5 comments about Programming Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

1. This book is clearly written and I feel it does a good job of covering the major new features of SQL Server 2005 well enough so you can get up to speed quickly and save enough time versus puzzling things out using just the online materials that come with SQL Server 2005 to easily justify the purchase price and reading time. A number of people with expertise in various aspects of SQL Server collaborated on this book, and the value of the information in each area reflects the depth of expertise.
   
   The book is thick, but it's not bloat -- there is just a heck of a lot of stuff to cover in SQL Server 2005. If anything, I'd be happy to buy the book again if another edition comes out with 300 more pages full of more details and more complex examples in several areas. In the mean time, there is plenty to get one going and fill out specific details with the online doco and the 'net.
   
   I think this book is too advanced for programmers who aren't already up to speed with .NET and relational database server programming. For those of us for which MS SQL 2005 is mostly just another iteration of good ol' Squirrel Server (albeit a big whopping upgrade architecturally and feature-wise), and who've already moved to C# + VS 2005 + .NET 2.0, this is the best book I've found so far.
   
   I addition to covering the new features of SQL Server 2005, this book also provides deeper coverage of several advanced relational database techniques than just the enhancements specific to the 2005 edition of SQL Server. OLAP and XML operations being prime examples. I think the authors made a good choice by providing more than just an overview of the 2005 enhancements as without the broader coverage, presentation of the enhancements themselves wouldn't have made much sense to me.
   
   I also think the book is pretty well organized so you don't have to waste time hunting down what you need. I do warn you however, that you may have to read some parts of the book first before plunging into the specific topic you need first. It's not a fault: SQL Server 2005 includes the CLR, and much of the rest of the book sensibly uses C# on the SQL Server CLR examples, so you kinda have to get up to speed programming in the SQL server CLR first, don't you?



2. I've had this book for a little over a week, looking for time to give it some proper due. Now I only wished I had delved into it right away. Or gotten it sooner. It's now moved to the front of the line as my favorite reference book.
   
   Clearly written and organized, it took me all of 15 minutes to follow a new concept (to me). It was logical, building upon itself and fully explained what was going on, and HOW it works too. It's been my experience in the past that developer books fall into one of two categories: Tutorial and Reference. This is the first one that I have seen sucessfully split the two and combine the best of both. The author right up front explains what the book does and does not cover.
   
   This book isn't for DBAs or people who want to know how to use SQL Server 2005. The book is for developers who want to know how to use the new features of SQLServer 2005, and how to use them in .NET 2.0.
   
   I'm not sure how I've gone so long with out this book. Just in the last hour, it's been a life savor. I'm learning about capabilities that I'd never seen documented anywhere else.



3. From the beginning, this text illustrated an overview of the SQL CLR with a sufficient amount of detail so that someone just starting to learn SQL could understand it, but also a developer familiar with this topic would benefit from this review. Debugging was covered extensively in Chapter 9. I was impressed with all of the scenerios that were brought to light for debugging SQL Server code. I especially liked Chapter 7 on Security. The chapter started off slow to make sure the reader understood the four themes of SQL Server 2005 security, and then went on to explain encryption support and protecting SQL 2005 with great examples. I would definitely recommend this book to any developer interested in learning about new features in SQL Server 2005. I found it to be extremely well-written, interesting, and helpful!



4. This is your typical intro book, good for a tour through the highlights. But it is not a reference book, and because it covers so many topics it can spend very little time on any one subject. You will find all the material at the MS web site. You will still need to find more thorough reference material in order to be successful.



5. The whole first part of this book is just filler. It is a long walkthrough of the features found in SSMSE.
   
   The very first code examples don't work specifically the smo backup code... and the code examples aren't teaching proper coding techniques. The writers of this book need to take a course on Microsoft's Design Guidelines.
   
   This book is teaching bad programming habits, the code is incorrect, and the book is stuffed with filler.

5 comments about Data Analysis Using SQL and Excel.

