Beginning VB 2008 Databases: From Novice to Professional (Beginning: from Novice to Professional) (Paperback)

~ (Author), James Huddleston (Author)
Key Phrases: trans test, temporary tables, new string, Try It Out, Visual Studio, Integrated Security (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Beginning VB 2008 Databases teaches you everything you need to know about relational databases, SQL, and ADO.NET 2.0, giving you a sound start in developing console and Windows database applications. The book also includes chapters on the new SQL Server XML data type and the forthcoming LINQ enhancements to the next version of Visual Basic.

In addition to teaching you database basics like using SQL to communicate with databases, this book provides you with detailed, code-practical techniques to access data in Visual Basic 2008 across a range of coding situations. Code-heavy and full of practical detail, this book has been fully revised and upgraded for .NET 3.5 and offers you the best contemporary practice in this core programming area, so that you’ll find yourself using it in nearly all your .NET projects.

• Provides step-by-step instructions on how to install and configure necessary tools
• Presents all essential SQL query and update concepts and syntax, so you don’t need prior familiarity with relational databases or SQL
• Describes how to use ADO.NET transactions, exceptions, and events
• Covers ADO.NET features for handling XML, text, and binary data within a Visual Basic 2008 context
• Explains all concepts through straightforward code examples

What you’ll learn

• How relational databases work and how to use them
• How Visual Basic uses ADO.NET to access databases
• How to write stored procedures in T-SQL and call them from Visual Basic programs
• How to use XML in database applications
• How to use LINQ to simplify VB database programming
• How to install SQL Server 2005 Express and use it to teach yourself databases by doing databases

Who is this book for?

Beginning VB 2008 Databases is for every VB programmer. Database programming requires relatively little knowledge of VB but a lot of knowledge about relational database concepts and the database language SQL. This book assumes no prior database experience and teaches you, always through hands-on examples, how to create and use relational databases with SQL and how to access them with VB. Almost every application needs to access a database, and this book teaches all the fundamentals you may ever need to develop professional database applications.

About the Apress Beginning Series

The Beginning series from Apress is the right choice to get the information you need to land that crucial entry-level job. These books will teach you a standard and important technology from the ground up because they are explicitly designed to take you from “novice to professional.” You’ll start your journey by seeing what you need to knowbut without needless theory and filler. You’ll build your skill set by learning how to put together real-world projects step by step. So whether your goal is your next career challenge or a new learning opportunity, the Beginning series from Apress will take you thereit is your trusted guide through unfamiliar territory!

About the Author

Vidya Vrat Agarwal, a Microsoft .NET Purist and an MCT, MCPD, MCTS, MCSD.NET, MCAD.NET, and MCSD, works with Lionbridge Technologies (NASDAQ: LIOX), and his business card reads Subject Matter Expert (SME). He is also a lifetime member of the Computer Society of India (CSI). He started working on Microsoft .NET with its beta release. He has been involved in software development, evangelism, consultation, corporate training, and T3 programs on Microsoft .NET for various employers and corporate clients. His articles can be read at http://www.ProgrammersHeaven.com, and he also reviews .NET Preparation Kits, available at http://www.UCertify.com. He has contributed as technical reviewer to many books published by Apress; presently he is authoring another book, Beginning VB 2008 Databases: From Novice to Professional.

He lives with his beloved wife, Rupali, and lovely daughter, Vamika (“Pearly”). He believes that nothing will turn into a reality without them. He is the follower of the concept No Pain, No Gain and believes that his wife is his greatest strength. He is a bibliophile; when he is not working on technical stuff, he likes to be with his family and also likes reading spiritual and occult science books. He blogs at http://dotnetpassion.blogspot.com. You can reach him at [e-mail].

James Huddleston has worked with computers since 1974, specializing in database design and development since 1980. He has a bachelor's degree in Latin and Greek from the University of Pennsylvania and a juris doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh. A technical reviewer of dozens of computer books, including Beginning C# Objects: From Concepts to Code, he finds databases an endlessly fascinating area of work and almost as intellectually rewarding as his hobby: translating Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" from the original Greek.

Product Details

• Paperback: 409 pages
• Publisher: Apress (April 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590599470
• ISBN-13: 978-1590599471
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #315,776 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, January 22, 2009

By	Leonard E. Gray - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

It is apparent that the people that wrote "great" reviews on this book must be family or friends. This book is certainly NOT for novices and contains nothing for professionals.

It gives example but no "real world" applications as to the reason for the code that is used as examples.

The author does not include all steps for the user and "assumes" that unmentioned steps would be "known".

Additionally, the listings simply do not compile or work.

I spent more time trying to figure-out why a listing did not work than I spent on the book. I even posted a question to the author three weeks ago and got no response.

I have purchased hundreds of textbooks over my career and I will be demanding a refund for the first time in my 38-year programming career.

SAVE YOUR MONEY !!!!

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beginning VB 2008 Databases, April 18, 2008

By	Andrew D. Mckinney "Barney" (Anniston, AL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Not what I expected. I was looking for a book to help me use the features of VB 2008 to create and use databases. While this book is very authorative, it does very little to ade me in my goal. The examples and descriptions are all based on using Console application forms in VB. While this gives you the technical information for manipulating databases, it does nothing to examine and instruct one in benifiting from the "high level" commands and form controls available in VB 2008. The title should just be Beginning Databases: From Novice to Professional, with very little emphasis on VB 2008!

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good Book for VB6 ADO programmer jumping into .NET, September 14, 2009

By	F. Tristan (Canoga Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you need help in moving your older VB database programing skills into the .NET world this is the book for you. This book will teach you all the basic skills you would expect to know in working with ADO.Net and SQL Server. This book may not be for a very beginning student because it assumes you understand the basics of database programming. This book may not be for the advanced professional because this book is not heavy into theory, just enough theory to get the task done. It is more of a 'how to' book showing how to do basic database programming tasks in the ADO.NET way.