Mastering Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition [Paperback]

Mike Gunderloy (Author), Susan Sales Harkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0782144020 | ISBN-13: 978-0782144024

A Comprehensive Guide to Microsoft's New Express Edition of its Bestselling Database Server

Microsoft's SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is the perfect fit if you're a small business owner, trainer, or student who doesn't need all the bells and whistles of the full version of SQL Server 2005. In this comprehensive guide written by two SQL Server experts, you'll find step-by-step explanations and simplified management tools for

using SQL Server Express in smaller-scale but still mission-critical situations. With a focus on practical tasks, the book thoroughly

covers both database administration and development, smoothly moving you from beginner to advanced subjects.

Coverage Includes
* Understanding basic database concepts
* Getting to know database types: file server, client server, relational and more
* Learning Structured Query Language (SQL) and SQL Server's Transact-SQL
* Creating efficient and useful databases
* Writing queries and stored procedures to explore your data
* Automating the administration of your databases
* Developing database applications with Visual Basic(r) Express
* Using SQL Server Management Studio Express
* Sharing data between multiple servers
* Monitoring and optimizing SQL Server Express

Featured on CD
CD includes Microsoft(r) SQL Server Express and Visual Basic(r) Express!

Leverage the Experience of Experts through Real-World Examples

Increase Your Own Productivity with an Entire Chapter on Troubleshootng

Discover Practical Solutions to a Database Administrator's Needs

Reduce Complexity and Build Simple Data-Driven Applications

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A Comprehensive Guide to Microsoft's New Express Edition of its Bestselling Database Server

Microsoft's SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is the perfect fit if you're a small business owner, trainer, or student who doesn't need all the bells and whistles of the full version of SQL Server 2005. In this comprehensive guide written by two SQL Server experts, you'll find step-by-step explanations and simplified management tools for

using SQL Server Express in smaller-scale but still mission-critical situations. With a focus on practical tasks, the book thoroughly

covers both database administration and development, smoothly moving you from beginner to advanced subjects.

Coverage Includes

• Understanding basic database concepts
• Getting to know database types: file server, client server, relational and more
• Learning Structured Query Language (SQL) and SQL Server's Transact-SQL
• Creating efficient and useful databases
• Writing queries and stored procedures to explore your data
• Automating the administration of your databases
• Developing database applications with Visual Basic® Express
• Using SQL Server Management Studio Express
• Sharing data between multiple servers
• Monitoring and optimizing SQL Server Express

Featured on CD
CD includes Microsoft® SQL Server Express and Visual Basic® Express!

Leverage the Experience of Experts through Real-World Examples

Increase Your Own Productivity with an Entire Chapter on Troubleshootng

Discover Practical Solutions to a Database Administrator's Needs

Reduce Complexity and Build Simple Data-Driven Applications

About the Author

Mike Gunderloy has been developing software for over 25 years, during which time he has gained expertise across a wide variety of Microsoft technologies. His books include Mastering SQL Server 2005; Mastering Visual C#®; ADO and ADO.NET Programming; and Coder to Developer.

Susan Sales Harkins is the bestselling author of several database books, including Mastering Dreamweaver® MX Databases. She was formerly an editor-in-chief at The Cobb Group.

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Sybex (June 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782144020
• ISBN-13: 978-0782144024
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,126,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book to get you started. Easy to read., January 11, 2007

By 

Comp_U_Geek - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (Paperback)

Before I had got this book I had been reading tutorials on the internet. I wanted a single source of information so I started looking for a book. I'm just starting to get into SQL Server and I'm going to convert an Access DB into SQL Server 2005 Express.

My experience with Access was learn as you go because I needed to get the app finished asap. By the time I was done I wanted to redo the whole app again using the knowledge I'd gained through the whole process. Now I do not have time constraints and like I said I'm going to redo the Access DB in SQL Server 2005 Express, but I didn't want to make the mistake of jumping in right away and learning as I go. So I decided to read up as much as I could before starting.

After reading this book I feel I have a solid understanding of most the aspects of SQL Server 2005 Express. What I wanted most was to learn about backups and security which this book does a good job of covering. I think the strongest attribute of the book is it reads easy and fast, but has good information. The chapters are kept short so it is easy to finish each in one sitting.

I gave it four stars because to me it is a comprehensive book, but after reading it I don't believe I have "mastered" SQL Server 2005 Express. I don't think anyone could with one book. I think it gives the reader a good base knowledge on most aspects but to master them you'd have to research further.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book on sql server, June 14, 2007

By 

Michael Khalsa (Crestone, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (Paperback)

I give this book five stars not because the entire book is great, but because chances are there will be a few parts that 'serve' you well - which is most likely why you buy this book. One or two of these gems (such as adding Encryption to a connection string to automatically encrypt all data moving from sql server onto the network) will be worth the price of the book many times.

The intro on things like normalizing is weak and chances are you will not learn anything here (if you do not know the basics about normalizing a database schema, then chances are some tutorials on the internet will help you better).

Sections on backups, locks, internal workings of sql server, smo objects for custom management apps, logs, etc are all well written and helpful.

A few performance metrics for various typical approaches would have been appreciated, the type of things you have to dig through white papers for.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent companion book, February 18, 2008

By 

James Beswick (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (Paperback)

Microsoft realeased a free version of SQL Server to compete with mySQL and it's actually quite excellent, especially given its price tag. This book makes the book claim to have you 'mastering' SQL Server, but of course no single book could do that. Instead, it provides a very comprehensive tour-de-force of all the features, bells and whistles, and relies on you - dear, Internet-connected reader - to research areas of particular interest to you.

The biggest flaw is that there's not enough information to get you up and running in the first place. Literally, the installation instructions for SQL Server Express are esoteric, and there's a couple of missing pieces of information, without which you're going nowhere. But a little digging around on the Net will have you running fairly quickly.

Overall, a great little book for the price.