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 Oracle SQL: the Essential Reference.

1. I have to disagree with the other reviewers and say that this book is overrated. It's one of those books where it's often hard to find the information and you end up looking elsewhere.

   To start off with, the index is not the greatest. Try looking up "ORDER BY". It's only mentioned in the index as one item in an EXPLAIN PLAN command. In general, I found the examples they use to be only bare bones examples. It would be nice to see some more complex SQL.

   On the plus side, the book seems fairly free of errors and a lot of information is packed into the pages. There's not a whole lot of writing but you shouldn't be expecting that given that it's an "essential reference".

   This isn't a bad book per se. However, it's been on my desk for nearly a year and I just don't find myself using it much.




2. I was a programmer/analyst having used SQL and Oracle for some time, who was very much interested in adding a good SQL text to my IT reference library. My primary SQL reference at that time was the "Oracle Complete Reference" from Oracle Press. I had excellent success with O'reilly Oracle books in the past and thus purchased Oracle SQL.
   I cant believe some of the basic SQL concepts that are omitted from this book!! The concept of a table alias, the Oracle DUAL table, SQL statements that accept a single value vs a list - not even mentioned in this book!! An entire text book on the single subject of SQL should be thorough! By thorough I mean cover in good detail the introductory concepts as well as the advanced.
   O'reilly has excellent books published on the subjects of PL/SQL and SQL*Plus. Why does this author skimp on SQL concepts and waste chapters on these subjects that I'm not interested in!!! I usually find the O'reilly books preferable to the one's from Oracle Press. Not in the case of SQL!



3. I have found this book to be an invaluable reference to SQL, PL/SQL, and SQL*Plus syntax and usage. The previous review by Kevin McCormick seems to entirely miss the point of an Essential Reference - it is not intended to teach SQL concepts, and the introduction clearly states this. The book is well organized with exactly the information needed to write a particular statement. The examples are simple and to the point - I don't need a complex example; just something to show me what the statement should look like (for example, to show me that an argument should be a string and not a number). I bought two copies: one for the office and one for home. The book is as close to indispensible as you can get. I only hope the author is planning an update to Oracle 9!



4. This book gives a great overview of Oracle's flavor of SQL, and if you already know some other brand's SQL, you'll breeze right through, and have a very good idea of what's new and different in Oracle. You'll be able to sit right down and get to work.

   (If, on the other hand, you're a SQL beginner, stop right here. This is not a book for SQL newbies. There is not a chapter with 100 examples of different types of SELECT statements, for example. It is not a tutorial!)

   Each chapter covers a different area. For example, chapter 5 is about "SQL Functions". It goes through all the functions, giving you the syntax, a paragraph saying what it does, and then an actual example. Many of the examples are pretty trivial, just a couple of lines, but the ones in the PL/SQL chapter have some meaningful code to illustrate things like the LOOP statement, which is nice.

   But. When you come back after the weekend and want to look something up, you'll be banging your head against the wall, because the index on this thing is sorely lacking. Just now I spent ten minutes trying to look up %TYPE, and had to leaf through the book before finding it on page 266. Very annoying. O'Reilly should know better: an "essential" part of any "reference" book is a kick-ass index.

   I give it five stars for content and one star for lack of meaningful index, for an overall rating of three stars. Maybe in the next release they'll get it right. (Speaking of which: this book is (c)2000 and covers up to Oracle 8i.)




5. likes:
   pretty complete on sql statements and functions
   
   dislikes:
   why organize it into "data definition" and "data manipulation" sections? Why not just put all the statements in one alphabetically organized section?
   
   missing section on operator precedence (at least, accding to the index. maybe it's in there somewhere)

5 comments about SQL Server Developer's Guide to OLAP with Analysis Services.

1. This is a fairly good book for some one starting to use Analysis services. If you are a professional and are looking for a reference source then this is not for you. But if you just want something to help you get started... this is a simplified introduction with few useful insights.



2. Its a good book to get introduced to analysis services. It teaches everything that you need to know to get going. The sample code in Visual basic is a real add-on..Recommended highly



3. Microsoft's Analysis Services brings Data Mining and OLAP to the masses. One of the hardest challenges was finding an authoritative guide - this book does an excellent job to rectify the challenge.

   Microsoft's Analysis Services makes business intelligence extremely easy to undertake and perform; without a high investment cost. Often OLAP/Data Mining has been made to seem more complicate than necessary. Until recently, the cost of installing an OLAP solution could run into thousands per seat - plus the presence of the prerequisite consultant from the vendor being onsite for many months.

   Analysis Services demystifies data analytics in a manner that the Rosetta Stone demystified hieroglyphs. And this book makes it very simple to understand Microsoft's Analysis Services.

   To gain the most from this book, readers should generally already have an understanding of what OLAP, Data Mining, Data Warehousing are. Although this is not compulsory, it helps.

   For those already familiar with OLAP, ROLAP, Clustering etc; this book will be a very gentle and pleasant read. It will enable you to almost immediately get cracking with Microsoft's Analysis Services.