1. Unlike textbooks related to stats and data analysis, this practical, "easy to read" book actually bridges the gap between theory and practice. The reader will understand both the "how" and "why" behind common approaches to data analysis. Best of all, the book targets a general audience and avoids intimidating language and notations. The author tackles the most common statistical concepts with colorful vinets. In fact, the explanations behind such ideas as "degrees of freedom" and "chi-square" are the clearest that I have ever seen in any reference or textbook.
   
   Bototm line: whether you are a seasoned expert or novice, this is an invaluable, practical guide that will provide quick answers for anyone needing to analyze data using Excel.



2. Utilizing data to drive results is critical to the success of any organization. Many know this to be true, but don't know how to go about it. "Data Analysis Using SQL and Excel" by Gordon Linoff successfully shows the way using a holistic approach of "data - analysis - presentation". Its success is based on a number attributes including....
   
   1. Wide Audience: Different groups of people are addressed. Management and leadership will see what is possible with great examples (e.g. "Three Scenarios" on pg 333). "Doers" (e.g. analysts) get a clear view of the big picture along with the ever so important how-to aspects (which is often not included in other texts).
   
   2. Popular Tools: As the title states, this book utilizes Microsoft Excel and SQL. Not only are these tools often readily available, but many people are familiar with at least one of these, if not both. This familiarity enables the reader to focus more on learning useful approaches than the tools themselves.
   
   3. Methods: A host of useful methods are covered from Survival Analysis to the more traditional like RFM. All, especially those related to statistics, are explained well - simple but not so simple as to be inaccurate or incomplete.
   
   In my opinion, "Data Analysis Using SQL and Excel" is invaluable to those who want to get the most out of their organization's data.



3. Wow - if you need a book that: 1. describes basic data analysis and statistical concepts in an easy to understand but thorough way. 2. uses real world business examples that you run into every day. 3. gives you the recipes of how to implement them in your business with real world computer tools like SQL and Excel. 4. and is written by a proven authority in the field (4 books and two decades of consulting). Then this is your book.
   
   But why should you believe me? Just a little on my background. I wrote two books on databases and data analysis for McGraw-Hill: "Building Data Mining Applications for CRM" and "Data Warehousing, Data Mining and OLAP" and have led teams that have built data mining engines for super computers that later became Oracle's data mining engine, as well as implementing sophisticated data mining applictions (CART) in SQL and integrated between a relational and OALP database. Though I don't get to do a lot of 'data mining' in my current business I would definitely find this book very useful if I did.
   
   Anyway, I thought this book was tremendously thorough in providing common sense explanations on everything from the Null Hypothesis to the Monty Hall Paradox (very cool). Buy this book if you want a single reference that will allow you to quickly solve real world business problems in a rational and doable way.



4. If you work, like me, on data warehousing, data mining, analytical CRM or similar projects, this book will save you a lot of time, and provide you with a lot of inspiration.
   Statistical concepts are clearly explained, and examples with very smart SQL queries and Excel sheets are shown.
   For instance, no other book will explain you so clearly Survival Analysis, and how to practically implement it (I mean, with working code!).
   As a previous reviewer wrote, why should you believe me? I'm one of the authors of another Wiley book, "MDX Solutions", and I earn my living by consulting with DaisyLabs, a Business Intelligence company.
   Keep Gordon's book on SQL, and my book on MDX, on your desk, and no data analysis project will scare you anymore!



5. "Data Analysis Using SQL and Excel" is an valuable resource for business intelligence and data mining practitioners in all industries. Having said that, I would like to offer some solid practical advice to potential readers that might not be fluent in statistics or data mining.
   
   First, the reader should have a solid understanding of SQL. If the extent of your SQL interaction comes through a program on the level of Access, then you can still benefit from this book, but you will have to apply yourself more than others. Keep in mind, that proprietary releases of SQL might cause problems in directly translating the author's examples.
   
   Second, if your statistics knowledge is a little rusty, have a secondary resource on-hand. Sometimes the definitions or explanations of the statistical concepts may not be as intuitive for some readers as they are for others.
   
   With those caveats in mind, the reader need only to keep his or her patience and work through the concepts of the first 4-5 chapters. These chapters tend toward simple exposition of the concepts. For those with little patience, it may seem as if it is just a laundry list of concepts with little effort to tie those concepts into practical uses. Thinking like this is a great way to miss the enormous benefits of the book!
   
