Beginning SQL Server 2005 Express for Developers: From Novice to Professional (Expert's Voice in .NET) [Paperback]

Robin Dewson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1590597206 | ISBN-13: 978-1590597200 | Publication Date: February 8, 2007 | Edition: 1

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is a free relational database management system from Microsoft and provides a major subset of full SQL Server 2005 functionality. Many users learn on SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and then move on to SQL Server 2005. Users can also develop significant real-world solutions in SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and then migrate them to the full version. In fact, for small databases and organizations, the Express Edition is often adequate on its own to support business needs. Its user base is rapidly growing.

This book is a comprehensive, clear, and gentle introduction to all fundamental aspects of SQL Server 2005 Express and the T-SQL database language. It assumes no prior experience in databases or programming and is ideal for any new SQL Server Express user, whatever their use of SQL Server Express.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robin Dewson has been hooked on programming ever since he bought his first computer, a Sinclair ZX80, in 1980. His first major programming project was a Visual FoxPro application that could be used to run a Fantasy League system. It was at this point that he met his mentor in PC development, Jon Silver at Step One Technologies, where in return for training he helped Jon with other Visual FoxPro applications. Realizing that the market for Visual FoxPro was limited, he decided to learn Visual Basic and SQL Server.

Starting out with SQL Server 6.5, Robin soon moved to SQL Server 7 and Visual Basic 5 and got involved in developing applications for clients in both the UK and the United States. He kept on moving, to SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005, and to Visual Studio and .NET, specializing in C# and Visual Basic. Robin is the author of Beginning SQL Server 2005 for Developers and Beginning SQL Server 2000 Programming and is the coauthor of Pro SQL Server 2005 Assemblies, all published by Apress. He also contributes articles to ASP Today (www.asptoday.com). Robin can be contacted at [e-mail] and via www.fat-belly.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (February 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590597206
• ISBN-13: 978-1590597200
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #765,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in Symington in Lanarkshire where my mum and dad had a local post office and grocers. I went to school in the village being the only boy in my class for a number of years. Trust me, at 7 or so, it wasnt as cracked up as you may think. I then on to Biggar for my secondary education. I hated it like mad and was so glad when I could leave. Having gained sufficient qualifications and found interest in computers through the Sinclair ZX80 it was time to move on and thanks solely to my mother and father who trawled the papers looking for jobs and colleges, I ended up at Motherwell Technical College where I gained an SOND in Computer Data Processing. This was a one year course giving the basis of working with mainframes as well as programming them.
Having studied at Motherwell Technical College as it was then named, just across the road from Fir Park football ground home of Motherwell FC, including day release at Ravesncraig Steel woorks, I then moved to two years at the Scottish College of Textiles (S.C.O.T) in Galashiels. Although a textile college this was one of the best colleges for computing due to the small class sizes and the great facilities there. Again this was teaching programming on an IBM mainframe using COBOL. This was also where I met my first real computer game, Collossus Cave! An excellent adventure that kept most of the students engrossed for months! I also met some of the best people at this college, a few who I still keep in contact with. College is a great place to move in to adult hood

From S.C.O.T. I found my first job which was with Texas Instruments in Bedford. This is was a whole new set of thinking with working in a big organisation where you compiled your code on a mainframe in Dallas from your computer in England. It was hard work and I was so wet behind the ears at that time. I wish I knew then what I know now and it would have been such a more pleasant experience.

I stayed with Texas Instruments for just over a year having been under the wing of a big Brian Nicholson. I met some great people there as well but time moved on and I ended up in Hemel Hempstead with Atlas Copco. This was a bad move for me which soon became apparent for many reasons so just over a year later I ended up with Link Associates in Chesham, Bucks. A software house by trade, gave me great exposure and a confidence boost not only in work levels but in self motivation, all given by the great guiding hand of Val Dromgoole.

