The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL

Customer Reviews:

If I could only have one book for sql server..........2007-09-13

...this would be it.

I have worked with Microsoft SQL Server day in and day out for many years now, and I have owned this book ever since it first came out. I have had some pretty funky tasks to perform with data and this book has come through with excellent solutions each and every time. I absolutely cannot tout it highly enough. It is easy to read, and full of actually useful code examples and information rather than pages of code printouts that are just filler.

If you work writing code for SQL Server, this book belongs on your bookshelf, if not on your desk.

Excellent material, just getting a bit long in the tooth.......2007-08-01

I bought this book seven years ago when doing my MCDBA in SQL Server 7.0. At the time I was focussing on getting my certifications and upon a cursory browsing, just couldn't get into this book.

Well it's now 2007, and having spent the last 7 years working with SQL Server 7.0, 2000 and 2005 I decided it was time to try this book again. I mention this to give a reference to where I'm coming from when I type the following comments.

First up, with the passage of time since publication, one would expect the material in this book to be well out of date - and as it turns out, you would not be disappointed. So before reading, I checked if any newer editions had been published since the first edition, and discovered there have been none - an assumed expectation considering the success of this book and that SQL Server has been updated and will continue to do so. As a consequence, expect some of the material and examples to be somewhat outdated (Transact-SQL syntax and methods have changed somewhat since publication). As an example, the section on error handling in stored procedures chapter has been outdated with TRY...CATCH exception handling, along with other examples of Transact-SQL syntax flagged to be retired.

All that aside, the true value in this book is the Transact-SQL samples. The author progresses through a problem using increasingly advanced SQL statements and explains each along the way. There is a sequence of chapters on "Runs and Sequences", "Arrays", "Sets" and "Hierarchies" that I thought could have been referenced elsewhere with more pages spent on practical areas of interest. Otherwise, as you can read from other reviews, the material covered is generally of a high standard.

As stated in other reviews, this is not a "Learn Transact-SQL" book, but more of a "Here is some Transact-SQL code that might help you".

The CD included contains just the Transact-SQL code samples from the book and is arranged in per chapter folder hierarchy.

Overall - a great if not somewhat terse effort. However, an updated version covering the Transact-SQL language changes in SQL 2005 would make this a 5 star book.

Great recommendation!.......2007-05-10

This book was recommended by a SQL consultant our company hired to improve the speed of our servers and it was well worth it! It covered a lot of the topics he had trained us on and gave very easy to follow examples.

Don't waste your time - buy this book.......2007-04-28

Although it's billed as a T-SQL book and it's written specifically for SQL Server 2000, I'd recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about SQL. Programming books are by and large a wasteland of fluff, bloat, poor writing, sloppy mistakes, and misinformation - this book is a happy exception. The writer clearly knows his stuff, he writes in a no-nonsense conversational style, and he has a knack for zeroing in on the tricky subtleties and making them clear. This is practically unheard of in the realm of programming literature. (Since writing this series of books, the author has been hired by the evil empire in Redmond, so I wouldn't expect his next book to be nearly as disarmingly frank and insightful as this one.)

Still one of the best references.......2007-03-14

I've used this book as a reference for 3 years.

Great straight forward examples. Logical presentation.

If you dream in SQL (you know who you are) this is a great book to own.

Beginning Transact-SQL With SQL Server 2000 and 2005

Average customer rating:

Does not cover the important new features
Practical and Usable
Good for non-techie beginners!
Paul Turley takes my TSQL blues away! Great Book!!

Beginning Transact-SQL With SQL Server 2000 and 2005
Paul Turley , and Dan Wood
Manufacturer: Wrox
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Beginning SQL Server 2005 Programming (Programmer to Programmer)
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SQL Server 2005 T-SQL Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach
Beginning SQL Server 2005 Administration
The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL

ASIN: 076457955X

Book Description

Beginning Transact-SQL with SQL Server 2000 and 2005

Transact-SQL is a powerful implementation of the ANSI standard SQL database query language. In order to build effective database applications, you must gain a thorough understanding of these features. This book provides you with a comprehensive introduction to the T-SQL language and shows you how it can be used to work with both the SQL Server 2000 and 2005 releases.

Beginning with an overview of the SQL Server query operations and tools that are used with T-SQL, the author goes on to explain how to design and build applications of increasing complexity. By gaining an understanding of the power of the T-SQL language, you'll be prepared to meet the ever-increasing demands of programming.

What you will learn from this book

How T-SQL provides you with the means to create tools for managing hundreds of databases
Various programming techniques that use views and stored procedures
Ways to optimize query performance
How to create databases that will be an essential foundation to applications you develop later

Who this book is for

This book is for database developers and administrators who have not yet programmed with Transact-SQL. Some familiarity with relational databases and basic SQL is helpful, and some programming experience is helpful.

Wrox Beginning guides are crafted to make learning programming languages and technologies easier than you think, providing a structured, tutorial format that will guide you through all the techniques involved.

Customer Reviews:

Does not cover the important new features.......2006-05-20

I bought the book, based on previous positive critics here (Amazon). The implication was that this book covers the new features of SQL Server 2005. Well, the first one that I was looking for, the PIVOT (crosstab) is not even mentioned, let alone covered even briefly. I did not search all the new features, but if you want a book that cover both old and new features, this one is certainly NOT the one that you should look for.
The publisher rep tried to tell me that no one book could cover all subjects. This is true, but for a book that specialize in T-SQL and T-SQL only, the features should have been covered, or, at least mentioned briefly.
I've found books that cover the new features only, or the old features only. The quest is not over for me, yet.
ZA

Practical and Usable.......2006-03-01

The authors have experience both as T-SQL developers and trainers, and it shows. Essential concepts and techniques are explained clearly without talking down to the reader. There's thorough coverage of the most commonly used T-SQL elements, in an easy-to-read style. It's well organized and includes appendices and a good index, making it easy to use as a reference. I work with both SQL Server 2000 and 2005, so it's ideal that the book covers both environments.