   For me, the "Ah Ha!" moment came in Chapter 6 and 7. The concepts I had worked on in the previous chapters suddenly came together with customer tenure onward, when the techniques use will call to mind everything learned in the previous chapters.
   
   In short, spend plenty of time in the first few chapters - the extra effort to master those concepts will only enhance the benefits of later chapters.
   
   Lastly, there are a few odd differences between the text and the files downloadable from the web site. Whenever I hit a snag based on the text, opening the accompanying Excel files and seeing the formulas, queries or table/graph structures resolved all issues for me.
   
   This is a text that will always have a place on my shelves.

5 comments about Hands-On Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Integration Services.

1. The title for this book is true, it is Hands-On. Some books just rehash the SQL Books Online but this one provides tons of hands on excercises. Here are just a few.
   Importing a Flat File into SQL Server 2005
   Using System Variables to Create Custom Logs
   Using Expressions to Update Properties at Run-time
   Contacting Opportunities (Includes steps necessary for enabling SMTP from a package)
   Removing Duplicate Email Addresses
   Consolidating Workflow Packages
   Reading the Application Log
   Managing Storage of Integration Services Package
   Using dtutil
   Running an SSIS Package Using the Package Execution Utility
   Understanding Package Protection Levels
   
   Beyond the Hands On Exercises the book also is based around a database other than the standard Northwind, pubs or AdventureWorks databases for a little variety. Finally the book covers deployment of your Integration Services Packages and also how to migrate from SQL Server 2000 Data Transformation Services.



2. Hi All,
   
   I bought this book because i need to implement my project in SSIS.This book is good for on Job reference , for Beginners and For who has exposure to DTS 2000.I learned and implemented my projected with no time.I recommend this book for those who want to Know about SSIS Quickly.
   
   Thanks,
   Madhu



3. This book is a good one. It brings a new SSIS user to speed quickly. The author has done a good job.



4. This book helped me get started with SSIS...figure out some basic stuff. But it left me hanging on the details, best practices, integration with applications, etc. It basically walks you through building a bunch of thin-functionality examples of the various components.
   
   If the book re-described itself as a getting-started book, I'd give it high praise and more stars...but the phrases "in depth", "learn to maximize", "extensive", etc, should have been omitted from the book description.



5. There is no question that the title should clearly indicate that this is a book for those new to SSIS. (And considering SSIS is such a quantum leap from DTS, there are MANY folks at that stage).
   
   However, the book deserves 4-5 stars for what it provides. Giving the book 1-star, because of the title, detracts from the true value of the book. There aren't many books that contain full hands-on exercises. If someone is fairly new to SSIS, THIS is the book to get.
   
   This is the closest I've seen to an exercise-driven training manual, in commercial trade paperback form. There are a series of 8-10 page walk-throughs on such topics as aggregation, processing dupes, loading SCDs, pivoting source data, ADO enumerators, etc.
   
   In my opinion, the entire Database Professional Series from Osborn McGraw Hill is very strong.
   
   If someone already knows the fundamentals of SSIS and wants to go to the next level, get the Wrox Expert SSIS book.
   
   Kevin

4 comments about Beginning PL/SQL: From Novice to Professional (Beginning from Novice to Professional).

1. As a Information Technology professional with little expertise in PL/SQL I bought this book as a replacement for a PL/SQL training course. It has taught me much and is a very good reference. I feel confident about attending the future Oracle training courses without having attended the pre-requisite PL/SQL training course after reading the contents in this book. I can see that the information in this book will still be useful for years to come as it covers fundamental information. I recommended ut as it lays a good foundation. It is not one of those books that states the obvious or is so simple that you to wonder why you purchased it (and we have all done that before, haven't we).



2. The author did an excellent job covering novice PL/SQL concepts and building those concepts into more advanced topics such as information modeling and object orientation. Each chapter is filled with easy to follow, step-by-step coding examples. Each chapters also contains exercises where you create and execute code. I found this most useful. There is no better way to learn than actually doing it yourself.
   