4. I liked the book, but when I went to load the sample software called Proclarity, I got a message from Norton anti-virus that something was afoul in the install routine. Foolishly, I thought that Norton must be wrong. It turns out, I was wrong and the CD apparently had a virus or did something it shouldn't have done.

   Immediately after rebooting, my desktop disappeared after opening my first application. The mouse isn't working right either.

   So, the book is good. But don't load the sample software from Proclarity. Regarding the rest of the CD, I have not loaded it all, so I can't speak for whether it has any other viruses/problems. Just make sure you have your anti-virus software running. BTW, I'm running XP Pro.




5. This book might not be an exaustive reference, but seems to cover everything you need to know - and that's what counts. It also does so in a readable way.

No comments about Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Unleashed.

2 comments about Access and SQL Server Developer's Handbook.

1. Simple enough for the astute beginner and complete enough for the experienced user.



2. The book is in excellent condition, much more than you can expect from buying used books, unbelievable give-away price, excellent package and shipping. I am very happy about it.

5 comments about Oracle Database Administration: The Essential Refe.

1. I really didn't like this book in the beginning. Why? Most of the time I'm using an on-line documentation for quick reference and original Oracle documentation set for studying material larger than a few pages. In the old days (do you remember Oracle Book ? ;-) this kind of reference guide would be a rescue for any DBA. Now days?Perhaps... The organization of the book is quite good, index is excellent and some chapters are more than just reference on the subject. When I'm not working on the site where I can easily reach on-line documentation or paper manuals then this book goes with me. One drawback at the time of writing this review is that this edition doesn't cover Oracle8i so you should at least wait for the second edition.



2. This book serves it purpose very well. As the title says, it is an essential reference, and that is exactly what I use it for.

   As some other reviewers point out, there is a lot of copy-and-paste work in it. But I think that is not a problem.

   In fact, very often it is much practical than navigating the bulk of on-line books, when you have to wait for the browser to load, search for a word or topic, or even when there's no computer at hand. Not to mention I can carry it around in my bag when necessary.

   I especially would like to emphasize the coverage of SQL commands, init.ora parameters, data dictionary views and utilities.

   Although I agree there are some inconsistent topics in this book and some mistakes as well, I think the people who complain about it either expected something very different or did not understand how useful it can be.




3. Can't understand why someone gives it 5*, ... worse than handbook and document came together with cd.

   I have this book at my hand, it used only 130 pages (p1-p130) to cover all OCP test contents except SQL. unbelieveable....




4. This is an excellent reference book. I am an experienced Oracle DBA and I use it as a quick reference. The topics are well organized and to the point. David Kreines and Brian Laskey have done an excellent job.



5. I've worked on Oracle before, but I certainly wished I had this handy
   book back then. It helped that I had an Oracle project to work on so I
   could apply what I read. It was also helpful using the book as a
   reference to troubleshoot during my project.

   Assuming the reader has a solid understanding of database principles,
   this text is a great tool to have handy in your shop. The focus of the
   book is squarely on Oracle 7 and 8. Those looking for help with 8i and
   above need to look elsewhere.

   The book is a great companion to Oracle's Metalink site and is not
   intended on replacing any existing references. Any Oracle
   troubleshooting should start with this companion to get a general
   understanding of the issue with followup requiring other resources. In
   terms of troubleshooting, I doubt many will find solutions in this text,
   however it will provide some background and insight into most issues.

   The text is written in a concise manner and does a good job in
   explaining the many Oracle tools without being too wordy. An area I
   found sorely lacking was the installation chapter which glossed over
   options and made assumptions that did not always apply to real-world
   situations. However to be fair, an accurate coverage of Oracle
   installations and all the pitfalls would probably take several books.

   The first part of the book serves it's purpose in getting anyone with
   some DBA knowledge up and running on Oracle. Practice is vital to
   understanding the concepts explained in this section. I highly
   recommend executing the queries and peeking into the INIT.ORA files when
   necessary or else most of the concepts will escape you.

   The second part of the book consists of DBA Reference chapters.
   Particularly valuable is the SQL syntax and Oracle Data Dictionary
   chapters. Again, very concise and does a good job of explaining the
   subject without being confusing.

   All in all, a useful book to have around, especially for those
   supporting older Oracle installations. Relies heavily on other
   resources, although it does help in navigating the Oracle course.

   --------------------- ...

1 comments about Teach Tourself PHP With MYSOL (Teach Yourself).

1. A fantastic little book, written with style and humour, that introduces PHP and mySQL with enough detail to get a good grounding. Recommended.

5 comments about Mastering Oracle SQL and SQL*Plus.

1. This book gets you started as a beginner and takes you all the way to becoming an intermediate SQL expert. Even those who think they know SQL can learn a lot from the book. Lex de Haan is a rare bird: he is both a very good teacher AND a consummate SQL savvy seasoned by industry practice. Lex knows what errors people make and he sets all the traps, to pick you out after you've fallen into them.
   And it's up to date with the latest Oracle stuff, without drowning in hype.
   The smart exercises and answers make this book ideal for teachers. I've had loads of university students work with the Dutch version, and I've been sorry for the lack of an English equivalent. But here it is at last!



