Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example [Paperback]

Carlos Rojas (Author), Fernando Guerrero (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789724499 | ISBN-13: 978-0789724496 | Publication Date: April 27, 2001

SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example provides clear and concise examples of basic programming techniques used in SQL Server 2000 primarily using Transact-SQL. Even if you're a complete novice to SQL Server 2000 programming, you will benefit by reading through the book's logical process. SQL Server 2000 is introduced and explored, database structure is designed and built, and finally a variety of programming techniques are studied and reviewed. If you are already familiar with SQL Server 2000 programming, you may use the book as a quick reference guide that provides plenty of pertinent examples.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ideal for the database programmer or system DBA, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example is an excellent example-based tutorial on mastering today's SQL features. Packed with plenty of tips and tricks, this title will let most anyone do more with SQL Server.

While there are plenty of screen shots showing graphical SQL Server tools, the focus of this book is clearly on learning real command-line Transact-SQL (T-SQL). The authors provide a patient and very thorough tour of T-SQL with full coverage of both basic and advanced features. You'll learn how to define new tables, manage users in groups, and perform all kinds of queries. Standout material includes an excellent guide to SQL data types and how to choose the right one for your needs. When it comes to queries, the book does a great job of exploring all your options for joining relational data, as well as grouping data for more advanced reporting. True to its title, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example is filled with dozens of examples of SQL commands (and the results returned) so that you can try out this material for yourself and really learn the language thoroughly.

Later on, the authors turn toward server-side programming with a digestible guide to creating stored procedures and triggers. The book closes with an in-depth guide to the issues regarding cursors (for working with table data), transactions, and locking. Sections on bulk copy tools and the Microsoft Data Transformation Services (DTS) show how to move data around the enterprise. A final section of distributed queries and linked servers will help you work with different sources of data wherever it resides in your organization.

Despite some stilted writing, the comprehensive examples in this book make it a success. It will let anyone start using basic T-SQL for the first time, as well as teach more advanced readers to master the finer points of Microsoft databases. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• History and introduction to Microsoft SQL Server
• In-depth Transact-SQL (T-SQL) tutorial (including T-SQL data types and flow control statements)
• Creating and modifying tables and views
• Creating queries with the SELECT statement
• Inserting, deleting, and updating data
• Using joins (inner, outer, and cross joins)
• Indexes (database optimization and index maintenance)
• Data integrity (constraints and foreign keys)
• Business logic with stored procedures (including error handling and security)
• Tutorial and tips for triggers (including nested and recursive triggers)
• User-Defined Functions (UDFs)
• Complex queries and subqueries
• Row-oriented processing with cursors (including SQL Server cursor types)
• Transactions in T-SQL (including basic ACID properties, isolation levels, and locks)
• Avoiding deadlocks
• Transferring data to and from SQL Server with bulk copy and Data Transformation Services (DTS)
• Databases in heterogeneous environments (distributed queries and linked servers)
• Using the SQL Query Analyzer

From the Publisher

SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example provides clear and concise examples of basic programming techniques used in SQL Server 2000 primarily using Transact-SQL. Even if you're a complete novice to SQL Server 2000 programming, you will benefit by reading through the book's logical process. SQL Server 2000 is introduced and explored, database structure is designed and built, and finally a variety of programming techniques are studied and reviewed. If you are already familiar with SQL Server 2000 programming, you may use the book as a quick reference guide that provides plenty of pertinent examples.

Get up to speed on SQL Server 2000 and how to take full advantage of new features

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 792 pages
• Publisher: Que (April 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789724499
• ISBN-13: 978-0789724496
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,364,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A++ Execellent hands on intermediate/advanced level book, May 18, 2001

By 

Steve Morgan (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example (Paperback)

With previous experience (v7.0) I found this book an excellent guide to the added functionality of v2000.

It's concisely, cleanly written in a straightforward no-nonsense style. The lay out is logical and well planned with the book building nicely as you move through it.

I have also found it deep enough to fill some gaps and clarify areas that I previously felt I knew very well.

The main advantage of the book to my mind though is that it does exactly what it says on the cover - it provides pratical examples of all the concepts discussed (I have found that previous books have often left me feeling "OK, but lets see it in action!!!" including Soukup & Delaney's excellent "Inside SQL Server 7".

All round an excellent book, highly recommended at a very reasonable price.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Hands-on for Developers, September 8, 2004

By 

David Hedrick Skarjune "Word & Image" (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example (Paperback)

I've been teaching college database classes for years, and although I prefer to teach MySQL, it's important for serious IT students to get some experience on a full-blown enterprise database server, and for that I use MS SQL Server.

This is the only usable text I've found for developers who need to learn the fundamentals for constraints, triggers, stored procedures, etc. Most SQL Server books are about administration, and barely touch upon programming topics. Many of those targeting developers rely upon some custom database dreamed up by the author that pales beside the standard samples of pubs and Northwind included with the SQL Server product. The worst books trot out database basics that might be best learned using MS Access.

The authors walk through every operation with standalone examples using either pubs or Northwind, with dozens of code listings for each chapter. You might need to complete a few consecutive listings, but there are no long-running dependencies where the authors want you to follow their development project from start to finish. You can dive in and out of this book at any point with no set up required.

The tone is straighforward with clear explanations, definitions, and tips. No chitchat or bull gets in the way. There are some illustrative figures, but no page after page of useless screenshots. Like the Que series claims, you learn By Example--cranking out the listings yourself to see things work.

A relly nice book for students or professionals from beginning to intermediate levels. Oh yeah...the price is right.

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, August 20, 2002

By 

Mel Mullen (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example (Paperback)

You know one of those reference books you buy but no matter how often you look at it it never has the answer to your questions? Yes? Well this book is one of those.

As a professional software developer I never had much use for Que books - thick paper, too much white space, and big fonts. This book is no exception. I made the mistake of buying it on the strength of the reviews at Amazon but it lives up to the Que tradition of being a book full of basic information, most of which is available in the SQL server docs. Sure it has lots of examples but little that is very enlightening.

I didn't get the impression here that this was a basic book but it is. It is going to be a disappointment to you if you, like me, already know SQL/DBMS programming but from another database product. If I was starting out then maybe I'd find it of use, but a one-stop answer to all you SQL Server problems it most definitely is not. If I ever find it useful I will come straight back here and change this review.