Hitchhiker's Guide to Visual Basic & SQL Server: William R. Vaughn (Microsoft Programming Series) (Paperback)

by William R. Vaughn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
So you have valuable data stashed away in a Microsoft SQL Server database and you want a rapidly deployable way of getting to it? Visual Basic 5.0 and William Vaughn's book may have all the answers you need. Unlike many programming books that jump right into dense code listings, Vaughn takes a much-needed initial look at database-design issues, hardware requirements, the various types of cursors and queries, and how to plan your implementation strategy. On the other hand, this is no beginner's title: Vaughn assumes a strong familiarity with databases and with Visual Basic, and the book's value is not as a tutorial but rather as a detailed reference to techniques for accessing SQL Server databases from Visual Basic.

Product Description
n the newest edition of the unmatched classic, Microsoft insider Bill Vaughn shows developers how to use Visual Basic 5.0 to access data via SQL Server. This fifth edition of the book also reveals the possibilities within the latest Visual Basic 5.0 technology-including its new ability to support a fully event-driven model. All in all, it offers thorough coverage of the full arsenal of data access techniques. Widely respected for its wealth of hard-won, practical insights and its encyclopedic breadth, this book has achieved a loyal following-and near-cult status-in its four earlier editions. The book assumes a working knowledge of Visual Basic, an understanding of SQL Server administration, and the ability to create Transact SQL commands and batches. The CD contains a new sample database based on the Jet BIBLIO database, plus sample code and white papers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 784 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Pr; 5th edition (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572315679
• ISBN-13: 978-1572315679
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,360,667 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money on this., May 19, 1999

By A Customer

Just when you think he might give you some useful information, he blurts out some attempt at humor. I'm trying to learn access to SQL/Server from Visual Basic and he' trying to be funny. And by the way, where's the code! Be forewarned, this book has very little code examples of whatever it is Mr. Vaughn is trying to explain.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Smaller than it appears, January 4, 2000

By A Customer

This is a ½ inch book compressed into nearly 2 inches. Take out the author's chatty and "colorful" asides, and where's the beef?

Maybe there's some good stuff on the CD-ROM. Nothing in the book led me to believe so, and I haven't looked.

There are some interesting historical and business sidelights, however this does not compensate for the lack of solid technical information. The author is now a Microsoft employee, and has taught VB. I certainly would not pay Microsoft's prices for training of the same quality as this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacks practical application, June 29, 1998

By A Customer

This book does cover a lot of technical details about how VB and SQL server work together. However it is filled with non working examples, lacks practical examples, contains boring and unnecessary history, assumes that you have worked with VB and SQL from VB 3.0. The book is more the author's experiences wth development at Microsoft and not the real day to day application for us programming consultants who need answers and fast. I have spent 10 hours with the book and only have managed to read 40% of it because of it is slow reading. There is an enormous amount of repetition in the book. The abundance of sidebars such as the IMHO detract from continuity. Also I have 3 hours into the first example in chapter 2 which was published incorrectly.