Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Bible [Paperback]

Paul Nielsen (Author), Uttam Parui (Author), Mike White (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470257040 | ISBN-13: 978-0470257043 | Publication Date: August 31, 2009 | Edition: 1

Harness the power of SQL Server, Microsoft’s high-performance database and data analysis software package, by accesing everything you need to know in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Bible. Learn the best practices, tips, and tricks from this comprehensive tutorial and reference, which includes specific examples and sample code, with nearly every task demonstrated in both a graphical and SQL code method. Understand how to develop SQL Server databases and data connections, how to administer the SQL Server and keep databases performing optimally, and how to navigate all the new features of the 2008 release.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Paul Nielsen brings his passion for SQL Server and his long years of experience with this product into every page of the SQL Server 2008 Bible."
—Kalen Delaney, SQL Server MVP

Get ready for SQL Server 2008

Whether you're a database developer, DBA, or BI Developer, SQL Server 2008 promises to change the way you deliver enterprise data solutions. Open this detailed, experience-based guide for clear explanations of the concepts balanced with real-world examples and best practices gleaned from years of field and consulting experience. SQL Server is an immense product — this book is your guide to the strategies and details that matter most.

• Master the data architecture concepts that drive database technologies

• Write elegant set-based queries that respond well to a comprehensive indexing strategy

• Code an efficient and robust data abstraction layer with stored procedures

• Learn the best way to connect to SQL Server with ADO or Microsoft Access

• Use PowerShell and Policy-based Management to better administer your servers

• Use Analysis Services, MDX, and Excel to analyze data trends

• Optimize performance with data compression, resource governor, and partitioning

Companion Web Site
Please visit www.sqlserverbible.com to download all the sample databases and code, watch screencasts that walk through key features, sign up for the SQL Server Bible eNewsletter, find additional SQL Server utilities and samples, and find out about the authors' seminars and speaking schedules.

• Manage enterprise data servers with ease
• Develop scalable and flexible databases
• Analyze data with SQL Server's BI Suite
• The book you need to succeed!

Product Details

• Paperback: 1680 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470257040
• ISBN-13: 978-0470257043
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Computers & Technology > Microsoft > Development > SQL Server

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive coverage of SQL Server 2008, October 6, 2009

By 

Sudheer K. Maharana - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Bible (Paperback)

I was introduced to this huge informative book by one of my friends at work place. This is a great reference book for almost everyone starting from beginners to advanced database programmers/admins. It is very difficult to cover all aspects of SQL Server in a single book. Howver, the authr(s) have done a good job in covering almost all the features of SQL Servers. This book helps developers who want to know one and everything in SQL Server. However, certain chapers such as "Service Broker" could have been detailed out more considering that these are more advanced. I especially liked the Partitioning, LINQ, Change Data Capture. It has touched upon the Business intelligence and it could have been done better. However, as I said it is already a huge book and adding more materials would have been even more. Rather this solves the purpose to a great deal as a reference book for almost all domains DBAs and developers to jump start in SQL Server.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Developers and DBA's, September 5, 2009

By 

Michael Wiles (Des Moines, IA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Bible (Paperback)

SQL Server 2008 Bible is an absolute must for anyone wishing to enhance their SQL Server skills. There is information in there for everyone from a Developer being able to write more optimal queries to the Database Administrator who has much more complicated tasks to accomplish. This book took my knowledge from a very basic level as a developer to a level where I became a database answer point for many on my development team. I strongly recommend this book to anyone that wishes to enhance their SQL Server knowledge. This book is also one of the few that I always have within easy reach when working on development tasks.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can tell he lives, eats and breathes SQL Server, February 4, 2010

By 

Phillip Senn (Hickory, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Bible (Paperback)

I have the two previous editions (2000 and 2005).
This one is heavier than the other two - 1642 pages compared to 1293 and 890.
And the paper stock is better as well.
The tone is almost conversational in that Paul Nielsen comes up with likely scenarios to show the syntax of a command.
You can tell that a lot of his tips come from hindsight. Here's an example of a Best Practice tip found on page 263: "Use a join to pull data from two data sources that can be filtered or manipulated as a whole after the join. If the data must be manipulated prior to the join, then use a derived table subquery."

That piece of advice comes from someone who has had to tackle problems using both techniques.

And he's not afraid to tell you worst practices either. Page 547: "Any table design that requires sparse columns is a horrible design."
This is especially helpful if you're learning a new feature and want to know if it's worth the effort.

Don't think that this is an A-Z reference manual.
Chapter 53 is Mr. Nielsen's "AutoAudit", which is quite a nifty code generator to add auditing to your tables.