Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example (Paperback)

~ Carlos Rojas (Author), Fernando Guerrero (Author)

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

Product Description

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 792 pages
• Publisher: Que (April 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789724499
• ISBN-13: 978-0789724496
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #670,728 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

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

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

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.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excelent, the best you can buy !!!, October 30, 2002

By	ENRIQUE (Clonskeagh, Dublin Ireland) - See all my reviews

I have been working more than four years with SQL Server, since version 6.5. In my work I have to cover all the funcionality in SQL Server as I am developer, administrator and so on. I have few SQL books as I find is quite simple to find almost anything in the BOLs.

But this book is the best I have ever seen to get into SQL Server and improve your skills, from the point of view of a developer there is not better book. It is also a incredible source of information for experts, it really explores all the new features you can find in SQL Server 2000.

I also know the two authors's work as they help many people in the SQL forums and I can say they are really good.

Enjoy it!!!