2. The main reason I love this book is because I can use it to teach someone, at any level, Oracle SQL or SQL*Plus by just pointing to sections and pages as examples. There are comprehensive query examples with Oracle and ANSI/ISO (SQL:2003) syntax, including specific Oracle limitations.
   
   The details on SQL*Plus are excellent and even experts can learn quite a few essential tips. At many points reading the book I was provoked into testing further details on my own, because the approach is clear and helpful and it motivated me to think. A complete and accurate book including theory, syntax, examples, references and gotchas (caution and notes). It also includes 10g Oracle query features.
   
   Great book. My copy gets used at work a lot. :-)



3. The book presupposes no prior knowledge of Oracle SQL, or indeed of any SQL. de Haan writes for someone willing to study alone from this text, without benefit of the classroom.
   
   Ah, but before I go further, I should add that there is one very attractive feature. The book has a CD with Oracle 10g for Microsoft Windows, and an associated Developer's License. You will need to install it to handle the many exercises he poses. (Another plus of the book.) But one can easily imagine an experienced developer getting the book for the CD alone.
   
   Now if you do need to learn Oracle SQL, de Haan proceeds at a careful pace. He gives you the syntax in understandable chunks; not too much to overwhelm. SQL syntax diagrams can be formidable in their full glory. But piece by piece, you should be able to assimilate the content.
   
   de Haan has also tried to keep to standard SQL syntax, as much as possible. At the level of an expected reader of the book, this is probably best. Oracle specific variants (just like other vendors' variants) tend to arise in more advanced contexts.



4. Hi
   
   Having read 100's of reviews on SQL*Plus books I finally decided on this book. I felt that I had to give feedback as this book is not as good as the other reviews make it to be. I was looking for a book that specifically contained info on SQL*Plus syntax and a bit of SQL.
   I was full of expectations, but ended up being very disappointed. The books does cover SQL and it does cover SQL*Plus, but it never goes into any real depth on either topics. I love real world examples that I can actually refer back to and use on the job. Unfortunately this is not one of those books. If you are not an absolute beginner and can already do a fair bit of SQL/SQL*Plus then this book is not for you.



5. What a pleasure to pick up a computer book and finish it.
   I was completely new to SQL and was looking for a book that would get me started, this was it.
   What impressed me more was when I came upon an obstacle the response I received from the author was quick and informative.
   
   Many thanks Lex

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.

2 comments about Linux Web Server CD Bookshelf, Version 2.0.

1. Just as the Web Programmers CD bookshelf that I had the opportunity to read, the searching abilities of the cd bookshelves are excellent. Being able to search a certain topic across 6 books at once makes searching for quick answers easily accomplished. Being able to buy 6 books on a single cd also helps to save money while at the same time helps to build your own library of in depth books. The combination of books included in the Linux web server cd bookshelf has enough detailed information to help teach you the ins and outs of running an Apache web server on a Linux platform. Also the Programming PHP and the Managing & Using MySQL books should help you make full use of your Linux web server and understand the flexibility of what can be done.

   The bonus paperback version of Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition, was a nice addition to the 6 book cd bookshelf. I found it useful for when I wasn't around a computer and felt like reading. The Linux in a Nutshell book gives a good summarized rundown of the entire Linux operating system. Included in the summary is about 464 pages of Linux commands which are great for quickly checking a description or options of a certain command. Also, a basic rundown on system administration, boot methods, package managers, shells with a nice section on bash, editors, cvs, and more. At the end of the book is where xwindows and desktop environments such as Gnome, KDE, and fvwm2 are covered. The Linux in a Nutshell book basically is exactly what it says, the Linux operating system summarized and crunched into about 930 pages.

   Throughout all of the books I did however notice that the references are made mainly on the 2.4.x kernel along with mentions of 2.2.x and 2.0.x kernels and the 2.5.45 development kernel. Now that the 2.6.x kernel is out, I would love to see how much O'Reilly goes into discussion about it, possibly in the next editions of these books.

   I'm not sure If these books would be great for learning from the very beginning on, but they do give plenty of information about the different parts that make up a Linux web server. The books are great sources of info to help you get a Linux based web server up and active, but could be better in the teaching area.




2. The Linux Web Server CD Bookshelf is an excellent valued reference tool for programmers wanting to develop software in an open source web environment. Not only does it contain the full text for six of O'Reilly's best sellers on open source web development, a search engine for each book, and a master index, but also it has a number of relevant articles that have posted to the O'Reilly Network. It has a easy to read web-browser interface.
   The coverage of the topics in this CD library is simple enough to get a newcomer's feet wet in open-source development and keep him up and running, as well as in depth enough to be an asset to the experienced developer who need a easy reference tool.