There are tons of code samples; most of them use the AdventureWorks database so reproducing them is easy. The exercises at the end of each chapter are good practice - not too difficult, but still good at reinforcing the content (answers are in the back of the book). Parts of my work involve reporting, so I found the chapter on doing Reporting Services development helpful as well. The biggest drawback I've found to this book is that my copy keeps getting borrowed..

Good for non-techie beginners! .......2006-02-23

I don't consider myself a techie but recently became interested in learning more about SQL and how it can help me do my job more efficiently. I found the structure, content and style of this book to be very useful in my quest to teach myself the program. It was easy to understand and helped me to learn the basics with a hands-on approach. My lack of experience caught up to me in some of the later chapters but overall I found the book extremely informative and I've benefited greatly from reading it.

Paul Turley takes my TSQL blues away! Great Book!!.......2006-02-18

Paul's book was incredibly helpful with completing my T-SQL project. I was struggling with reading some stored procedures and DTS packages and couldn't get my brain around what the heck was going on inside management studio. So... I picked up Beginning Transact-SQL and had those sprocs pegged in no time! Paul made following the code a cinch and I'm now able to write and document ETL in no time. Paul's book really was a life (and job..?) saver!

SQL Server 2005 T-SQL Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach

Average customer rating:

Excellent Reference for T-SQL on SQL Server 2005
Useful for a programmer
Very good book. Worth the cash.
good book
Limited coverage yet very handy

SQL Server 2005 T-SQL Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach
Joseph Sack
Manufacturer: Apress
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

Workflow in the 2007 Microsoft Office System
Pro C# with .NET 3.0, Special Edition (Pro)
Microsoft SharePoint: Building Office 2007 Solutions in C# 2005 (Expert's Voice in Sharepoint)

ASIN: 159059570X

Book Description

If you are looking for a succinct, easy to use, and up-to-date reference guide for SQL Server 2005 and T-SQL, I highly recommend SQL Server 2005 T-SQL Recipes.

— David Hayden, .NET Developer

Each chapter is completely autonomous, so you can just look up the syntax you need at the time without having to rely on knowledge from previous chapters. It's really an excellent reference that deserves a place on your desk.

— Sean McCown, ITBookworm

Need to brush up on specific SQL Server tasks, procedures, or Transact-SQL commands? Not finding what you need from SQL Server books online? Or perhaps you just want to familiarize yourself with the practical application of new T-SQL--related features. SQL Server 2005 T-SQL Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach is an ideal book, whatever your level as a DBA or developer.

This "no-fluff" desk reference offers direct access to the information you need to get the job done. It covers basic T-SQL data manipulation, the use of stored procedures, triggers and UDFs, and advanced T-SQL techniques for database security and maintenance. It also provides hundreds of practical recipes that describe the utilities of features and functions, with a minimim of background theory.

Additionally, this book provides "how-to" answers to common SQL Server T-SQL questions, conceptual overviews, and highlights of new features introduced in SQL Server 2005. It also features concise T-SQL syntax examples, and you can use the book to prepare for a SQL Server-related job interview or certification test.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Reference for T-SQL on SQL Server 2005.......2007-07-04

I picked this book to refresh my T-SQL after spending a year on an Oracle project. It is incredibly annoying at how little differences in PL\SQL and T-SQL can mess up a script! However, this book is indexed very well with good explanations of the results as well as the syntax. I generally find what I need a lot faster than with on-line help. Between this book and the Red-Gate SQL tools, getting back up to speed on SQL Server 2005 was a breeze.

Useful for a programmer.......2007-06-14

The book is well-written.
It has a lot of useful examples.

Very good book. Worth the cash........2007-03-15

This book has a lot of useful stuff in it for beginning t-sql authors. I paid full price for it when it came out, and I feel like I got my money's worth, which is pretty rare. I tend to hit this book more than my other tsql books at work, even though its billed as a recipie book instead of a reference book. Very good job.

good book.......2006-10-30

This book has a lot of tips and tricks to write your queries, I have not read it yet but bunch of my colleagues are using it and benefitting from it

Limited coverage yet very handy.......2006-08-19

Sack's book is of unusually high quality for its publisher, Apress, in providing plainspoken and consistently organized descriptions of its topic. Despite limited coverage of SQL Server 2005, it has proven very handy. As of summer, 2006, it really has no competition in providing practical advice about using SQL Server 2005 other than the Books Online documents from Microsoft.

Sack's book has three practical limitations. It covers mainly data manipulation with less attention to data definition. In particular, it does not explain how to use the SQL Server Management Studio or the similar services imbedded in Visual Studio 2005, which have become the primary tools for data definition in many shops.

The book does not provide concise but full descriptions of many elements of T-SQL syntax. Instead it concentrates on "basic" or "simplified" syntax. For full descriptions one must often wade into Microsoft's Books Online documents.

Sack's book does not explain how to use ADO.NET classes to execute SQL Server commands. Today they have become the primary interface for many software applications, and they can present complex issues of their own.

Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005 (Learning)

Average customer rating:

A Perfect book for beginners and Excellent read for others - Review of Database Administrator SQLAuthority.com
Good, but does have errors
VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Excellent Way To Learn SQL & SQL Server 2005

Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005 (Learning)
Sikha Bagui , and Richard Earp
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596102151

Book Description

Anyone who interacts with today's modern databases needs to know SQL (Structured Query Language), the standard language for generating, manipulating, and retrieving database information. In recent years, the dramatic rise in the popularity of relational databases and multi-user databases has fueled a healthy demand for application developers and others who can write SQL code efficiently and correctly.

If you're new to databases, or need a SQL refresher, Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005 is an ideal step-by-step introduction to this database query tool, with everything you need for programming SQL using Microsoft's SQL Server 2005-one of the most powerful and popular database engines used today. Plenty of books explain database theory. This guide lets you apply the theory as you learn SQL. You don't need prior database knowledge, or even prior computer knowledge.

Based on a popular university-level course designed by authors Sikha Saha Bagui and Richard Walsh Earp, Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005 starts with very simple SQL concepts, and slowly builds into more complex query development. Every topic, concept, and idea comes with examples of code and output, along with exercises to help you gain proficiency in SQL and SQL Server 2005. With this book, you'll learn:

Beginning SQL commands, such as how and where to type an SQL query, and how to create, populate, alter and delete tables
How to customize SQL Server 2005's settings and about SQL Server 2005's functions
About joins, a common database mechanism for combining tables
Query development, the use of views and other derived structures, and simple set operations
Subqueries, aggregate functions and correlated subqueries, as well as indexes and constraints that can be added to tables in SQL Server 2005

Whether you're an undergraduate computer science or MIS student, a self-learner who has access to the new Microsoft database, or work for your company's IT department, Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005 will get you up to speed on SQL in no time.

Customer Reviews:

A Perfect book for beginners and Excellent read for others - Review of Database Administrator SQLAuthority.com.......2007-08-14

SQLAuthority.com Book Review :
Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005 (Learning) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)
by Sikha Bagui, Richard Earp

Short Review:
This books covers simple and complex concept in very easy language with lots of examples. Every beginner can learn a great amount of tips from experienced authors. Whether you are a self-learner, new to databases or in need of SQL refresher, this is good read.

Detail Review:
This book is written by two conceptual strong SQL Server Gurus. SQL Server is growing extremely popular in the area of high-performance data applications. It is very important to learn about new features of SQL Server.

This book truly represents the concept and the motive authors holds while writing the book. The book is written as systematic guide to learning SQL using SQL Server 2005 - a relational and multi-user database.

This book starts with simple SQL concepts of management studio, simple select clauses, creating database and tables from scratch. It starts getting more involving and building difficult concepts on previously addressed easy concepts. Chapters about joins, sub queries, constraints are written with conceptual depth as well as lucid and simple language.

Authors suggest that this book is expected to be used by schools and SQL training organizations. I will add to that this book is for everyone who just wants to enjoy reading about SQL. This book should be read with hands on SQL Server practice. Reader will get most out of this book while doing exercise at the end of the book.

Review questions and exercise at the end of each chapter kept me occupied for long time. Few of them are very simple and few of them I have learned from this book. If you are experienced SQL programmer, I still suggest that you will enjoy reading the review questions. I will list few of those questions here.

When would you use the ROWCOUNT function versus using the WHERE clause?
If you are going to have too many nulls in a column, what would be data type to use?
What is the maximum number of the rows that a self join can produce?
Which function can the WITH TIES option be used with?
Is SELECT INTO allowed in a view? Why or why not?

Not always all the time, everybody wants to learn about difficult subject and in depth analysis. There are few times, when even experienced DBA and developers want to read back to basic concepts. I enjoy reading this book, if you are reader of my blog (www.sqlauthority.com) you will enjoy this book as this book is in agreement of my views of looking at SQL with simple logic but strong concepts.

There are few errors in the book but they are very minor and I was able to catch them easily. Authors seem to have good understanding about ORACLE in addition to SQL Server. That introduced some errors but on good side they are able to unleash few ideas which are not easy for SQL Server DBA to think of.

The chapter I enjoyed most is Joins Versus Subquery. Authors very easily explained their needs and differences. This statement shows the strength of chapter; If information from a table is needed in a result set, then that table can not be buried in a subquery- it must be in the outer query; simple but effective.

I highly recommend this book, if you are interested in learning about SQL in easy way. This book is PERFECT book for beginners and great reference for experience developers.

Rating : 4 and 1/2 stars

In Summary, This is must have book for every SQL student.

Pinal Dave
Principal Database Administrator
(http://www.SQLAuthority.com)

Good, but does have errors.......2006-11-13

This is a good introduction to SQL, using SQL Server 2005, but does have some errors. For example, in describing the BIT data type in section 3.4.1.3, the author states "BIT columns cannot be NULL and cannot have indexes on them". It is true that you cannot have indexes on them, but I have used NULLs in bit fields for a long time on SQL 2000, so why would they drop that feature in SQL 2005? After a quick test, and then a google search on that exact string, you'll quickly find that the statement is true for Oracle databases. You'll find the same sentence, verbatim, in Oracle's T-SQL reference.

Having found this kind of error, it does cast a shadow over some of the book. Verify the statements yourself if you question something, especially if it's sepcific to SQL 2005. They may be wrong. Other than that, the reader should be running the queries themselves and verifying the results (ie, learn by doing.)

Other than that, the chapters on Joins, Sets, Functions, and Subqueries to be good introductions, but not going beyond the basics. But this is a LEARNING book, so don't expect much more than the basics.

VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!.......2006-07-24

Are you a student who wishes to learn SQL using Microsoft's SQL Server 2005? If you are, then this book is for you! Authors Richard Earp and Sikha Bagui, have done an outstanding job of writing a systematic guide to learning SQL by using SQL Server 2005--a relational and multiuser database.

Earp and Bagui, begin by showing you how to open SQL Server 2005 using SQL Server Management Studio, load the database, and view and perform simple table manipulations. Then, the authors introduce the user/learner to some basic SQL commands in SQL Server. Next, they discuss creating, populating, altering, and deleting tables. The authors then introduce and cover different types of joins--a common database mechanism for combining tables. They continue by covering SQL Server 2005's functions. Then, the authors discuss query development as well as the use of view and other derived structures. Next, they cover simple set operations. The authors then discuss subqueries, aggregate functions, and correlated subqueries. Finally, they present indexes and constraints that can be added to tables in SQL Server 2005.

This most excellent book is expected to be used by schools and SQL training organizations as well as by database and IT professionals who are actively working with SQL Server 2005. More importantly, this book presents every topic, concept, and idea with examples of code and output.

Excellent Way To Learn SQL & SQL Server 2005.......2006-07-18

Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005 by Richard Earp is an outstanding book for those that are new to SQL and want to learn how to use it on the SQL Server 2005 platform. Excellent writing, a compact size that isn't too big or too small (300+ pages), and solid content make this a book for those that want to pick up and excel at using SQL in no time at all.

11 Chapters cover all this needed to get started with the following topics covered:

01. Basics of setting up SQL Server 2005
02. Basic SQL commands
03. Creating, altering, populating tables
04. Joins
05. Functions
06. Developing queries
07. Set Operations
08. Joins versus Subqueries
09. Aggregation
10. Correlated Subqueries
11. Indexes and Constraints

All in all this is an EXCEPTIONAL piece of work that is well worth the price. I absolutely LOVE the 'Learning' line of books that O'Reilly puts out --- no doubt the easiest way for any person to just pick up a text and start getting to work as opposed to reading an 800 page encyclopedia that feels more like a filibustering politican rather than a teaching tool.

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Average customer rating:

"The Bible"
Still quite relevant for Sybase developers
Good resource for T-SQL information
Good book with easy-to-find answers to your questions
I liked it

Transact-SQL Programming
Lee Gould , Andrew Zanevsky , and Kevin Kline
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565924010

Book Description

Transact-SQL is a procedural language used on both Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase SQL Server systems. It is a full-featured programming language that dramatically extends the power of SQL (Structured Query Language). The language provides programmers with a broad range of features, including:

A rich set of datatypes, including specialized types for identifiers, timestamps, images, and long text fields
Local and global variables
Fully programmable server objects like views, triggers, stored procedures, and batch command files
Conditional processing
Exception and error handling
Full transaction control
System stored procedures that reduce the complexity of many operations, like adding users or automatically generating HTML Web pages

In recent years, the versions of Transact-SQL have diverged on Microsoft and Sybase systems; the book explains the differences. It also contains up-to-the-minute information on the latest versions: Microsoft SQL Server versions 6.5 and 7.0 and Sybase version 11.5. A brief table of contents follows: PART I: The Basics: Programming in Transact-SQL 1. Introduction to Transact-SQL 2. Matching Business Rules 3. SQL Primer 4. Transact-SQL Fundamentals 5. Format and Style PART II: The Building Blocks: Transact-SQL Language Elements 6. Datatypes and Variables 7. Conditional Processing 8. Row Processing with Cursors 9. Error Handling 10. Temporary Objects 11. Transactions and Logging PART III: Functions and Extensions 12. Functions 13. CASE Expressions and Transact-SQL Extensions PART IV: Programming Transact-SQL Objects 14. Stored Procedures and Modular Design 15. Triggers 16. Views 17. System and Extended Stored Procedures and BCP PART V: Performance Tuning and Optimization 18. Transact-SQL Code Design 19. Code Maintenance in the SQL Server 20. Transact-SQL Optimization and Tuning 21. Debugging Transact-SQL Programs PART VI: Appendixes A. System Tables B. What's New for Transact-SQL in Microsoft SQL Server 7.0? C. BCP The book comes with a CD-ROM containing an extensive set of examples from the book and complete programs that illustrate the power of the language.

Customer Reviews:

"The Bible".......2007-02-16

This is the bible for Sybase developer. I actually never finished reading this book cover to cover(tried few times but failed and gave up eventually) due to its rather dry writing style. But, now that I have an odd job of being moribund Sybase developer, I found myself referencing this book time after time. I also have the printout of the official Sybase documentation on Transact-SQL but the examples in this book are much better.

Only complaint I have is, they don't start talking about Stored Procs until later in the book. And, I think most developer learn Transct-SQL language so that they can write the Stored Procedures so the order of the presentation seemed little odd.

Still quite relevant for Sybase developers.......2006-07-14

Although there aren't too many Sybase databases anymore, quite a few firms (esp. in Finance) have them and if you find yourself working with Sybase I strongly recommend this book. It's been a great. The sections on Error handling (Ch.9), transactions and locking (Ch.11) and built-in Functions (Ch.12) have been invaluable over the years.
A really good book for someone who knows standard SQL (SQL-92) quite well and just needs to know the ins-and-outs of Sybase despite the fact that the books is a number of years old.

