Hitchhiker's Guide to Visual Basic and SQL Server: William R. Vaughn (Microsoft Programming Series) [Paperback]

William Vaughn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997 | Series: Microsoft Programming Series

Microsoft insider William R. Vaughn shows developers how to use Visual Basic 5.0 to access data via SQL Server. This fifth edition also reveals the possibilities within the latest Visual Basic 5.0 technology--including its new ability to support a fully event-driven model. The CD contains a new sample database based on the Jet BIBLIO database, plus sample code and white papers.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

So you have valuable data stashed away in a Microsoft SQL Server database and you want a rapidly deployable way of getting to it? Visual Basic 5.0 and William Vaughn's book may have all the answers you need. Unlike many programming books that jump right into dense code listings, Vaughn takes a much-needed initial look at database-design issues, hardware requirements, the various types of cursors and queries, and how to plan your implementation strategy. On the other hand, this is no beginner's title: Vaughn assumes a strong familiarity with databases and with Visual Basic, and the book's value is not as a tutorial but rather as a detailed reference to techniques for accessing SQL Server databases from Visual Basic.

Product Details

• Paperback: 700 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 5th edition (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572315679
• ISBN-13: 978-1572315679
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,610,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Vaughn (1947-) was born to a military family and spent the first forty years of his life moving from base-to-base and city-to-city. He learned German in Wiesbaden, Spanish in El Paso and Thai in Bangkok. After travelling the world on business trips and speaking tours, he finally settled in Redmond, Washington in 1986. More recently, Bill has turned his talents to fantasy fiction. "The Owl Wrangler" is his newest creation. An early manuscript was characterized as "...another Watership Down" by his college writing professor. He enjoys writing, photography and sharing his experiences with anyone who'll listen. Bill is the father of two wonderful daughters and has two granddaughters who gave him inspiration for more than one of his books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money on this., May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hitchhiker's Guide to Visual Basic and SQL Server: William R. Vaughn (Microsoft Programming Series) (Paperback)

Just when you think he might give you some useful information, he blurts out some attempt at humor. I'm trying to learn access to SQL/Server from Visual Basic and he' trying to be funny. And by the way, where's the code! Be forewarned, this book has very little code examples of whatever it is Mr. Vaughn is trying to explain.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Smaller than it appears, January 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hitchhiker's Guide to Visual Basic and SQL Server: William R. Vaughn (Microsoft Programming Series) (Paperback)

This is a ½ inch book compressed into nearly 2 inches. Take out the author's chatty and "colorful" asides, and where's the beef?

Maybe there's some good stuff on the CD-ROM. Nothing in the book led me to believe so, and I haven't looked.

There are some interesting historical and business sidelights, however this does not compensate for the lack of solid technical information. The author is now a Microsoft employee, and has taught VB. I certainly would not pay Microsoft's prices for training of the same quality as this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacks practical application, June 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Hitchhiker's Guide to Visual Basic and SQL Server: William R. Vaughn (Microsoft Programming Series) (Paperback)

This book does cover a lot of technical details about how VB and SQL server work together. However it is filled with non working examples, lacks practical examples, contains boring and unnecessary history, assumes that you have worked with VB and SQL from VB 3.0. The book is more the author's experiences wth development at Microsoft and not the real day to day application for us programming consultants who need answers and fast. I have spent 10 hours with the book and only have managed to read 40% of it because of it is slow reading. There is an enormous amount of repetition in the book. The abundance of sidebars such as the IMHO detract from continuity. Also I have 3 hours into the first example in chapter 2 which was published incorrectly.