Murach's SQL Server 2008 for Developers (Murach: Training & Reference) (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: table designer, login properties, user mapping, Management Studio, Visual Studio, Books Online (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book is designed to teach application developers all of the skills they need to use SQL to work with a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 database. But it's also a great first book for developers who are on the path to becoming a DBA.

Unlike most SQL Server 2008 books, this one starts by showing you how to use SQL queries to extract and update the data in a database, because that's what every application developer needs to know first. Then, it shows how to design and implement a database, how to use powerful backend database features like views, stored procedures, functions, triggers, cursors, transactions, locking, security, and how to work with BLOB and XML data. Finally, it shows how to use the CLR integration feature to create database objects using a .NET language such as C# or Visual Basic.

From the publisher

The SQL book that most developers don't even know they need that's how I think of this book.

To be an effective application developer, you need to master SQL for the database you re going to be using. But many developers get by with the SQL they know, never realizing how much they're missing out on.

So this is first of all a book for developers who use Microsoft SQL Server as their DBMS (though it can help you if you want to master standard SQL, too). No matter how much SQL experience you have, you'll find new features that you haven't been taking advantage of.

In section 1, you ll learn the concepts and terms you need for working with any database. You ll also learn how to use the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio to work with queries and databases. At that point, you ll be prepared for rapid progress as you learn SQL.

In section 2, you ll learn all the skills for retrieving data from a database and for adding, updating, merging, and deleting that data. These skills move from the simple to the complex so you won t have any trouble if you re a SQL novice. And they present skills like using outer joins, summary queries, and subqueries that will raise your SQL expertise if you do have SQL experience.

In section 3, you ll learn how to design a database and how to implement that design using either SQL DDL (Data Definition Language) statements or the Management Studio. When you re done, you ll be able to design and implement your own databases. But even if you re never called upon to do that, this section will give you perspective that will make you a better SQL developer.

Section 4 presents the skills for working with database features like views, stored procedures, functions, triggers, cursors, transactions, and security. It teaches you how to use SQL features to work with XML data. And it shows you how to use the 2008 FILESTREAM storage feature to work with binary large objects (BLOBs) such as image, sound, and video files. These are the features that give a DBMS much of its power and that give you an extra edge in your SQL skills.

To complete your SQL Server skills, section 5 shows you how to use the CLR integration feature. This feature allows you to create database objects like stored procedures and user-defined types using a .NET language like C# or Visual Basic.

About the Author

Joel Murach has been writing and editing books about computer programming for over 10 years. During that time, he has written extensively on a wide range of Java, .NET, web, and database technologies. When he's not programming or writing books about programming, he can be found surfing or writing music.

Product Details

• Paperback: 748 pages
• Publisher: Mike Murach & Associates; 3rd edition (November 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890774510
• ISBN-13: 978-1890774516
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,407 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent technical reference for SQL Server 2008, January 3, 2009

By	J. Huang "A humble programmer" (Mobile, AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After spent the past few years as developer/DBA for Oracle databases, SQL server is required during my recent projects. I find myself often spending too much time on simple issues such as how to perform a date and/or date time search. Microsoft SQL/T-SQL syntax is a little bit different from Oracle PL/SQL syntax.

This book really saves me time and effort. This format of this book is like a technical how-to manual or cook book. I extremely love this kind of format because I can quickly refer to a particular issue. The topic is usually concise and easy to understand.

This book is for developers not DBAs. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn SQL Server 2008. Of course, basic programming skills are the pre-requisites. In addition, it is very useful as an excellent technical reference book for more experienced programmers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best SQL Server Text I have come across, June 17, 2009

By	Daniel A. Joseph "RITMISProf" (Pittsford, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am an MIS professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology and I consult in the MIS area on a regular basis. My consulting has included work using SQL Server and writing/modifying SQL Server Scripts. This text is by far the best introductory text I have come across for SQL Server and I have reviewed and used many. It is not only good for use in class but it is an excellent reference for anyone who is writing or altering SQL Server Scripts.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good How-To Reference for SQL Server, February 28, 2009

By	James C. Lin (San Marino, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is my first Murach book, and I am very impressed by the "paired-pages" approach, which is very helpful for the reader to grasp key points. The "How-To" style makes it very practical for beginning to junior level SQL Server developers to find answers and examples. I like the typefaces and font sizes used, and these together with the line spacing used make it very comfortable to read.

Some IT books skip explaining certain fundamental details and terms, assuming that the reader already knows about them. This is not the case for this book, which makes it additionally easy and pleasant to read.

Not only does the book have good coverage of database design, normalization, and SQL query syntax, but it also covers cursors, transactions, locking, security, BLOBs, XML, and FILESTREAM all the way through SQL CLR integration. Some of the new features and data types in SQL Server 2008 are also covered.

My biggest disappointment in this book is its lack of coverage of the new spatial data types and their related functions introduced in SQL Server 2008. Perhaps that deserves a separate book.