   One thing that impressed me is how the author stressed the importance of testing code during the application development process. An entire chapter is dedicated to application code testing and documentation and rightfully so. Every PL/SQL programmer should own a copy of this book!



3. A friendly and well-written book recommended for anyone ready to learn PL/SQL. This Beggining PL/SQL well-written and well-organized introduction to the PL/SQL programming language. It uses a careful, example-based, easy to understand approach.
   Thank you



4. As an Oracle developer for over 10 years, I have read many Oracle books on a variety of topics, and this book is definitely one of those that stands heads above the others. As the title suggests, Beginning PL/SQL: From Novice to Professional covers a range of PL/SQL topics, both foundational and advanced. From the fundamentals such as triggers, procedures, packages, the book moves into the more advanced operations of Bulk Collection, Objects and even one of the more neglected but no less important areas in PL/SQL, unit testing. The topics in this book are delivered to the reader from a professional point of view in that all examples of the PL/SQL in the book are approached and designed as quality, production ready code. Topics such as design patterns, best practices and even some of the more insidious Oracle "gotchas" are discussed in this book, making it a wealth of information available to both the new as well as seasoned developer looking to update their PL/SQL knowledge. As a final bonus, this book packs all of this pertinent information in an refreshingly compact size with a breezy, fresh writing style. As one who has many a weighty computer tome where maybe 50% of the book has pertinent information and the rest is fluff, finding books where the fluff is removed are books to be treasured. If you are a PL/SQL developer of any level, beginner or veteran, this book is definitely one that should be turned to for information.

5 comments about MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-445): Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

1. Very good training kit. One minus -- there are just a few Quick Check questions and answers at the end of each chapter. It would be better to have say 20 questions per each chapter for evaluation.



2. GREAT REFERENCE GUIDE FOR THE SQL SERVER 2005 (EXAM 70-445). I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND GAINING KNOWLEDGE ON THE BACKROUND OF THE SYSTEMS USED IN THIS STUDY GUIDE. EXTREMELY DETAILED AND CORRECT IN EVERY ASPECT THAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR.



3. The book is good source for starting up in BI SQL Server but perhaps not enough to pass exam. I gave exam last week after only preparing this book , didn't pass .. the questions were so different from the one given with book practice test and also advanced knowledge was required . I think its good idea to use one of the practice test i.e SelfTest etc and learn online whats left off.



4. This book has not been properly edited to ensure that all instructions are correct. The book consistently references the wrong items (db names) or asks the reader to perform a step that can't be completed because an item does not exist. EXAMPLE: pg 303, Ex.1 Step 7. There is no 'subcategory' field in the 'dscategory' dataset. I think this error is becauase pg 294, steps 12 & 16 have the names reversed. These authors stink.



5. Very good introduction in MS SQL Server 2005 BI. Although indeed sometimes errors in the textual instructions, the delivered projects on CD are correct and clear. Clear theoretical explanations. Textual errors are also easy to pass by with a little effort and a bit 'trial-and-error' yourself. Also valuable T-SQL examples worked out in the lessons.
   This books combines the three BI-areas of interest (SSRS, SSAS, and SSIS) in one book and is aiming at the preparation for the 70-445 exam. Attractive book and lay-outs conventions. It really invites you to read.

4 comments about Professional SQL Server 2005 Administration (Wrox Professional Guides).

1. SQL Server is a major big-time database. It has numerous features with settings that can dramatically alter its performance. It can also be expanded to handle exceedly large databases with multiple servers handling a great many dips into the database updating, adding, selecting out data. There are also multiple editions of SQL Server to handle clustering, high availability and so on.
   
   This book covers all of these and more. It begins with the architecture, goes on to installation, performance tuning, security, performance tuning, monitoring, indexing, replication, mirroring, backup, logging, and clustering.
   
   The book is intended for people who have some experience with SQL Server, at least to the point of being able to understand what SQL is and how to get data into and out of the database. It will then cover how to tune the queries you're already written to get the maximum performance.
   
   This is a Wrox Professional level book, it is written by professionals for the use of professionals.



