Customer Reviews

MCSE/MCSD: SQL Server 7 Database Design Study Guide

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

 

 

I am working on may last MCSE test so I have used several study guides. I have been using SQL Server about 3 years and need to make sure I understand everything that should be on the test. It is obvious that someone skilled in SQL Server hasn't proofread this book because there are several errors and contradictions. Coincidentally the SQL Server Admin book I used (different publisher) was also full of errors. I cannot find any corrections on Sybex's web site. My recommendation: Try another book or wait for the second (hopefully corrected) edition.

This is the worst Sybex Study Guide I ever read. Full of errors. It covers less than half of the materials you need to know to pass the exam. Don't waste your money on this one.

I normally love Sybex books. I have the Jave 1.1 and Java 2 Cert. Guides, and MS Access Developers Handbook. But this book has too many errors. I am only up to Chapter 3 and already, it is riddled with errors. I like the writing style, but they need to be more careful.

If you really want a good book, buy 'Inside SQL Server 7.' It isn't a test guide, but it will get to the nuts and bolts of the product. When you are done, you can use this book. But make sure you have a resident SQL Server expert to tell you whether you're wrong or the book is wrong (also make sure to test everything on the pubs just in case).

When I bought it in November the rating was 3.5-4 stars, so I decided that if I go through it I would be ready, I was very mistaken. After wasting months preparing, I FINALLY understood that there are so many errors, that it is worthless. And now after passing an exam, I can say that the text is not even close to the content of the exam. Do not waste you time with this book, buy Transcender exams (what I did eventually) and study them, and you will pass.

Of course, there are errors in the book, but I get use to debug the braindump questions. Therefore, a few errors is no big problem to me.

Although the book always remind you on the Microsoft Exam Objective, you cannot rely on it. For example, the chapter 10, talking about cursor. You can find the word INSENSITIVE once and a phrase about it. Read the BOL and you will know the difference. No mention about the global and local of cursor except in the Microsoft Exam Objective. You would not know how to select the cursor types with this book. Using only this book you cannot answer questions about the Profile, Freetexttable and containstable. But the chapters in bcp, indexing, retrieval techniques, view are quite good.

This book is a trap, basic errors and references to features of the 6.5 version are normal. Don't waste your time and money.

This book has numerous technical errors, making it a poor study guide. The book says varchar handles 255 characters, the quiz says 1 million, but the right answer is 8000! There are many errors like this. This is my first and perhaps last Sybex book.

I am speechless. I can't say much! This book is as good as the study guide at the cramsession website! It can't do more....It simply misses the targets by WAY too much! PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS BOOK! I beg you not to destroy those 100 (im talkin about the test fee those 40 bucks that this book is worth are surely wasted) bucks.

What i would suggest is that you do the Transcender exams and buy the book: Professional SQL Server 7.0 Programming....written by Robert viera....published by wrox.

I agree with a lot of the reviews here, the editing is not up to par, but the content and the writing style are! How do I know? I passed the exam on the first try.

I've used Sybex books exclusively for MS exams and have alwayspassed with flying colors. With that in mind, I bought this book,expecting the same quality. This book is in sad shape, and PLEASE takemy words and everyone else who has posted on this book.... DON'T WASTEYOUR MONEY...This was the first exam that I've failed and this bookdoesn't hold a candle to the information and detail you mustcomprehend to successfully sit this 3 hourexam. (MCP,MCSE,MCP+I,MCSE+I,A+,N+,I-Net+,CCNA, and hopefully soonwill be MCDBA!) <by the way, the Sybex CCNA book by Todd Lammle isGREAT! >