealth of information from 'Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Unleashed' (ISBN 0672324679). It had enough information for both that exam and this exam. I've never used an Exam Cram book before and have to say I was disappointed. While it occasionally passed on some specific info, it was more like a guide that tells you a topic is important and that you should study it! If you want to learn and understand how/why you are to do something, this book doesn't cut it. If you want a guide to give you a few quick facts and then tells you to study other materials, then this guide is fine. I was expecting something along the lines of a concise listing of what you needed to know without delving into non-exam topics (which was fine by me after reading the exhausting 1500 book I mentioned above); but, this is anything but concise.

3 comments about Guide to Sybase and SQL Server.

1. Excellent reference guide to keep at work.



2. I picked this book up at the U of Wisc book store where they were using it as a text book. It has good examples, problems and answers! I have recommended this book to some new administrators and we all have this on stand by. It is dated as it is for Sybase 10, but it is a great way to lear sql in Sybase. The advance topics are to glossed over for serious admin work, I use the survial guides for that.



3. Good one for reference as well as to understand basics of Sybase.

1 comments about MCITP Administrator: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Optimization and Maintenance (Exam 70-444) Study Guide.

1. This was the book I used to study for my last test for my MCITP certification. I used the Sybex books to study and along with the 70-443 book this book covered about 60% of the test. The book only covered the very basic and should have been more in depth for SSIS and Reporting Services.
   
   Do yourself a favor and study more than just this book if you are going for your certification.

3 comments about The Rational Guide to SQL Server 2005 Express: Beta Preview (Rational Guides) (Rational Guides).

1. SQL Server Express 2005 has changed the rules about databases. To be sure it is a more limited version than the full blown SQL Server versions but FREE is such a nice price. The real limitations of 'Express' are: supports only one CPU, supports only 1 GB of memory, supports a database of only 4 GB. To be sure, there are a few features that would be nice to have (such as notification services), but you have to consider just how much more that would be worth.
   
   At this time only preliminary releases of the software are available, and that's what this book covers. If you were thinking of using MySQL or PostGre SQL on your next project, you might want to consider this instead.
   
   This book is a fairly general overview of the Express system, how to install it, what it contains, things like that. Transact-SQL, the programming language for SQL Server is only given about eight pages. Transact SQL is a big time SQL. You'll want a big book on that alone. This book is inexpensive and gives you a good introduction to what Microsoft is doing. It'll well worth the few dollars it costs.



2. The Express Edition of SQL Server 2005 contains much of the functionality of all editions of SQL Server 2005, with a few limitations (like a maximum of 1 processor!), and some enhanced functionality for letting you redistribute single user applications using it as the data storage. Best of all, it is absolutely free. The only confusion, where to get started? This book is that place.
   
   This book is quite good for what it is, an introduction to many of the features of SQL Server 2005 with an emphasis on typical Express usage. There are 18 chapters in this fairly short book, covering everything from Administration to T-SQL to Triggers to using the ADO.net and Visual Studio 2005 with this product. If you have never used SQL Server, it is a great introduction to SQL Server, and a great jumping off point for reading Microsoft's Books Online for more information. Books Online is a fantastic resource, but it can be daunting for the newbie developer just trying to figure out how to store some data in a database.
   
   This is not to say that the book is only for people who have limited knowledge of base SQL Server features, though that is clearly where the book shines. If you are seasoned with SQL Server 2005 already, but have limited Express experience you will still get a leg up on the additional features if you are planning on doing any development with Express. You will probably see a few of the core 2005 features that you haven't yet mastered (I know I did!)
   
   As a warning, it is clearly marked a preview book, so be prepared that some material may change slightly over time. When you register your book (in my opinion a cool feature with Mann Publishing books) you get two additional chapters that will help complete the picture of how to use Express Edition in a single user mode.



3. Ok so it is not the most in depth look but at around 200 pages it was never going to be. It is a good , light taster of SQL Server Express. It took me 2 days to read and was worthwhile.

5 comments about Unlocking OLAP With SQL Server 7 and Excel 2000.

1. This book presents a fast and simple way to get familiar with SQL 7 OLAP tools and concepts. There are few details here, but you will be presented with an almost complete picture of the products capabilities. Data warehousing concepts are covered, but again, no detail. Regardless, this book is easy to read, well organized, and the sample data and examples are excellent.



2. Hi, I am Irish. Unlike our friend from the 38th parallel, I can write in English very easily and I'm quite adept at that thar American lingo as well. Therefore, I read this book in a week during me mornin' Guiness at the pub and it gave me the review on OLAP I was looking for. This is definitely a book for beginners and advanced developers as well and quite surprisingly me British bloks were able to read it in two weeks so it must be written well.



3. This is definately a beginner book, and as a beginner book it probably deserves 5 stars. This book touches on many database topics, MS SQL server setup from scratch, ODBC connection with Windows, Windows security, structuring your data in the database, basic SQL syntax, etc.

   Unfortuneately, I was expecting more on OLAP and less about MS SQL server. The information specific to MS Excel and OLAP could be a simple 20 page read from the Excel 2000 help manuals or technet.

   As a beginner book, this is excellent because it gives you step-by-step instructions to set up the examples; however, if you are looking for more detailed analysis or understanding of OLAP, you may want to find a different, more advance book.




4. This is definately a beginner book, and as a beginner book it probably deserves 5 stars. This book touches on many database topics, MS SQL server setup from scratch, ODBC connection with Windows, Windows security, structuring your data in the database, basic SQL syntax, etc.

   Unfortuneately, I was expecting more on OLAP and less about MS SQL server. The information specific to MS Excel and OLAP could be a simple 20 page read from the Excel 2000 help manuals or technet.

   As a beginner book, this is excellent because it gives you step-by-step instructions to set up the examples; however, if you are looking for more detailed analysis or understanding of OLAP, you may want to find a different, more advance book.




5. When I first got this book, I was thrilled with it. After all, opening up OLAP with Excel 2000 is a pretty neat trick. Now, I have seen how bad this idea can be for Internet applications, and the honeymoon is over.
   Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad book. Just because I do not find the book useful for the types of applications I work with does not make it bad. The three stars signifies that it is average, which is exactly what this book is.
   In this plus column, this book gives you a nice introduction to OLAP. While not technical deep, the chapters on setting up your cubes will take you a long way into the world of OLAP. If you are interested in using Excel as your reporting front-end, you will find plenty of screenshots to help you through every step in the process.
   On the downside, the book seems to rely a lot on screenshots and some of the written material is a bit thin. Understanding the purpose of the book, the thin parts are not so glaring.
   Of course, the material is a bit old now, considering that both Excel and SQL Server have moved on to the next version. However, if you plan on using OLAP in SQL Server 7, consider putting this book on your wish list, as it has a lot of good content. I say this esp. if you have not worked with OLAP before.