Professional SQL Server 7.0 Programming (Paperback)

I. Particulars and History - Building DB Connected Systems, Data Access Models.

II. RDBMS - The components of a SQL Server DB

III. Tools of the Trade - Client/Server Network Utilities, Enterprise Manager, DTS, MS DTC, Performance Monitor, Profiler, Query Analyzer, OSQL, Service Manager

Then The Good Stuff:

First the basics:

IV. The Foundation Statements of T-SQL - Select, Where, ETC.

V. Joining Tables - Inner/Outer, Cross, Full, Union

VI. Creating and Altering Tables

Then the Intermediate Stuff:

VII. Constraints - Primary Keys, Foreign Keys, Unique, Check, Default, Disabling, Rules, Triggers

VIII.Normalization and Basic Design Issues - Relationships, Diagramming, De-Normalizing, Examples

Then the Advanced Stuff:

IX. Speeding Performance: Storage and Index Structures

X. Views - Simple, Complex, Editing, etc.

XI. Writing Scripts and Batches - OSQL

XII. Code Storage: Stored Procedures - Intermediate to Advanced - This is pretty much exhaustivly covered. Includes error handling, control of flow.

XIII.Transactions and Locks - More advanced SProc handling, Checkpoints, Locks and Concurrancy, Handling Deadlocks

XIV. Triggers - A truely great chapter, untangling what is usually a badly explained subject.

And a lot more... Chapters 15 through 25 cover the really advanced subjects like: Advanced Queries, Distributed Queries/Transactions, SQL Cursors, BCP, DTS, Replication (in detail), Advanced DB Design, OLAP (in detail), English Query and Full Text Search, Security (very well done), Performance Tuning (in detail), Advanced Administration.

The appendices cover: Global Variables, Functions, Tools, Error Listing, Access Upsizing. An excellent index rounds out the package. If you are worried about coverage on any of the above topics...don't the book is a real luggable (1.5" thick, a couple of pounds in weight).

The only other book I would recommend to round out the SQL Server DBA's library would be MS Press' Administrator's Pocket Guide. You really won't need anything else! This book is a must have.

Rob Vieira obviously has real world experience with SQL Server, and it shows between the covers of SQL Server 7 Programming. I'd suggest you read the book from cover to cover, all along the way picking up little tips and suggestions, remembering what you may have forgotten, and learning a whole lot of new tips and tricks that you never knew (or at least I didn't know about).

The book's title doesn't fairly represent the content in my opinion. This book covers almost everything about SQL 7 Server, from T-SQL basics through OLAP, tuning, replication (a great chapter), etc. If there is a "bible" for SQL 7 Server, this book is it.

Professional SQL Server 7.0 Programming tacles the challenges that programmers face in the real world and it does it with in-depth discussion and examples. You hardly need to refere to other sources for more information.

What's more, I was pleasantly amazed when the author returned my email cry for help within a half hour. I was faced with a Microsoft bug in SQL 7 and Microsoft tech support was no where to be found. Mr. Vieira's prompt response saved the day. I don't expect the author to substitute for Microsoft technical support, but the incident convinced me that he was a working programmer's writing from the view point of a programmer.

I look forwards to buying any other books that he will author. How about one on MS Visual Interdev or ASP?