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Professional SQL Server 2000 Programmingby Robert VieiraCopyright 2000Wrox Press
In my review of the previous edition of this book, I recommended this book as a "must-have" for every SQL Server DBA and developer. And this goes again for this newly updated edition. This is a "must-have" book, even if you already own the previous edition.
The book is an introduction to SQL Server 2000 application development (Transact-SQL). It starts out with the basics, gradually getting more advanced as more difficult topics are covered. It also covers a lot of SQL Server administrative material, but not so much as the typical developer will get bored. Although this book would be considered by most people to be an "introduction", it includes much detail. In fact, the book is nearly 1,400 pages long.
Why am I such a fan of this book? Because it is the easiest to read and understand book I have ever read on SQL Server development. It also offers a good balance between theory and the real-world. I come from a DBA, not a developer background. But like many DBAs, I need to understand Transact-SQL, especially when it comes to performance tuning. Whenever I need help on something, this book is the first one I reach for. I keep both the new and older copies on the bookshelf next to my computer and refer to both of them regularly (I still maintain both SQL Server 7.0 and 2000 servers).
From a performance tuning perspective, the book is very good. It includes many performance tuning tips throughout the book. In addition, there is an entire chapter devoted to the topic. I even picked up a few new tips that I has not aware of when reading this book.
The book covers these topics:
SQL Server 2000 -- Particulars and History
RDBMS Basics: What Makes Up a SQL Server Database
Tools of the Trade
The Foundation Statements of T-SQL
Joining Tables
Creating and Altering Tables
Constraints
Normalization and Other Basic Design Issues
SQL Server Storage and Index Structures
Views
Writing Scripts and Batches
Stored Procedures
User Defined Functions
Transactions and Locks
Triggers
Advanced Queries
Distributed Queries and Transactions
SQL Cursors
A Brief XML Primer
Integration of XML into SQL Server
The Bulk Copy Program
Introduction to Data Transformation Services
Replication
Advanced Design
Analysis Services
Full-Text Search
English Query
Security
Performance Tuning
Administration Overview
Advanced DTS
Scripting Administrative Functions with WMI
While I highly recommend this book, the book is not designed for the novice DBA or developer. It can be quite technical and you should have a fundamental grasp of SQL Server before you begin reading this book. But once you have mastered the basics of SQL Server 2000, then this book should be added to your book shelf.
