Customer Reviews

Hitchhiker's Guide to Visual Basic and SQL Server(TM), Sixth Edition (Microsoft Programming Series)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

The terrible thing about on-line reviews is that often times very happy readers don't write them. So I thought, it was about time I did.

I've purchased that last three editions of Bill's book. Why? Because simply put, 'It is the best book on Microsoft data access technologies available for VB developers'. It focuses on one back-end, SQL Server, and the multitude of API's available.

The irreverent tone which some people find 'offensive', IMHO, simply adds character to an industry which at times really needs it. The code samples which I retrieved from the CD, always make getting up to speed quick and easy. Having heard Bill speak at VBITS and spoken to him, he is always trying to provide VB developers with the best information.

The seven detailed chapters on ADO are well worth your money even if you have the previous editions; not to mention the details on the T-SQL debugger in its own chapter. Also, even if this is your first purchase, the previous edition's chapters on VBSQL and ODBC are still included on the CD! For many of us, ODBC still has a place in our development lives.

The code Bill gives you is designed to focus on data access. If you need help with VB skills or UI design look elsewhere. But if you want down and dirty code focused on how to get to SQL Server, buy this book.

This is not a bad book, but it is long out of date. If you're getting it to learn how to use ADO to connect to SQL Server 2000, like me while not totally useless I found most of the book dated. I would say I found only a few chapters that were relevant and then again even those were dated. If you want Vaughn go with his "ADO Examples and Best Practices" which is more up to date and is beautifully written and organised. But this book will do the trick, particularly if you have other supplemental books. I probably wouldn't buy it though if I had to do it again.

With project deadlines, a stack of 1000-page books, and other interests, I just do not have time to wade through irrelevant information to find what I want. I will try to be objective. If you want a thorough reference, the author does a comprehensive survey. The work is thorough, but the information is hard to get at (see below). The author was one of the brains behind RDO (one of the six technologies covered in the book), so he is somewhat of an expert, and somewhat biased (toward RDO). Many of the readers apparently like a lot of jokes and sarcasm and historical information that can go on for paragraphs. If you have the time or patience for a lot of humorous or tangential reading while you are trying to find something out, then you might give this book five stars, but I wish it was reduced to a quarter of the present size so I could get what I want four times as fast. Because of the author's humor and sarcasm, many of the technical aspects do not come through clearly in explanation.

This book is excellent if you understood COM concept.

This book requires readers totally understand COM and be familiar with the basic things in database programming in VB. If you are not, don't buy this book and look for others related to COM and VB database programming. This book should be last one to be read in the field of VB programming in DB.

This book successfully described the architecture, the organization, the principles, the mechnisms of the system which is made from VB and SQL Server. After read this book, I think it is not neccessary to seek for others to help you understand MS DB programming. This book really shoot out everything, even include something from Microsoft "black-box".

Again,this book is the best one in the field of VB DB programming as far as I know.

I was hoping for a HOW-TO type of book and thought it would be. It is not a HOW-TO type of book. This book is a discussion about the various ways that VB can attach to a database and why to use those particular avenues. The first 2/3 of the book is a leading up to ADO but once you are there, the how-to part is NOT.

I cannot give this book five stars although it contains lots of valuable information some of which it is hardly possible to find elsewhere. Unfortunately, sometimes this information is scattered over a few chapters, and it is not sufficient to go to one single section in order to study one particular topic; sections/headings are not very well organised. I realise that HG is not a reference manual, but even if you read it from cover to cover (what I have done), you need to make a lot of efforts to put numerous pieces of the picture together. Another thing that I dislike about HG is that you have to know (and remember) basic stuff like syntax or to have a reference manual on your desk when you are reading HG. Just this creates an impression that the book does not suit beginners. In fact, it does! Just make sure to check out what is written in the reference manuals before reading a chapter or a section in HG. If you are a beginner, you can skip Ch. 4-8. If your are interested in DAO and RDO (with VB and SQL Server), all you need is MS manuals and HG; if you want to learn ADO (with VB and SQL Server), all you need is D.Sussman's ADO 2.0/2.1 Programmer's Reference from Wrox and HG (BTW, guys who admire the Wrox' book, you can find something new for you in HG!). The coverage of the Visual Database Tools in HG is excellent.

So, the book is not perfect, but it is extremely useful, and I don't think that there is anything better about VB programming for SQL Server on the market.

I was deeply disappointed by Mr. Vaughn's "updated" version of the landmark 5th Edition. Almost half of the 6Th edition is a rehash of the prior release. The author even includes verbatim excerpts from ed 5. I'm sorry to say that like so many fine technical texts, they become archaic before the end of their year of publishing. And so is the swansong of this 1998 "latest" which discusses far too much RDO and only a cursory overview of ADO. It is the price of technical progress that the computer applications field has rendered obsolete bound publications featuring advanced techniques so quickly. Paper is nice, and it feels good to caress at the end of a day filled with nothing but looking at a high resolution TV, but I'm afraid really useful and timely information comes in the form of electrons. -Bill McNamee

I was greatly disappointed by the style of this book. The jokes are good. The side trails are interesting. But this book should have been edited before it went to the editors. I just don't have hours to spend reading for pleasure. I want to read for knowledge and understanding of a subject. Nothing agiainst the author - I'm sure he is a great speaker. But I want to know about SQL Server and this is the most indirect approach to any subject I have seen in a long time. I am in search of a book that can deliver on the facts of SQL Server and how to use it. Maybe Microsoft feels they owe this author free reign to write as he pleases, but this book does not do Microsoft Publishing proud. IMHO - I would like to see a Reader's Digest version of this book without all the babbling. After 200 pages - I'm looking for another book. I read as much as I can every day - but I expect to get something out of it.

This is total nonsense from the start. I assume he knows what he is talking about I just wish he would share it with the readers without all the painful detours. I wish the author knew the difference between Explaining and Entertaining. I did not buy this book to be entertained but once you buy it, you are stuck with it. It is hard to know when the good stuff starts and the jokes end. I find myself trying to skip all the jokes and trying to find where the information about SQL Server starts. Ultimately you just give up with all the silliness. I am not sure what literary style this is but it kind of reminds me of a style I probably used in 6th grade. There are too many good books you can buy for any one to have to settle for this trash. I am going to buy the one from SAMS (Learn SQL Server in 21 Days). I was impressed by its reviews. It seems to be a no nonsense, direct approach to a great subject.

This book will someday be a great show on PBS. But as far as learning VB and SQLS dont buy it. After several hundred pages of recent history I finally got to the reason I bought the book. On about page 800 and something the author finally talks about using an ADO Datagrid to SQL-S. Unfortunately he never goes beyond a simple example using the Data Object Wizard. I'm still looking and out $40.