Good resource for T-SQL information.......2005-08-04

I purchased my copy back in 1999 and it is one of my favorite SQL books. I find the information very accurate and relevant to the MS SQL versions (6.5 & 7.0) printed on the cover of the book. I think it was the best SQL book for many years. Since 1999, many books for newer versions of database servers have been published.

For some reason, many people who wrote bad reviews about this book were looking for MS SQL 2000 information -the cover states the versions covered in the book.

There are many newer books that cover MS SQL 2000. One of my favorites is SQL Server 2000 Programming from Robert Vieira.

Good book with easy-to-find answers to your questions.......2005-07-09

Judging from the other reviews here, people either love this book or they hate it. I love it. This book has proved invaluable to me over the years, and I still reference it on occassion. Whenever I have a question about something, the answer is easy to find. It *is* out of date, as other reviewers have noted, but the majority of information contained within is still valid.

If you're new to T-SQL, I recommend starting with this book.

I liked it.......2004-08-24

This is a comprehensive book.
Full of practical advice. The author(s) apparently has a lot of experience as a developer.
It is not at all dull as some reviews claim.

Transact-SQL Desk Reference: For Microsoft SQL Server

Average customer rating:

Much less than expected
Transact-SQL Desk Reference
Great reference
Very Good Content - Not So Good Index
Scott Hill

Transact-SQL Desk Reference: For Microsoft SQL Server
Deac Lancaster
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL
Beginning Transact-SQL With SQL Server 2000 and 2005
Sams Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 Days (2nd Edition)
Transact-SQL Cookbook (O'Reilly Windows)
The Guru's Guide to SQL Server Stored Procedures, XML, and HTML (With CD-ROM)

ASIN: 0130293393

Customer Reviews:

Much less than expected.......2007-09-27

Enticed by its title while looking for a book I could use as a quick lookup reference for T-SQL commands/functions I bought this book among a bunch of other T-SQL books and was thoroughly disappointed by its poor organistaion (commands and functions are listed in some obscure groupings instead of alphabetically) and its even poorer print quality (some pages and images are so blurred that they are barely readable). Out of the several other books I bought this one ranks dead last.

Transact-SQL Desk Reference.......2005-08-12

Just the kind of book a person needs in their reference library. Well indexed. A complete explanation of each SQL command with examples. 20 pages covering XML, 781 pages in all. It is also made of quality material so it can be handled frequently without falling apart.

Great reference.......2005-04-03

The back of this book claims that "This is the SQL reference you'll reach for first!" and I can personally support their claim. It is easily the best organized SQL reference that I have encountered. It contains alphabetical listings of all SQL data types and their related functions, in-depth instruction on data definition (create, alter, drop, etc.) and comprehensive descriptions and examples of all data manipulation methods (insert, update, delete, etc.).

The only possible drawback of this book is that it is not, nor is it intended to be, an instruction manual for SQL. The book cuts right to the point, and only tells you exactly what you need to know. For beginners, this book would not be a good starting point, but for people with at least some exposure to SQL, this book will probably never leave your desk.

Very Good Content - Not So Good Index.......2005-01-07

This book is exactly what it's title says, it's a reference book. If you need brief descriptions and syntax for T-SQL statements and functions, this is a great book to have on your book shelf. However, the index is very weak. It is essentially an alphabetical listing of functions, so you need to know the name of a function to find it. For example, if you wanted to add an INDEX to a table, you would probably look under "I" for "INDEX.". But, you wouldn't find what you were looking for. You would need to look under "C" because the function is "CREATE INDEX." But, if you know what you are looking for, you'll find it in this book.

Scott Hill.......2003-12-23

Excellent examples and clear explanations. 12/22/2003

This book is exactly what I was looking for, an extension of Books Online with extra clear examples and explanations. Books Online is often still my first reference because it is convenient and does an excellent job. But when I need a second source for more information I now turn to Transact-SQL Desk Reference. If I still don't find what I need then I have to go to user groups or other external sources, but so far that has only happened once.

The tutorial in the first chapter is a nice overview for those who need it, but an advanced user can skip past it and go straight to the reference material starting in Chapter 2. The index is excellent and so far has never failed to put me in the right place to find what I want. I particularly like the extra examples of how to use different features. And the explanation of how to do disk layout to help restorability and performance is well beyond what I expected in a reference book. I plan to use the layout presented as a starting point for configuring my production database.

Book Description

In Advanced Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2000, authors Itzik Ben-Gan and Thomas Moreau explore the powerful capabilities of Transact-SQL (T-SQL). Ben-Gan and Moreau offer solutions to common problems encountered using all versions of SQL Server, with a focus on the latest version, SQL Server 2000.

Expert tips and real code examples teach advanced database programmers to write more efficient and better-performing code that takes full advantage of T-SQL. The authors offer practical solutions to the everyday problems programmers face and include in-depth information on advanced T-SQL topics such as joins, subqueries, stored procedures, triggers, user-defined functions (UDFs), indexed views, cascading actions, federated views, hierarchical structures, cursors, and more.

Download Description

In "Advanced Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2000," Itzik Ben-Gan and Thomas Moreau explore the power capabilities of Transact-SQL. Ben-Gan and Moreau offer solutions to common problems encountered using all versions of SQL Server with a focus on the latest version, SQL Server 2000. Expert tips and real code examples teach advanced database programmers to write more efficient and better-performing code that takes full advantage of Transact-SQL. The authors offer practical solutions to the everyday problems programmers face and provide significant content on the advanced areas in T-SQL such as joins, subqueries, stored procedures, triggers, user-defined functions (UDFs), indexed views, cascading actions, federated views, hierarchical structures, cursors and more.

