Pro SQL Server 2000 Database Design [Paperback]

Louis Davidson (Author), Apress (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2003 | Series: Pro

This book takes an in-depth, practical look at the process of designing and building efficient relational databases. It is a book of two halves. The first covers the logical design of databases, and the second looks at the physical design and implementation on SQL Server 2000.

Whereas many texts on this topic are rather dry and theoretical, this books considers design issues from a "real world" point of view. It covers the process of implementing a database using Microsoft SQL Server 2000 from the point where someone mentions to you that they want a database, all the way through to generating tables and implementing access to these tables. It provides a full and realistic case study that clearly illustrates the full process, from initial discussions of a client's needs, through development of a logical model, to a full implementation of the system.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Louis has been in the information technology industry for ten years, as a corporate database developer and architect. Currently, he is serving as a Database Administrator for Compass Technology Management in their Nashville Data Center supporting the Christian Broadcasting Network and NorthStar Studios in Nashville, TN. The majority of his experience, with slight deviations into Visual Basic, has been spent with Microsoft SQL Server from version 1.0 to whatever latest version that is in Beta. Louis' primary areas of expertise are in database architecture and coding in Transact-SQL, and he has written thousands of stored procedures and triggers throughout the years. Louis was a contributing author to "SQL Server 2000 Stored Procedure Handbook".

Product Details

• Paperback: 650 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (November 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590593022
• ISBN-13: 978-1590593028
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,833,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have been in the IT industry for over 14 years as a corporate database developer and architect. The majority of my experience has been with Microsoft SQL Server in every version that has been released since 4.21a. Currently I am a Senior Data Architect for Compass Technology Management, supporting the Christian Broadcasting Network and NorthStar Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
I have a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a minor in mathematics. I have been a volunteer with the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) for over five years. In October 2004 I was awarded the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award for SQL Server by Microsoft, an honor I am proud to have been given. In my 'free' time you can often find my writing for my blog http://spaces.msn.com/drsql or on the Microsoft SQL Server newsgroups and forums.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Design AND implementation, June 12, 2004

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pro SQL Server 2000 Database Design (Paperback)

How much do you already know about designing and implementing a SQL database? That is really two questions.

The first refers to applying a well trodden theory of SQL design to your application. What tables should you conceptually extract? How should these be interrelated by judicious choice of primary and foreign keys? What are the germane attributes in each table? All these issues are explained by Davidson in the first part of the book. He goes well into discussing how to normalise data, and the numerous normal forms. He does this at a level independent of SQL Server. So even if your database is dB2 or Oracle or whatever, you should be able to profitably gain something from his teachings.

But having designed your database, now comes having to implement it. The second part of the book. Here is the SQL Server specific material. The details specific to its implementation do matter. But you know what? A fair amount of the examples use mostly standard SQL commands. In your application, you should probably strive to do likewise, to the maximum extent possible. It minimises the amount of inevitable lockin to SQL Server.

There are also sections in the second part that apply to any relational database. Like his description of best practices, in chapter 13.

Davidson presents a useful balance between design and implementation. A favourable contrast to texts that predominently deal with only one aspect.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real-world approach to database design, May 26, 2005

By 

James A. Luetkehoelter (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pro SQL Server 2000 Database Design (Paperback)

This isn't your typical technical book. While Mr. Davidson does go into the technical aspects of logical and physical design, he does so in a way that the focus is not "how-to", but "how-should". It reads as if you're listen to a seasoned professional share his experience.

The book covers the entire database design process, from practical matters like discovering and refining business requirements to the actual implementation. Much of the information covered actually applies to any relational database platform. I've been doing this type of work for the last 10 years, and this book has a permament place on my bookshelf.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DB Design for the business world, December 16, 2005

By 

Stephen Collins (Georgia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pro SQL Server 2000 Database Design (Paperback)

I've read several books on SQL Server and database design, but this one, i think, give the best view on both.
The first half of the book is solely focused on the design, and business-oriented side of your database - the first three chapters are littered with "Consult your client, Consult your client, Consult your client," which keeps you in the mindset that your whole endeavor is focused on keeping the customer happy, which makes the whole process seem much more human than most of the other more technical books.
the second half covers every detail of how you would physically implement your solution, from how to build the tables, to what kind of hardware you would need, and even covers which version of Windows Server and SQL Server you would need for each job.

Overall, I simply love this whole book. And if you really want to complete your knowledge of SQL Server as a whole, couple this with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Unleashed (2nd Edition) by Sams, and you'll soon become a SQL monster.