Customer Reviews

MCSE Database Design on SQL Server 7 Exam Cram (Exam: 70-029)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I've purchased the Exam Cram for Java 2 and loved it. However, this one is rather a disappointment, as the book failed to cover some of the detailed questions on the exam and hands-on practice on database design. The exam itself is extremely difficult (took me 3 tries, each failing by a margin of 1 or 2 questions). There are some questions asking you how to identify a flawed database design w/ scripts, E-R diagrams, listing you 7+ choices of requirements. One wrong, all wrong. Consult the BOL, but be aware that even the BOL does not have all of the answers. To pass, you need 1)experience with RDBMS, including familiarity w/ T-SQL syntax to create and design DB objects 2)the braindumps - be sure to check the answers with the BOL 3)consult the SQL Server web site and download the whitepapers, particularly on Performance Tuning and Storage 4)lots of patience and dilligence. Best of luck to all of you.

Today I passed the exam and this book was my main instrument during preparation.

The book gives right directions and touches all the topics that you may encounter on exam. No unnecessary topics, and no topics missed. It is of a comparatively moderate volume and allows to focus on exam preparation.

Of course, nothing is ideal in this world, this book isn't too. Not everything is covered with a depth necessary for exam. Sample test in the book is noticeably easier than a real exam. I also noticed some minor errors.

BTW, it was my 8th MS exam (previous were 4 MCSE core exams, TCP/IP, IIS 4, Proxy 2) and I found it the most difficult. Before reading this book, I had read Special Edition Using SQL 7 (QUE) and played with MS SQL 7 for a couple of months (but I had an experience with other DBMS).

SUMMARY: I recommend this book for the exam preparation but I don't recommend to rely on it as the only source of information, use at least SQL Books Online as a supplement, and of course play with SQL Server, trying and checking all unclear moments on a test database.

First, I read the New Riders book, then read the Exam Cram to fill in the (many) holes. I sailed through the [3-hour!] test with flying colors. Since I have found numerous typos in each of the 9 MCSD books that I've read (from New Riders, Syngress, and ExamCram), I can rate this one among the better edited of the lot. Since this series is not intended to be your sole resource, you should be able to spot the occasional errors with little difficulty. I guess the deadlines on these exam books preclude all but the most cursory proof-reading.

This book is a good resource for the exam and it's great as a desktop reference. They are some minor annoying typos and the very first sample test question has the wrong answer provided. Most of what is on the exam was covered in this book but one thing missing in great detail was the SQL Server Profiler. The sample test is as disapointing as the rest of the Exam Cram books, but use this book and the Transcender and you'll be in good shape for the exam.

The most annoying thing about this book has been the constant minor errors I've encountered. It's obvious that the book was proof-read for spelling, but not for content. These small errors could seriously hinder someone trying to learn SQL Server from this book. The errors even continue into the Practice Test at the end. The very first question(!) is incorrectly answered (as well as one other of the 40).

Those readers with a good deal of SQL 7 hands-on experience would find this volume valuable as a last-minute "brush up" on topics for 70-029. Alone, it's not of much value, since the writing style tends to be more of an outline than a narrative. For those looking to LEARN some of the material in addition to passing the examination, I would point them to the 70-029 Exam Prep book from the same publisher - much more detailed, but readable and suitable for retention as a reference after the exam.

This book is helpfull summary of key concepts needed for 70-029. It does not waste time describing Enterprise Manager, that is great! However there are too many typos and you will get frustrated if you do not buy a reference book because details are sometimes lacking. The questions themselves do not look like the real exam ones but they are good brain-shakers. By the way, can you change the FILL_FACTOR of a primary key index?

The author's of this book were absolutely out of their minds to call this a "Cram" book. There are so many errors in this thing that it couldn't POSSIBLY be used as a serious resource for the exam. As a reference for AFTER you've passed - perhaps. My recommendation? Look elsewhere folks for something that actually gives you what you pay for. This book does nothing of the sort.

I have had good experiences with other Exam Cram books, but this one is not very good at all. There are so many errors and omissions that you don't know what information you can trust to be accurate and what information you need to look up somewhere else. These are not just typos, they are actual concepts that are incorrect. I verified this through a Microsoft Press book, MSDN, and actually doing it in SQL. I actually looked on the Exam Cram website for errata for this book, and there wasn't any. I emailed them as well, but they just wanted me to tell them where the errors were. They also told me that they assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Huh??? What am I paying for??!!! Bottom Line: Look for a more accurate and complete book. Also, use the product and get Transcender.

Recently, Microsoft has changed their exam. While this book is good and gives you the base, you won't be able to pass the 70-028 exam with this book alone. The book gives you a lot of terminology which appeared in the prior exams i'm sure. So, watch out, buy a more current edition of a cram book. This book has lost it's status from a "Cram Book" to "Wanna know how to use SQL 7.0". I did recently take the test and it was quite different to both this book and the testing book written by the authors.