Provides hundreds of solutions to common problems encountered by SQL Server programmers.
Both authors write regularly for SQL Server Magazine and Pinnacle Publishing's Microsoft SQL Server Professional newsletter.
Includes expert tips and plenty of real code examples.

Customer Reviews:

sloppy, amateurish, and impractical.......2005-12-28

problem 1 is that the authors obviously aren't developers. they're a couple of guys who like sql puzzles. much of the code in this book has little or no practical value. you should not use it in production systems because it will not perform well and will be difficult to maintain. it's like they're trying to show off some way of getting a complex result set with a single select and not even thinking about the performance impact of the code or its maintainability. that kind of stuff is cool to newbies, but real engineers know better.

problem 2 is the astoundingly bad advice throughout. the complex numbers discussion doesn't belong in the book and you should not try to implement complex number handling in t-sql unless you want to be out of a job. much of the advice in the book revolves around cool coding tricks that aren't applicable to any real world problem. who cares if you can do something with a single select that most people would take two statements to do? does the code perform better? have you considered what it will be like to tune and maintain? how readable is it?

bottom line here is that the authors are amateurs who really shouldn't be writing a book to instruct others in t-sql. they need to learn some other languages and get beyond the "cool coding tricks" stage to true engineering.

Not only not advanced-not beginner either.......2005-12-14

If advanced means more than I know with only 2-1/2 years with Sql then this is not an advanced book. It is mostly puzzles and things like that-not anything really useful in the real world. The worst part of it is all the errors in the code. There must be dozens of these-but where is the errata?

I have a lot of comp. books and this one has more beginner mistakes and typoes than any others I have read. Not advanced and not beginner-not sure who is supposed to read it.

Lots of good, more not-so-good.......2004-05-02

On the positive side, there are numerous interesting Transact SQL techniques demonstrated in this book. A couple of them have proved to be very useful to me. I like the exploration of different challenges people face with Transact SQL and the solutions the authors provide.

I also like the catalog nature of the book. APress is getting better at this with their books, and this one is pretty good as a reference.

On the negative side, the language is misued often in this book. As the old saying goes, "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." There are several problems attacked in this book that would be better solved with a language other than Transact SQL. It is simply the wrong tool. I could offer several examples, but the most obvious one would be the complex numbers discussion. I see others have mentioned this, too. Not only are complex numbers not best handled by Transact SQL, they cannot even be accurately handled by the language. You will quickly become the victim of rounding errors, performance problems, and other devils if you try something like this in production code.

Another negative is that authors don't write that well. I have come not to expect a lot from technical books, so I don't think this is that big of a deal. But I would have to say that the writing quality in this one is low even for technical books. For one thing, the two write completely differently and you can see the different styles contrasting in different sections of the book. Add to this the fact that neither style is particularly lucid or engaging, and you have a book that is an editor or two short of being cogent and readable.

A commentary on Critiques:.......2004-02-17

A common theme among the negative critiques, is the use of the word "Advanced" in the book's title. Personally, i think the authors should simply have chosen a different title, and half of the negative comments would have been subdued. (Something to signify the apparent intent of the authors, such as "An anthology of T-SQL", or "A Comprehensive Introduction to T-SQL" ...) "Advanced" of course is to some extent a product of one's own thinking, and experience. Another aspect to this subject of "Advanced" has to do with the totally hackneyed, over-worked use of the term "Guru." Someone / something can in fact be "Advanced", and NOT be in the realm of "Guru." This term is COMPLETELY over-used, and over-applied. There are in fact but a very FEW "Guru's" out there in the 'Real World' (Ken Henderson being one.) A Guru is a unique, creative combination of high native intelligence, tireless enthusiasm, and indeterminate hours of true, Hands-On Experience, with the product. A Guru can be identified as someone who ALWAYS seems to know more about the topic, no matter what he/she is asked or challenged with. (As an aside....a "Guru" is NOT always a great, or even good, author ... or, communicator to humans, in general ... although this particular talent definitely is advantageous!) In short, evaluate a product, such as a computer book, on its merits, applicability to the task at hand, and value to YOU. Take with a GIANT grain of salt, any negative critique(s) before choosing .... esp. those propagated from a SINGLE source masquerading as MULTIPLE people!

Crisp, clear and very practical..........2003-06-19

This is the most reliable and advanced source of information about TSQL for me. I love this book. It's examples are crisp, clear and very practical. Great job!

Average customer rating:

A Great Book for Learning New Features - Review of Database Administrator SQLAuthority.com
One of the best SQL Server programming book.
Not for the faint of heart
Very easy to implement SMO from scratch
A very precise book

Programming SQL Server 2005
Bill Hamilton
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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SQL Server 2005 T-SQL Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach
Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2005: T-SQL Querying (Solid Quality Learning)
Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005 (Learning)
Professional SQL Server 2005 Integration Services (Programmer to Programmer)
Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2005: T-SQL Programming (Pro-Developer)

ASIN: 0596004796

Book Description

SQL Server 2005, Microsoft's next-generation data management and analysis solution, represents a huge leap forward. It comes with a myriad of changes that deliver increased security, scalability, and power--making it the complete data package. Used properly, SQL Server 2005 can help organizations of all sizes meet their data challenges head on.

Programming SQL Server 2005 from O'Reilly provides a practical look at this updated version of Microsoft's premier database product. It guides you through all the new features, explaining how they work and how to use them. The first half of the book examines the changes and new features of the SQL Server Engine itself. The second addresses the enhanced features and tools of the platform, including the new services blended into this popular version. Each chapter contains numerous code samples-written in C# and compiled using the Visual Studio 2005 development environment-that show you exactly how to program SQL Server 2005.

