Beginning C# Databases [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Jacob Hammer Pedersen (Author), Jon Reid (Author), Ranga Raghunathan (Author), Scott Allen (Author), Syed Fahad Gilani (Author)

Book Description

Series: Programmer to Programmer | Publication Date: July 2002

Whatever programs you develop, there's one task that you will almost always have to achieve - accessing and manipulating data. This data can be stored in many places, but large quantities of data that need to be frequently accessed are usually stored in relational databases such as SQL Server. Knowing how this data is structured, and how to access and update it, is therefore one of the most important programming tasks the professional programmer needs to learn.

This book is designed to teach those essential skills quickly and painlessly to anyone programming in Microsoft's new C# language. As well as database basics such as the SQL language used to communicate with databases, we cover the specifics of data access using C# in depth. Data access in .net is achieved through the ADO.net classes; these are essentially a replacement for ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), and combine ADO's ease of use with powerful new features such as enhanced XML support. The core of this book consists of a thorough but easy-to-read tutorial to ADO.net.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book is aimed at intermediate .net programmers who want to improve and consolidate their knowledge of databases, and want a thorough introduction to using databases effectively with their code. Prior knowledge of C# is assumed.

Product Details

• Paperback: 550 pages
• Publisher: Peer Information; 1st edition (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861006098
• ISBN-13: 978-1861006097
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,283,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Beginning & Introductory

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Beginners as the Title Says, November 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Beginning C# Databases (Paperback)

This is a great book to begin using databases with C#. It touches on a lot of topics but does not go into too much depth in any of them.

One nice part of this book is how it makes sure your environment is configured so you can avoid confusing error messages and so forth.

I have written quite a bit of C++ and worked with a variety of databases over the years. However, being new to development on the Windows platform, .Net Framework, VS .Net, and SQL Server this book got me up to speed in a matter of days.

The books takes you through

- The environment (and setting it up)
- ADO.Net
- ASP .Net (but short)
- XML
- SQL Server

and a variety of very good topics within each subject. Once your through with it an experienced programmer is ready to go on his own and a beginner knows where to go from here.

The text and explanations are clear, gives you details in the beginning, and then skips the detailed navigation steps before you are half way through the book. I loved that.

You won't go off writing commercial code when you're done, but you sure will accellerate you getting there. When I started I knew nothing, now I am aware of what is there and what I need to pick up.

Highly recommended for those that are new to the .Net Framework and has programmed before.

Cheers!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Tutorial on Database Programming, February 12, 2003

By 

David C. Veeneman (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beginning C# Databases (Paperback)

This is one of the best database tutorials I have come across. I'm an old hand at using Microsoft Access (MS Jet) databases with Visual Basic, but I have struggled in the world of database servers. SQL Server has been a total mystery to me, even after reading (OK--trying to read) another book on SQL Server. It's not SQL that has stumped me; it's the transition from a simple Access file to a db server.

'Beginning C# Databases' addresses that need quite well. It begins with a walkthrough of the installation of MSDE (the personal version of SQL Server that ships with VS.Net). From there, it explains the VS.Net 'Server Explorer', which I had not been able to figure out. All of that was worth the price of the book for me, and it's all in the first chapter!

The book contains a pretty good tutorial on SQL. Old hands will probably want to skip it (nothing beyond SELECT, UPDATE, and DELETE), but if you're new to database programming, it's enough to get you started.

The treatment of ADO.Net is pretty conventional, but its coverage of beginner-to-intermediate topics (relationships, input validation, authentication, transactions) is quite good. I have moved myself from 'knowing enough to get it done' to 'knowing enough to do it pretty well'.

All-in-all, money well spent.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 2, 2002

By 

russ cambell (Chattanooga, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beginning C# Databases (Paperback)

When i began learning .NET and C#, after getting the basics of .NET Framework, I wanted to quickly cover ground and at the same time be productive. I picked up this book and boy I tell you -- i got a quick understanding of ADO.NET all the way from basic dataset stuff to transactions and XML quickly. I own other books on .NET but they don't cover ado.net transactions and ado.net events the way this book does. Examples and practial, clear and simple which is what is required for a beginners book. This book is a must in every C# programmers library. It has much deeper content than the Beginning VB.NET databases book also from Wrox.

I would strongly recommend to others that after learning the basics of C#(variables,types,classes,oop) one should get this book and learn ADO.NET. ADO.NET is a major component of the .NET framework and this book will get you there quickly and painlessly !!