Pro T-SQL 2005 Programmer's Guide (Expert's Voice) (Paperback)

by Michael Coles (Author)
Key Phrases: key encrypting keys, test node, deleted virtual tables, Databasewide Returns, Imports System, Visual Studio (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Pro T-SQL 2005 Programmer's Guide provides comprehensive and detailed coverage of all the major features and facilities of T-SQL for SQL Server 2005. It is designed for all users of T-SQL, database administrators, systems administrators, application developers, and end-users, who want to learn how to exploit the power of T-SQL. Whatever you need to do with T-SQL, you'll find it described clearly here.

Stored procedures, triggers, and user-defined functions are only part of the story. Dynamic SQL, the new XML data type, and SQLCLR programming are also covered, as well as accessing SQL Server with ADO.NET. Exception handling and performance are fully covered, too. This book is truly a complete programmer's guide to T-SQL and SQL Server 2005.

About the Author

Michael Coles has over a decade’s experience designing and administering SQL Server databases. A prolific writer of articles on all aspects of SQL Server, particularly on the expert use of T–SQL, he holds MCDBA and MCP certifications. He received a bachelor’s of science (magna cum laude) in information technology from American Intercontinental University. A member of the United States Army Reserve, he was activated for two years following 9/11.

Product Details

• Paperback: 532 pages
• Publisher: Apress (April 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159059794X
• ISBN-13: 978-1590597941
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #130,024 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for every developer working with T-SQL - Review of Database Administrator SQLAuthority.com, September 14, 2007

By	Pinalkumar Dave "Pinal Dave" (SQLAuthority.com) - See all my reviews

Short Summary:
Pro T-SQL 2005 Programmer's Guide book examines SQL Server 2005 T-SQL from a developer's perspective. It covers a wide range of developer-specific topics in SQL Server 2005. This book covers many newly introduced topics in depth. This book is written as a practical and useful guide to help database developers who mainly deals with T-SQL. This book is really hit the spot with appropriate .NET code at few places where needed. This book assumes a basic knowledge of SQL but it is really easy for new beginners developers to understand and advanced developers to enjoy further reading.

Detailed Summary:
One thing I really liked about this book is that it can be either read cover to cover, or it can be used as a reference guide for one particular topic. Index of this book is extremely well organized and aids to find the right topic very quickly. Books is structure is many chapters and each chapter justifies the chapters with good details and proper amount of examples.

Each chapter has excellent advice and knowledge and filled with sample code (available online). The book is targeted specifically at SQL Server 2005 and the innovative ways to code T-SQL, new functions and commands. If is very easy to get started with this book and it immerses in comprehensive reading in no time. This book addresses many details and comparisons with T-SQL in very organized way. The examples are in very accurate and useful as well sufficient to targeted topics. This book addresses many of the real world issues with examples, discussions and solutions.

This book start with providing a brief history of T-SQL and the ANSI SQL standards. SQLCMD and SQL Server Management Studio are new tools to explore SQL Server 2005 and are covered in depth in beginning of the book. Chapters which covers Common Table Expressions (CTEs), new datatypes, operators, keywords, functions, and control of flows are really interesting and with necessary explanation. Readers of my blog are very well aware of my interests in Error handling and debugging. Interesting enough for me there is one whole chapter dedicated to that. The regular T-SQL concepts which I write a lot about Stored Procedure, Triggers and Dynamic SQL each have their own chapter. One thing many T-SQL book does not cover in depth is XML, XQuery and XPath which are properly discussed and their importance is explained properly. Last three chapter of the book which covers SQLCLR, .NET Client Programming and HTTP Endpoints requires the Microsoft .NET FrameWork 2.0, as it contains some code which are written in VB and C#.

One thing which I always liked in any database book is, use of sample database AdventureWorks. I strongly believe that all the example should be independent from previous examples and should use default database. If you have not installed default database AdventureWorks, you can get its latest location by searching in my blog SQLAuthority.com. All the script of examples are available to download online. No book is free from the errors and website for this book have errata list, which is surprisingly very small.

I will list few tips from book which interested me. This will give brief idea how good this book is.

"TABLESAMPLE always returns an approximate number of rows because of the way it samples data. The required percentage is the number of data pages SQL Server retreves in full to fulfill your TABLESAMPLE request. The number of rows returned by TABLESAMPLE will often be slightly less, or greater, than the specified amount."

"Anytime you use dynamic SQL, make sure that you take precautions against SQL injection, that is, malicious SQL Code being inserted into your SQL statements. In this instance we're using the QUOTENAME function to quote the column names being dynamically generated to help avoid SQL injection problems."

Following one example really caught my eyes while reading the book. It seems Author accurately described the situation and put his suggestion regarding syntax.
"The ANSI SQL:2003 standard includes a MERGE statement that performs the same function as the upsert type of SP. The prerelease versions of SQL Server 2005 included the MERGE statement. Though it was well-publicized during the prerelease period, the MERGE statement was unceremoniously dropped from the production version. We can only hope that Microsoft brings it back sometime in the near future."
Good news is Microsoft have included the Authors request in future version of SQL Server. SQL Server 2008 CTP 4 has included MERGE Keyword.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 stars

In Summary, A book for every developer who want to take full advantage of the power of T-SQL on SQL Server 2005.

Pinal Dave
Principal Database Administrator
(blog.sqlauthority.com)

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction to T-SQL, June 9, 2007

By	D. Meehan "query girl" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book a wonderful introduction to T-SQL on SQL Server 2005. The author's writing style is authoritative but easy to understand. The dozens of samples help to make the concepts presented even more concrete. In particular I found the chapters on the new SQL Server XML features, XQuery, and encryption functionality particularly enlightening. These new features are especially useful to me in integrating applications and ensuring HIPAA compliance. These tools are now an indispensable part of my tool set, and this book is the best introduction I've found yet.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Tool for SQL Developers and Administators, June 23, 2007

By	Reginald Tyler "Reggie Tyler" (Springfield Gardens, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Pro T SQL Programmers Guide is an excellent resource to jump start your SQL Server 2005 development efforts. Michael Coles presents clear, concise examples that will guide the reader from T-SQL fundamentals to the use of the new xml data type,http endpoints, sqlclr programming, encryption and more. A clear read with great practical examples.



I would highly recommend this book as a reference and guide book for t-sql developers, dba's and development professionals