Programming SQL Server 2005 can help you:

Build, deploy, and manage enterprise applications that are more secure, scalable, and reliable
Maximize IT productivity by reducing the complexity of building, deploying, and managing database applications
Share data across multiple platforms, applications, and devices to make it easier to connect internal and external systems

Because the goal of Programming SQL Server 2005 is to introduce all facets of Programming SQL Server 2005, it's beneficial to programmers of all levels. The book can be used as a primer by developers with little experience with SQL Server, as a ramp up to the new programming models for SQL Server 2005 for more experienced programmers, or as background and primer to specific concepts.

Any IT professional who wants to learn about SQL Server 2005's comprehensive feature set, interoperability with existing systems, and automation of routine tasks will find the answers in this authoritative guide.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book for Learning New Features - Review of Database Administrator SQLAuthority.com.......2007-09-26

User does not have to be experience SQL Server 2005 programmer to use this book; as it is designed for users of all levels. This book also suggests that user does not have to be experienced with SQL Server 2000. However, I disagree with that. This book only covers new features of SQL Server 2005. Understanding of fundamental relational database concepts is helpful to digest and accept the concepts introduced in this book.

This book covers following perspective of SQL Server 2005 new features.
* Tools and utilities
* Data types
* T-SQL enhancements
* Programmability enhancements
* XML support
* Native XML web services
* SQL Management Objects
* SQL Server Integration Services
* SQL Server Reporting Services
* SQL Server Notification Services
* SQL Server Service Broker
* Replication Management Objects
* SQL Server Agent
* SQL Server Mobile Edition

The code used in the book is available for download on O'Reilly web site. I always like this as I really do not like to retype examples from the book. Most of the examples of this book use C# code and Visual Studio 2005. One good thing about this book is it uses AdventureWorks sample database, I always prefer book which uses samples database which comes along the SQL Server, this makes it easily useable by developer. This book is also Safari enabled.

Appendix of this book has in depth explanation of the ADO.NET 2.0, which can be quite useful to users interested in the topic. There are very few good books which covers this topic such in depth.

Rating: 4 stars

Summary: This book is quite good for new learning; I enjoy reading it and learning new concepts from this book.

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

One of the best SQL Server programming book........2007-07-11

This is definitely one of my best SQL programming books. It covers the newer programming concepts; such as XML storage and handling in SQL 2005, very well.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is serious about SQL Server 2005 programming.

It also covers CLR programming in SQL Server. Good book.

Not for the faint of heart.......2006-11-10

As a new student to the field of SQL Server 2005, I was hoping to obtain a book learning the various methods of programming in SQL Server 2005. I was initially hearted by the first paragraph in the preface:

"You don't need to be an experienced SQL Server 2005 programmer to use this book..."

which is indeed the case if you intend to use it as a paper weight.

The book suspiciously looks like the syntax guide found in most MS products: the procedure name and inputs followed by a description of the inputs. It is not for the beginner/intermediate learner and is somewhat of a disappointment comming from the O'Reilly range ("SQL on SQL Server 2005" is an excellent counter point to the book being reviewed from the same publisher). This book serves mainly as a reference (which on page 7, it clearly states that it is not a reference) to new doctrine in the SQL Server evolution.

Very easy to implement SMO from scratch.......2006-10-08

Having never written C# or C++ or DMO, I was able to quickly read parts of this book and successfully create a C# program using SMO/RMO to create my transactional / merge replication republishing environment. I had little experience using Visual Studio. I've been focused on T-SQL for SQL development for the past 8 years as a development DBA. When I looked for a book to quickly bring me up to speed in SMO/RMO, I chose this book because it is explicit and gives great examples. I look forward to using it for Reporting and Notifications. It makes learning new SQL 2005 skills exciting!

A very precise book.......2006-08-23

This is a very good book. It is quite compact and does not waste time and pages on huge examples that would not make any sense at the end. The only issue, at least for me, is that it includes only the new features of the Sql Server. As a result if you are a beginner with SQL Server you need to buy an introductory book before you read this one.

Sams Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 Days (2nd Edition)

Average customer rating:

Transact-SQL in 21 days
Challenging and a Wealth of Information
Excellent tutorial and reference
GREAT for the layperson! :-)
Teach Yourself Transact - SQL in 21 Days

Sams Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 Days (2nd Edition)
Lowell Mauer
Manufacturer: Sams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server 2000 in 21 Days (2nd Edition, Book Only)
Transact-SQL Desk Reference: For Microsoft SQL Server
Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 21 Days (4th Edition)
The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Unleashed (2nd Edition)

ASIN: 0672319675

Book Description

Sams Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 Days, 2E will teach programmers how to develop Transact-SQL queries. There will be a focus on providing methods for improving productivity without a reducing performance. Specifically, the reader will:Learn Transact-SQL syntax Learn how to add, delete, and modifying data using Transact-SQL Understand coding standards Review variations from ANSI-standard SQL Be presented with basic server operations. Recognize performance issues with queries. This book will also include:Constructs such as CUBE, ROLLUP, CASE, and JOIN. Techniques to solve complex problems How the server uses indexes Methods to write (correctly) stored procedures and triggers. Templates of procedures and triggers (reference) Advanced Topics such as: Outer and self joins Temporary tables Sub-queries.

Download Description

Customer Reviews:

Transact-SQL in 21 days.......2007-01-15

This book is good for beginner and advanced SQL Server user. The lessons are explained clearly and easy to understand.

