MCSD Architectures Exam Cram (Exam: 70-100) [Paperback]

Donald R. Brandt (Author), Brandt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Exam Cram (Coriolis Books) | Publication Date: September 13, 1999

Provides information on analyzing business requirements in real-world scenarios and defining solution architectures to optimize results. Also covers developing the design for an application, developing a logical data model, designing a user interface and user services, and deriving the physical design. Contains exclusive tear-out Cram Sheet with tips, acronyms, and memory joggers (mnemonics) to improve recall immediately before the exam.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Donald Brandt's MSCD Architectures Exam Cram gives you a useful quick start in designing and building enterprise applications using the official Microsoft Solution Framework (MSF). This test preparation guide (for MCSD Exam 70-100) gives you all the information you'll need to pass, plus you'll gain an understanding of multitiered architectures and tools for the Windows platform.

Even if you've programmed using Visual Basic or Visual C++, you'll need to grasp the theory behind the practice to do well on the MCSD Architectures exam. And even if you have a background in software engineering, the specific terms and philosophy of the MSF for building software are unique.

Besides its general introduction to taking certification exams (along with practice questions), this book provides a fast-moving tour of essential concepts for creating software the Microsoft way. The text starts off with a look at the different models used in this software process. Subsequent chapters look at determining business requirements. Then it's on to designing user, data, and presentation services, with coverage of essential Microsoft technologies and tools like MTS and DCOM. Database essentials (such as tables and normalization) are also discussed. Generally, this title is briskly written and jargon-free, and it makes good use of charts and short case studies to illustrate key concepts effectively. A final practice test lets you measure your knowledge with questions similar to those on the real exam.

MSCD Architectures Exam Cram shows you, from a software engineering perspective, how to design and deliver scalable Web-based applications using Microsoft tools, and it thoroughly explains enterprise software created for Windows. It's a concise source of up-to-date information and an essential resource that will surely help you ace the important certification exam. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Overview of the Microsoft Certified Software Developer (MCSD) program; MCSD exam 70-100 test preparation guide; fixed-length and adaptive test strategies; history of information systems; the Microsoft Solution Framework (MSF) overview; MSF team; process, application, and solution models; business requirements; security; performance; scalability; multitiered systems; data storage options; relational database basics; normalization; conceptual and logical designs; designing user interfaces; user services; prototypes; iterative software development process; internationalization tips; physical designs; practice questions; and sample test.

About the Author

Donald Brandt (Tucson, AZ) is a software engineering professional with over twenty eight years of diversified experience. He is currently the owner and principal consultant in a practice specializing in client/server architectures and database systems design and integration. Don has recently taught courses for Microsoft Solution Developer Certification as well as courses in Computer Science. He is a Microsoft Certified Professional Solution Developer, a member of the Independent Computer Consultants Association, and holds an M.S. degree in Computer Science and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, both from the University of Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Coriolis Group Books (September 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576103781
• ISBN-13: 978-1576103784
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,459,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book but you need two more aids, January 13, 2000

By 

David C. Gikandi "land.co.ke" (Mombasa, Kenya) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MCSD Architectures Exam Cram (Exam: 70-100) (Paperback)

This book is great! The exam is real tricky - its the only one I have ever failed on first try - miserably! No book can prepare you for the Architectures exam fully but this book gets very close. I guess if you have a few years experience in data modelling you can pass with just this book. but if like me you have very little experience in data base design and data modelling, you definitely need something else. I bought and read the Data Modelling book by Lawrence Sanders after I failed this exam. That is a little book that fills in all the gaps! After reading these two book, anyone can pass this exam. Oh, one other thing you most likely will need is the Transcender sample tests. This exam is unlike the othe Microsoft exams and without the Transcenders it will be a shock the first time you do it and that may cause you to fail. So invest in the Transcender sample tests for this exam and you will be glad you did. Good luck!

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent small book, but you'll need Transcender, April 1, 2000

By 

Dr. Robert C.A. Goff, MCSD, MCSE, MCDBA "Coun... (Blacksburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MCSD Architectures Exam Cram (Exam: 70-100) (Paperback)

EXAM vs. BOOK: Looking over other reviews, you'll see wildly divergent opinions about this book. The problem is that this particular exam (70-100) is structured in a way that is unique among Microsoft's exams. Aside from the required knowledge, the mechanics of the exam process are counter-intuitive, confusing and require practice to master.

First, let me say that passing 70-100 requires a knowledge base that is too broad to be contained in a single book (or even 3 or 4 books). If you go into this exam with several years of software experience, and AFTER having passed the other exams needed for MCSD, then much of the background is already covered. To be more specific, SQL Server 7 Design (70-029), is superb preparation for the IMPORTANT entity and data modeling aspects of 70-100. Since you have to learn it for 70-100, you might as well do 70-029 first. (70-029 is one of the most marketable of the electives.)

Beyond that, the candidate is expected to be adept at sifting through a haystack of scenario verbiage in order to identify process flow, data flow, and the underlying "business" problem, as opposed to the technologic problem, with which we are all more familiar. This is where a book dedicated to solution architectures is useful.

Brandt provides us with a readable survey of approaches to projects (including Microsoft's way of truth), development models, the array of project deliverables, including context diagrams, entity-relationship diagrams, data flow diagrams, case-use scenarios, and the physical manifestations of these. You need to know this, as well as tier models and user interface standards.

Although the multiple choice questions throughout the book are not what you are likely to see on the exam, they are helpful in clarifying your understanding of topics you will definitely see on the exam. If you can sail through the big exam at the end of the book, then you have a good foundation. But you'll need more to pass the real test.

WEAKNESSES: The material on data normalization are only adequate as a review if you've already learned the concepts elsewhere (do 70-029 first!). Practical applications of performance, availability, security, scalability, maintainability, and extensibility are not covered in sufficient depth. These shortcomings are acceptable if Brandt is not your only reference. I would strongly recommend Cornish, et al. as a primary book. The two books cover the material from different perspectives, and mutually fill in the gaps.

EXAM MECHANICS: Build-a-tree questions usually force you to create a hierarchical answer for non-hierarchical objects -- a horrible metaphor! The drag-and-connect questions are intentionally sneaky, and unintentionally difficult to set properly without practice. (The blocks that must be shuffled around will toggle unpredictably, causing intended connections to be misdirected. Even when properly connected, the results are extremely difficult to read.) In the drag-and-drop reorder list questions, dragging will occasionally drag an object not highlighted, and will occasionally drop onto non-highlighted objects. One remedy (unlikely) is for Microsoft to recognize that these testing tools are not ready for prime time, and fix them. The other remedy, and the only realistic one I know of, is to download the free Transcender demo. I bought the Transcender product (SolutionCert) and was only able to pass the third Transcender test, after failing the first two -- and I've been doing this stuff for 22 years!

CONCLUSION: Brandt is an excellent choice for a small book. Consider getting a large book, and at least download the Transcender demo to see what you're up against.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best study guide for 70-100, November 22, 1999

By 

Mike (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MCSD Architectures Exam Cram (Exam: 70-100) (Paperback)

I agree with Patrick and Mark. This book is the best study guide for the 70-100 exam but the sample tests are more important. This book contained the most concise and easy-to-read information. I bought three other guides which turned out to be a waste of time and money. If you are going to take the test, read this book once and then download the sample Transcender test. Without the Transcender samples, you will probably fail the exam, no matter how much you study.