2. I am an experienced Sql Server 2000 DBA, and as I get more involved with 2005 the more this book falls short. This is because 2005 is so much more complex than 2000 that a single 700 page book simply does not cover the material. Simple things like schema ownership and management is glossed-over in the book when in fact it is a huge subject. Buy this book as it is useful, but plan on buying the Microsoft books and reading them soon. 2005 marks a major change and you can not afford to be left behind.



3. You get a lot for your money with this book. I'm surprised that there are not more reviews.
   
   Great job guys!



4. I had been out of SQL 2K for several years and had a project that came up that fit best with a lot of the features of 2005. This book was a good read, lots of good examples, and got me back into the swing of things. The project went well and this book gave me the foundation I needed.

5 comments about The Art of SQL (Art of).

1. I originally really liked the idea of comparing database design to the ancient "Art of War" classic, but the more I read the book, the more annoying and overly cute this tactic became.
   
   Amongst all the verbiage there appears to be really useful information, but extracting that information became too much work for me and I gave up on this book. And there were almost no concrete examples or case studies to back anything up.
   
   So far the most important book I've read is Sql Tuning by Dan Tow. It takes some work, but it is very, very worth it. Try that one instead.



2. I'm torn in giving stars to this book. On the one hand there a number of fascinating topics covered, topics not found in other books in my library. They tend to be of a quite academic nature, discussing the internals of how the optimizer and the DBMS engine work. From that standpoint this book would earn 5 stars.
   
   On the other hand, I purchased the book because I have real-world problems to solve in my job. Despite what the quotes on the back cover and first pages say, virtually nothing covered in this book is of any value in solving real-world problems. The book introduces what seems like a promising new sql construct or optimization idea, describes it in detail, and then unfailingly proceeds to state all the disadvantages of using the new idea and concludes that you shouldn't bother with it. I was interested in finding new techniques to apply to real-world problems, and came away instead with a long list of new techniques to forget about. From a practical standpoint this book would earn 1 star.
   
   So overall I give it 3 stars, an interesting read, but of little value on the job.



3. This book review was submitted by a Roanoke Valley SQL Server Users Group member as part of the Book Review Program.
   
   Reviewed by Jerry Ellis
   
   The Art of SQL does not fall into the trap of becoming "just another reference" for SQL users. It tackles real world problems with the point of view that you know how to write SQL code, but may need help in the proper tactics to most effectively handle them. What is refreshing is that it does not say here is a piece of code that will do this...it says, that may work, but here is a better way and why.
   
   This is the book to have if you want to discover better practices for your SQL.
   
   Jerry Ellis



4. This book is very well written and goes into depth on the practical reasons behind best-practices as well as real-world examples.



5. This is a book in a somewhat-similar vein to Effective C++: 55 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs (3rd Edition) (Addison-Wesley Professional Computing Series): it spends most of its time shining light on the dark nooks and crannies of database design and query optimization, and assumes that you've already at least learned that those dark nooks and crannies exist.
   
   It is also written with the database programmer in mind, rather than the database administrator. There are not many books written for us, and I'm really pleased that one of them is a book this excellent.

5 comments about High Performance MySQL.

1. A great overview of MySQL, with a cursory introduction to virtually every field a DBA will encounter over the years. The book is aimed at someone who has already used MySQL, but does not require in-depth knowledge - it's well written and should serve as a great starting point for further research. Jeremy covers: indexes, engines, query tricks, backup, security, and more. For a seasoned DBA, this book may not offer as much, but for the rest of us, it's a highly recommended read!



2. This is an overall solid book, covering all aspects of running a MySQL database, from the impact of various flavors of hardware to architecting database clusters. However, I was expecting more details and insight about configuring and scaling MySQL. What are some of the finer points of implementing database clustering or federation? How does indexing and caching work in MySQL? How much will data fragmentation impact performance? In the end, even though the title suggests it covers advanced topics, I didn't learn much new from this book.



3. Having written LAMP-based web applications, I read High Performance MySQL hoping to gain a deeper understanding of how MySQL operates at a relatively low level and how to deal with ongoing frustrations (especially replication).
   