Challenging and a Wealth of Information.......2004-04-25

I knew only how to pass a SELECT * statement before obtaining this book. I have since taken a job writing code from what I learned from this book. Not only is their a wealth of information, but the exercises challenge the reader to think "outside the box" and create code using the information learned in the chapter. I would have given this book 5 stars but sections like views were a bit weak. After reading this book definitely pick up The Guru's Guide to Transact SQL.

Excellent tutorial and reference.......2003-10-30

As a programmer with over 10 years experience I have found this book to be comprehensive and concise. There are many useful examples many of which have helped me solve problems on the job.

Lowell Mauer explains things very well.

This is my main reference book it has paid for itself many times over. I highly recommend it.

GREAT for the layperson! :-).......2002-01-26

As a relatively new database administrator with no SQL experience, this book was EXACTLY what I needed. It is written in an easy-to-read and easily comprehended style. It takes me everywhere I need to go with confidence that the code I now write will perform the necessary functions...and perform them efficiently and effectively. Thank you, Sam!

Teach Yourself Transact - SQL in 21 Days.......2001-11-26

The book is used each day by members of our analytics team. Very helpful and resourceful.

Transact-SQL Cookbook (O'Reilly Windows)

Average customer rating:

A Treasure
A desktop must SQL SERVER 2000 and Transact SQL
A bad book
Terrible, just terrible
A very practical guide to T-SQL programming!

Transact-SQL Cookbook (O'Reilly Windows)
Ales Spetic , and Jonathan Gennick
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565927567

Book Description

This unique cookbook contains a wealth of solutions to problems that SQL programmers face all the time. The recipes inside range from how to perform simple tasks, like importing external data, to ways of handling issues that are more complicated, like set algebra. Authors Ales Spetic and Jonathan Gennick, two authorities with extensive database and SQL programming experience, include a discussion with each recipe to explain the logic and concepts underlying the solution. SQL (Structured Query Language) is the closest thing to a standard query language that currently exists, and Transact-SQL -- a full-featured programming language that dramatically extends the power of SQL -- is the procedural language of choice for both Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase SQL Server systems. The Transact-SQL Cookbook is designed so you can use the recipes directly, as a source of ideas, or as a way to learn a little more about SQL and what you can do with it. Topics covered include:

Audit logging. In addition to recipes for implementing an audit log, this chapter also includes recipes for: improving performance where large log tables are involved; supporting multiple-languages; and simulating server push.
Hierarchies. Recipes show you how to manipulate hierarchical data using Transact-SQL.
Importing data. This chapter introduces concepts like normalization and recipes useful for working with imported data tables.
Sets. Recipes demonstrate different operations, such as how to find common elements, summarize the data in a set, and find the element in a set that represents an extreme.
Statistics. This chapter?s recipes show you how to effectively use SQL for common statistical operations from means and standard deviations to weighted moving averages.
Temporal data. Recipes demonstrate how to construct queries against time-based data.
Data Structures. This chapter shows how to manipulate data structures like stacks, queues, matrices, and arrays.

With an abundance of recipes to help you get your job done more efficiently, the Transact-SQL Cookbook is sure to become an essential part of your library.

Customer Reviews:

A Treasure.......2006-02-13

Read the negative reveiws and bought the book anyway. Still can't figure out what it was that other reviewers found objectionable...

This book was helpful to me because it takes the subject of a SQL query much deeper than most of the texts that I have read. It puts emphasis on solving problems using the query language instead of procedural language, and it shows some truly eye-opening examples of what can be done with a simple SELECT statement.

The authors are clearly subject experts, and their work is in keeping with O'Reilly's generally high standards for technical references. My only regret is that the book wasn't longer.

A desktop must SQL SERVER 2000 and Transact SQL.......2005-11-05

I cannot say enough great things about this book! I'm a SQL Server developer and have used many forms of the logic presented from this book in many of my daily routines. This is my first review and my inspiration was to oppose all negative or irrational comments made in some of the previous reviews. Are you sure you read the "T-SQL Cookbook" by OReilly's? Might be a little too advanced for some, I can see that in your reveiw. How is it not in depth? Because it is not for beginners? It has thousands of sollutions to everyday problems. BUY THIS BOOK FOR A GREAT REPORT WRITING TOOL, DEVELPOR HANDBOOK OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO IN SQL SERVER 2000!!!!!!!!!

A bad book.......2002-07-21

Bought this without reading the reviews. Big mistake. Full of terribly simple examples and bad English. Not worth the time at all. Don't know where they get some of these authors.

Terrible, just terrible.......2002-07-12

This book isn't worth the paper its printed on. The code is all stuff from magazines and other books. I see a lot of code from Henderson's book here. The writing is also terrible - no explanations whatsoever. Suggest spending your money on something else-just about anything, in fact.

A very practical guide to T-SQL programming!.......2002-06-30

This is a very concise and to-the-point book. It assumes that the user has a basic understanding of T-SQL. So, you won't see any repetition from SQL Server Books Online.

Authors chose very interesting topics, and backed them up with real life scenarios and practical examples. So, every example makes sense.

Book is very easy to read and understand. If you are a beginner T-SQL programmer (or someone coming from a VB or other programming backgrounds), this book helps you get on the right track, as it clearly explains how to think in terms of sets. If you are an intermediate level SQL programmer, you can really use the examples provided in this book and start your journey towards becoming an advanced SQL programmer. For advanced users of SQL, this serves as a great reference.

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