Customer Reviews

Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL in 10 Minutes

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am brand new to SQL Server and have been reading a handful of large SQL Server for beginners type books, but I kept getting hung up on all the T-SQL commands. No book seemed to explain it clearly, or they'd suddenly introduce a series of mind-numbing code without explanation - assuming you knew it. Fortunately for me, I stumbled on this gem of a book. It is well laid out, concise, and there is no filler. It starts with the absolute basics and works on up through to more complex T-SQL scripts (stored procedures, cursors, triggers etc.), but by the time you get there - you're more confident with this stuff. I'd highly recommend this book if you want to learn T-SQL.

Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL in 10 Minutes (Sams Teach Yourself)
by Ben Forta

Short Review:
If T-SQL (Transact-Structured Query Language) is foreign tongue to you, after reading this book, you will speak T-SQL. This book is SQL Server version of best-selling book Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes. This book teaches what a SQL developer must know methodically, systematically, and exactly. Anybody who are new to SQL Server and wants to learn most of T-SQL which can be implemented in short time in their application - BUY this book immediately.

Detail Review:
This is the one book I was awaiting eagerly. I claim that I am very experience Database Administrator and Database Developer, however, I have learned something new from this book of acclaimed author Ben Forta.

This book is focused on T-SQL only. It begins with simple data retrieval and continues to develop complex topics. It addresses various topics that are enough to get some work done with SQL Server as well explains concept in depth. SQL Server 2005 is a very complex, feature rich product. This book does a wonderful job of explaining the various features with out going to too many details that majority of the users will not need anyway. This book covers all of the important aspects of SQL Server 2005 without clouding the information with tons of examples that are not for every user.

Author has divided the book into short comprehensible chapters along with to the point examples and explanations of the concepts. If you see "Table of Contents" of this book, you will find that this book covers many areas. I will talk about few of my personal favorite chapters of this book here to demonstrate, what this book does is best at.

Chapter 5: Sorting Retrieved Data
If you want to sort in descending order on multiple columns, be sure each column has its own DESC keyword.
When you are sorting textual data, is A the same as a? And does a come before B or after Z? In dictionary sort order, A is treated the same as a. If you need an alternate sort order, you can not accomplish it with a simple ORDER BY clause.
It is not required, and it is perfectly legal to sort data by a column that is not retrieved.

Chapter 10: Using Data Manipulation Functions
It is far safer to always use a full four digit year so that SQL Server does not have to make any assumptions for you.
When comparing dates, always use DATEDIFF(), and do not make assumptions about how dates are stored.

Chapter 15: Creating Advanced Joins
It is worth noting that table aliases are only used during query execution. Unlike column aliases, table aliases are never returned to the client.
Self joins are often used to replace statements using subqueries that retrieve data from the same table as the outer statement. Sometimes these joins execute far more quickly than do subqueries.

Chapter 22: Programming with T-SQL
This is my most favorite chapter. Experienced programmers will find this chapter most interesting.

To discover the secret of SQL, this is the book you need to read, extremely well written, easy to follow and most importantly to the point. This has got to be the smallest SQL book in existence with highest amount of quality content. A really MUST have book.

Rating: 5 stars

In Summary, A MUST read.

Pinal Dave
Principal Database Administrator
(http://www.SQLAuthority.com)

This is a great book for any newbie to T-SQL. There are lots of examples and each of those is accompanied by an explanation, without assuming that you already knew something (a pet peeve of mine for many how-to books). The chapters are broken up well and each leads into the next seamlessly. It is not the ultimate reference guide, but if you are looking to learn and understand how T-SQL works, then this is the book for you.

I've read a few T-SQL books and I must say this book gets the job done in a quick, concise, easy to understand way. If you want to learn T-SQL or get back up to speed quick after being away from it for awhile. This is the book.

This book is good for a college freshman. If you are a professional who needs to refresh in T-SQL, the book is too easy.

I have some familiarity with SQL but new to SQL Server T-SQL. Forta's book is perfect for my needs: it is organized logically; each lesson is laid out logically; the examples were meaningful; and all the notes and cautions were great.

Forta's style is very clear and succinct. I've read many of his other books on ColdFusion and he demonstrates the same knowledge understanding here as he did with those books.

The "in 10 Minutes" format was also great for my level of knowledge. You get a level of satisfaction as you complete each small lesson and as you progress, you feel you are mastering the subject. I finally understand what cursors are and how to use them.

I'll be next reviewing a T-SQL text that goes even deeper into the language. With the background gained from Forta's book, I think this process should be rather effortless!

I highly recommend this book and any others by this author.

Every analyst who starts at our company gets one of these reference books. To my delight - and admittedly my surprise - I see most of them use it frequently. I honestly expected them to search online instead of using the book. Sometimes old-school works.

I have two - one for home and one for the office. It is great for those occasional syntaxes that I forget. Also has a very good section on cursor programming.

Only two complaints:
(1) As of this review (Sep 2011) the book is only current to SQL Server 2005
(2) There is no mention of the CASE statement

Otherwise, a great book to help teach beginners, as well as an occasional reference for the more advanced.

This book does what it claims up front, it is meant to be a starting point for T-SQL 2005. It takes you step by step in an easy way through the topic. If you are familiar with Ben Forta's style from his other books then you know what to expect.
Good luck.

I have some background in sql but not a lot. This book helps me to construct queries. Answers are easy to find. Probably not the right book for someone who wants to become an in-depth sql expert, but for a memory jog or for someone who needs sql from time to time this is a very good choice.

There is a quick way to tell when a writer really isn't up to snuff on SQL Server. They will use ANSI 89 syntax. That's exactly what this writer does throughout the book. SQL Server has used ANSI 92 and later syntax forever. SQL Server can deal with the clunkier '89 syntax for backwards compatability, but anyone who teaches SQL Server with it should be avoided. One reason the older syntax is so prevalent in books is that Oracle relied on it until quite recently. Those writers coming from the Oracle world are less likely to use the more up to date, intuitive and flexible syntax native to SQL Server. Here is a quick and easy way for anyone to tell if the writer knows their SQL Server stuff. Search the book for table join examples. If the syntax looks like: ... FROM Table1, Table2 WHERE This = That ... BAD NEWS. If the syntax looks like: ... FROM Table1 INNER JOIN Table2 ON This = That ... GOOD NEWS. Guess what you will find in this book.

Bruce Kirkpatrick
MCSA, MCSE, MCSD, MCDBA, MCT, etc, etc