After just over 2 years it was time to break out on my own as a consultant. Being a consultant gives you the freedom of choice, the freedom to change jobs at will, the freedom to move around and the freedom of office politics. Well, when I say break out on my own and look for these freedoms, my first consultancy lasted just over 8 years with Save & Propser in Romford, Essex, England. Still on mainframes I used a Computer Associates product called Ideal, which was far from the name suggested. It was restrictive but did get me away from the mundane that COBOL had become in my life.

I then moved to FoxPro and FoxBase almost at the same time, using FoxPro to write a generic Fantasy game simulation and FoxBase to look after a postal football game I inherited called Sick Parrot. What a great game that was and at this present time play an internet based version found here.

I soon learned the restrictedness of having the programming language along side the database language and so moved in to Visual Basic (v5) and SQL Server (6.5). Very soon after version 7 of SQL Server came along so I moved straight to there and avoid some of the problems with 6.5 solutions.

Moving from this point I have moved through Visual Basic 6, ASP, SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2005, C#, Visual Basic .Net and now learning ASP.NET and Java.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good way to learn SQL Server 2005 Express, October 15, 2007

By 

Albert T. Williams (Belle Mead, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beginning SQL Server 2005 Express for Developers: From Novice to Professional (Expert's Voice in .NET) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for learning SQL Server 2005 Express. I started learning MS Access in 2003 when my wife asked me to develop a database for her to use at work. At the time I knew only the words "relational database". Over 99% of what I needed to know to develop that contact and resource management database to its fully featured capability came from multiple books.

The expectations have changed over time and now I need to use SQL Server 2005 Express as a back end with Access as the front end for that database. Knowing nothing about SQL Server 2005, I needed a very good book to help bring me up to speed. I found that in Robin Dewson's "Beginning SQL Server 2005 Express."

From the installation of SQL Server 2005 Express through an explanation of Triggers and Reporting Services, there is a clear and concise explanation of each aspect with the opportunity to Try It Out. I needed to know all of what he presents and I was especially interested in Installation, Security, and Database Backup, Recovery, and Maintenance. The Installation chapter explains very carefully and clearly authentication mode, service accounts, user instances, etc. The Security chapter clearly explains logins, server roles, database roles, and schemas. The Database Backup, Recovery, and Maintenance chapter is also clear and carefully written with information on types of backups, detaching and attaching a database, and transaction logs.

The Chapter headings are:
1. SQL Server 2005 Express Overview and Installation
2. SQL Server Management Studio Express
3. Database Design and Creation
4. Security
5. Defining Tables
6. Creating Indexes and Database Diagramming
7. Database Backup, Recovery, and Maintenance
8. Working with the Data
9. Building a View
10. Stored Procedures
11. T-SQL Essentials
12. Advanced T-SQL
13. Triggers
14. Reporting Services

Robin Dewson is a very good teacher with the gift of knowing how to present a concept and then build concept on concept. He also provides helpful tips on things to do and not to do.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good way to learn the inner workings of SQL Server, October 31, 2007

By 

James Hoisington "jim..." (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beginning SQL Server 2005 Express for Developers: From Novice to Professional (Expert's Voice in .NET) (Paperback)

I have been querying SQL Server databases for six years using .Net. This book took me inside SQL Server and showed me how to manage tables, relations, stored proceedures, indexes and triggers.

The book achieves great mix of instruction and best practices. At times, I found myself wanting to know more but the book is already over 400 pages.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent way to learn SQL Server Express, November 4, 2009

By 

Nancy Marie (Ma United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beginning SQL Server 2005 Express for Developers: From Novice to Professional (Expert's Voice in .NET) (Paperback)

Being self-taught in SQL Server, I need to rely on books and online help. This book is always on my desk. Many of the books I refer to are good for table set up and execution of queries. This book covers so much more.
This book covers installation and installation issues, Command Line Tools, Security and Permissions, Visual Web Developer and more. What I like about this book is that the author is speaking to a beginner, not someone who dreams of stored procedures but someone just learning the ropes.
I highly recommend this book to someone just starting out. This is an excellent reference book that is easy for a beginner to understand.