Customer Reviews

Murach's SQL Server 2005 for Developers

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

 

 

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...Ok, so it's a book on SQL Server 2005, that's obvious. But why is it interesting compared to so many other such books? The main reason is that it is very approachable - there is not a lot of dense text, just simple explanations of how things work. This makes it a fairly quick read. The other feature this book has which separates it from the pack, which I LOVE is Murach's standard layout pattern with explanation on the left page and code samples and figures on the right page. This is an extremely easy to use format for technical how-to manuals, because the code and the explanation are always together, with no page-flipping required.

In reference to another reviewer's comment, this book does cover SQL quite a bit. It is not about using the GUI or being an admin so much as how to actually work with SQL.

Just like the name states, this book is a great window into the world of SQL Server database programming (and even design and some administration) targeting developers. This is especially useful today, when developers are asked to do more diverse tasks as part of their every day responsibilities.

The tone of the book and its organization and paired page layout are very conducive to learning at any level, and the topics covered are varied enough to ensure a well-rounded learning experience, regardless of the reader's background.

At the upper right of the cover of this worthy addition to Murach's line of programming books is emblazoned, "Training & Reference." That describes this new book exactly.

As a training and reference text, it succeeds very well; I recommend this book for anyone who is new at SQL Server and wants to come quickly up to speed with SQL Server 2005. And, as the cover implies, it's also useful as a reference book for more experience SQL Server types.

As usual with books from Murach, this one is well-written with good examples and free of fluff that pervades many books of this type.

The book follows the typical and very effective Murach style of a left-hand page of explanatory text on a specific concept and a right-hand page of code and/or illustration that is linked to the text on the facing page. I find this sort of presentation really helps me focus on the current topic. Also, eliminating the necessity of page-turning to find an accompanying example makes for a better learning experience.

I found a two or three minor nits to pick. For example, while the authors cover the TOP statement, including its new features in SQL Server 2005, there was no mention that you can now use a variable to specify the TOP amount. But taken in perspective, this sort of thing does not diminish this book as a valuable asset.

Bottom line: this is a well-written text coupled with Murach's tried-and-true unique layout. Especially if you're new to SQL Server, buy this book first. You may eventually want to get some more advanced books, but at 33 bucks from Amazon, this book is money well-spent.

Murach continues using the "paired pages" format. How-to on the left page and examples on the right. This style contributes to the effectivness of the learning process. Although the Manangement Studio is covered, the book is primary a great source for the developer who needs to integrate a client application with SQL Server. Topics covered are an introduction to SQL, data retrieveal including inserts, updates, and deletes, database design and implementation, and CLR integration. This book is great for learning the skills to be an effective SQL developer.

I read Murach's SQL Server 2005 for Developers while looking for a book for teaching a class on SQL. Since the course is going to use SQL Server it seemed like an obvious fit. It is. This is a targeted book for the professional course on writing SQL for SQL Server 2005.

I suppose it could be used for learning SQL for other databases but it does a pretty good job of hitting all the SQL Server specific variations in SQL that make up T-SQL. I also suppose that it could be used for self directed study. Like the rest of the Murach books, it has a side by side format with explanation and related examples. Since there's plenty of room for Lab work, it really fits the classroom well.

Overall I'm happy with the book and don't have any real criticism. It is what it tries to be. A book for teaching SQL for SQL Server 2005.

If you're new to SQL Server, the format of this book could not be better or reading it cover to cover. It's designed (as Murach's other books) in a style to indroduce a small concept per page and give you an excercise to try it yourself. I recommend this book to all beginners to the technology but not necessarily if you have a lot of experience in the field already.

But then all of Murach's books are great starter book. I've been buying them for years. They have a limit in the utility to more advanced programmers, but how many of those are there? Advanced programmers become managers and teachers.

Prior to acquiring and reading this book, which is suggested reading for Introduction to SQL (course offered at some school of continuing education), my knowledge of SQL was limited to: SELECT * FROM TableName.

Now I find myself quite confident in composing ad hoc queries. I highly recommended this book to a systems administrator and developer who is novice when it comes to T-SQL, and has a little more than a passing familiarity with MS SQL 2005.

A large part of my familiarity with SQL is owed to this book, and a small extent to the lecturer. The value added by the lecturer was in the assignments and tests.

Why only four stars?
- The book doesn't offer Q&A at the end of the chapter to test your knowledge.
- The book shows multiple ways (sql queries) to accomplish the same objective, which I understand is necessary to introduce new concepts. But, the book does not consistently state circumstances under which the alternative is to be used.
- Some of the code samples could've been made easier for readers to grasp. Here is what I've annotated my copy of the book with...

On pg 153
Replace: SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT VendorID) AS NumberOfVendors,
COUNT(VendorID) AS NumberOfInvoices,...
With: SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT VendorID) AS NumberOfVendors,
COUNT(InvoiceID) AS NumberOfInvoices,...

On pg 157
Replace: SELECT VendorState, VendorCity, COUNT(*) AS InvoiceQty,...
With: SELECT VendorState, VendorCity, COUNT(InvoiceID) As InvoiceQty,...

On pg 185
Replace the entire example, which uses Inner Join when there is no need for it - not at this point, with the following:
USE AP
SELECT VendorId, LatestInv, AvgInvoice
FROM
/**/ (SELECT TOP 5 VendorId, MAX(InvoiceDate) AS LatestInv,
/**/ AVG(InvoiceTotal) AS AvgInvoice
/**/ FROM Invoices
/**/ GROUP BY VendorId
/**/ ORDER BY AvgInvoice DESC) AS Top5Vendors
ORDER BY LatestInv DESC

-- /**/ Used these characters because identation using spaces or tabs is not reflected in the review.

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Additional source of useful information: SQL Server Books Online

I'm a junior web developer, and I've found this book to be very useful. The explanations are concise and very clear. Great book for beginning-to-intermediate SQL Server 2005 development.

I am using "Murach's SQL Server 2005 for Developers" for a community college entry-level SQL class. It is a great book with nice prose and good examples.

One drawback is that instead of identifying, say, Figure 8.3 above-or-below the image, the identification is listed at the bottom of the page with the image. That takes awhile to get used to and makes it harder than it needs to be to make sure I am looking at the correct code snippet.