   I was quite pleased. As others have noted, the book is readable and the authors' tone inviting. While the book does rigorously avoid discussion of low-level implementation details (e.g. "the query is parsed" is left as a black box step in the execution process), this does not detract materially from the message. The chapter on replication is one of the best treatments of this topic I have seen.
   
   I only have a few criticisms. First, there are a number of typographical errors of varying severity, though I understand that the most egregious ones (e.g. in code) have been fixed in newer printings. Second, while the book is titled, "High Performance MySQL," it might be more aptly called, "High Volume MySQL." The contents seem highly directed toward sites that run simple queries against huge tables, neglecting somewhat the many sites (e.g. ecommerce) that may run very complex queries against small to medium size tables, but for which optimization may be just as important. This focus is unsurprising given the lead author's career at Yahoo!, but prospective readers should at least be aware of the bias.



4. I'm Certified MySQL Associate and preparing for the next exams (Developer and Admin)... and I must say I didn't liked the book.
   
   It offered nothing new for me... so if you're at a high level in MySQL it will not help you that much.
   
   I saw some slides by Jeremy that were by far more informative and compact than the whole book.
   
   To keep it short the complete title should have been: High Performance MySQL for MySQL beginners.



5. High Performance MySQL opens with a quick chapter describing various MySQL installation options including binary packages and compiling from source code. The next chapter describes the different storage engines available in MySQL and why you would want to choose one over another. This is the book's first hint of what you can do to improve database performance: picking the right table type.
   
   Skilled software developers use benchmarking to gain insight into how their software is performing and database benchmarking should be part of that strategy. A brief chapter introduces some database benchmarking strategies and tools.
   
   Chapters on indexing and query performance follow, describing some of the most important skills to master. Following that, replication and load balancing are discussed. Backup and recovery options are covered, as is the topic of security.
   
   A somewhat thin trio of goodies rounds off the book in the appendices: the SHOW STATUS / SHOW INNODB STATUS commands, the mytop tool, and the phpMyAdmin user interface.
   
   Overall, I found many possible areas for performance improvement that I had not thought of before. At 278 pages, a lot of material is crammed into this book. It's a quick read and if you're a MySQL admin or a developer using MySQL, you're bound to find something useful here!

2 comments about PHP & MySQL Web Development All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. GREAT book!! Perfect for beginners, but still good enough for somewhat experienced users.
   
   I had my site up and running with loads of php scripts, mysql query's etc. in just a week after I got this book, complete with log-in pages, registration, and other fancy bells and whistles.
   
   After this, I got a couple other books for more advanced coverage, but still find myself turning back to this book quite frequently.
   
   highly recommended for anyone looking to learn php.



2. This is a very well written reference on PHP and MySQL. The book includes a 6 in 1 desk reference, which doesn't allow for the minute detail that is contained in some other "for Dummies" editions. But, it is a good additional to a PHP library nonetheless.
   
   The explanations are clear and easy to understand. The sample code is fully documented to allow the reader to fully understand the script and how it works.

5 comments about SQL Server 2005 T-SQL Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach (A Problem - Solution Approach).

1. This is the book that I consult most often, when there is something I want to accomplish quickly and easily. There is a lot of SQL Server 2005 specific content here, and most major aspects of SQL Server are covered at a decent depth. Very highly recommended.



2. I think this book is a good addition to your bookshelf but I was hoping for a little more. The price is right and the breadth of topic coverage is fine. I just want more "recipes"; that is more examples showcasing each topic with variations on how to use different commands and techniques in my SQL code plus best practices for developing a SQL Server databases across an enterprise software system.



3. This is a great book to keep at arms length. It has many great examples of the T-SQL commands and syntax. I use it most oftern when I find myself asking the question, "How do you use that command?". Subject matter is complete and includes the XML extensions to T-SQL.



4. Background: Professional developer with 20 years experience of application programming and embedded development who is recently learning SQL / SQL Server.
   
   I was looking for a solution to a problem and found it in the online text included in this book. The solution saved me about 2 hours of research, so I went ahead and bought the book since it had already paid for itself.
   
   It has since paid for itself many times over.



5. Great, convenient reference: I usually check it before turning to Google and MSDN, and so far have found it to be a sufficient, and far-easier-to-navigate, resource.