IT programming books related reviews
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL Queries for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Data Manipulation in SQL
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Michael J. Hernandez, John L. Viescas
Rating: 5/5
Title: SQL Queries for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Data Manipulation in SQL
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Authors: Michael J. Hernandez, John L. Viescas
Rating: 5/5
I have been using MS Access 2000 to develop database solutions for use in sales and marketing departments and needed to go to the next level and develop solutions based on SQL Server, so I was looking for a book to understand SQL queries better and thereby SQL Server. Knowing, that by writing your own SQL queries when working in Access you're able to develop a scaleable application that easily is transferred to SQL Server, the book helped me in this transition since all 5 sample databases included on the CD-ROM is available in both SQL Server 7.0 and MS Access 2000 files. After an introduction to relational database theory and the SQL language in the first 3 chapters, you'll start learning about queries and each of the remaining 14 chapters includes exercises that will train your skills in writing SQL queries. Throughout the book the authors make use of diagrams to visualize the SQL queries, in the beginning they may seem difficult to understand but as you get used to them you will find yourself reading them faster and faster. One of the things I learned the most from was the authors use of a 3-step method to write queries: A simple question in plain English to get the needed information from the data goes through a Translation, then a Clean Up, and finally you've got your SQL. With this method not only do you gain confidence but also an insight into the simple mathematical logic on which the queries are based.To accompany this book and enhance the knowledge you gain from reading it I recommend the following titles: On Access 2000 I recommend John Viescas' "Running MS Access 2000" (ISBN 1572319348), which in my opinion is one of the best books on Access 2000. To strengthen your knowledge on relational database theory and design I recommend: "Inside Relational Databases" (ISBN 354076092X). To learn SQL Server 7.0 I recommend: "Professional SQL Server 7.0" (ISBN 1861002319).Most people are able to develop a database that contain lots of data, but only few know how to transform these piles of data into useful information by using the powerful tools of SQL queries. With the knowledge from SQL Queries for Mere Mortals you will be well on your way to become one of the few.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Sams Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 Days (2nd Edition)
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Lowell Mauer
Rating: 4/5
Title: Sams Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 Days (2nd Edition)
Publisher: Sams
Authors: Lowell Mauer
Rating: 4/5
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.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Brian Larson
Rating: 5/5
Title: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: Brian Larson
Rating: 5/5
Book covers how to start from zero and produce reports. He covers about every angle conceivable from that point.
If you are wanting a book digging into the guts and details of stickier reports then this is probably not the book for you. But, if you are wanting to learn this technology and have no experience then this is the book for you.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: SQL Server The Complete Reference
Publisher: Osborne Publishing
Authors: Gayle Coffman
Rating: 1/5
Title: SQL Server The Complete Reference
Publisher: Osborne Publishing
Authors: Gayle Coffman
Rating: 1/5
As a experienced mainframe database programmer making a shift to the client server environment, I found it hard to come to terms with the material. My personal opinion is that Coffman has a problem getting the subject matter across to all but the most seasoned SQL Server professional. Most of what is in the text may be found within the books on line facility.I have resorted to the book by Otey and Conte 'SQL Server 7 Developer's Guide' which I found far superior, covering SQL Server 7 from the Development and Maintenance points of view, and easy to understand. .....Steve Simon
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Setting Up LAMP: Getting Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP Working Together
Publisher: Sybex
Authors: Eric Rosebrock, Eric Filson, Eric Filson
Rating: 5/5
Title: Setting Up LAMP: Getting Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP Working Together
Publisher: Sybex
Authors: Eric Rosebrock, Eric Filson, Eric Filson
Rating: 5/5
Linux, qmail, PHP, MySQL and Apache form a rewarding and rock-solid combination. Authors Rosebrock and Filson and the good folk at Sybex deserve accolades for conceiving a book directed at just this combination and bringing it to press.
The distinctive feature of this book is just how readable it is. A myriad choices exist when it comes to Linux distributions and server applications for e-mail, database, web and server-side scripting. In each case, the authors summarize the alternatives and, with focused and generally unarguable judgment, choose the one they consider to be best. Without looking back, they then proceed to guide the reader through its essential installation and maintenance. It is clear they strive to make a system that is well integrated. An example of this is their decision to cover Apache 1.3 rather than Apache 2.0. Although they clearly like what they see in the newer branch, for reasons of interoperability with PHP they select Apache 1.3 for their book.
Rosebrock and Filson serve as trustworthy mentors in the whole process of getting a complete installation up and running. They clearly teach from experience and with an appreciation of the frustrations beginning administrators may face. For example, while admitting the vi editor's power, they have the reader use the friendlier editor pico for basic editing.
In addition to covering the main server applications, this book provides a cursory introduction to auxiliary programs like the various MySQL and qmail utilities. A number of network tools such as nmap and traceroute are given quick overviews. For my part, I think the book should contain more discussion of the secure shell client and server and the process of creating and maintaining public and private keys.
"Setting up LAMP" is a well-written, well-targeted book. May it serve as a guide to a whole new generation of administrators who wish to build a complete, fast and robust web and mail server.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: PHP3: Programming Browser-Based Applications with PHP
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
Authors: Dave Medinets
Rating: 1/5
Title: PHP3: Programming Browser-Based Applications with PHP
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
Authors: Dave Medinets
Rating: 1/5
This is a PHP3 book and the current version is PHP4 -- so it behooves you to look for a good PHP4 book. I threw my copy away.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: PHP 4: A Beginner's Guide
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: William McCarty
Rating: 5/5
Title: PHP 4: A Beginner's Guide
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
Authors: William McCarty
Rating: 5/5
I have been coding php for about 4 months, I had read the documentation over at php.net alot. It still felt that i was missing out on something and I needed more. So my next option was a book. I picked this one and its great. It gets my thumbs up.
Product: Book Hardcover
Title: MCDBA SQL Server 2000 Database Design Study Guide (Exam 70-229)
Publisher: Osborne/McGraw-Hill
Authors: Syngress Media Inc, Anil Desai, Jeffery Bane, Craig Robinson
Rating: 1/5
Title: MCDBA SQL Server 2000 Database Design Study Guide (Exam 70-229)
Publisher: Osborne/McGraw-Hill
Authors: Syngress Media Inc, Anil Desai, Jeffery Bane, Craig Robinson
Rating: 1/5
This book is so poor on detail. It gives T-SQL example code and does not show the output. Explains major topics in one paragraph. I was also not pleased with the constant cursury overview of a topic and more than 200 hundred references to "SQL books online". If you cannot cover the topic in detail, do not pretend to be a test prep book, or else give a copy of the books on CD. There are less than 15 pages devoted to stored procedures. This book is too general. I would recommend finding another source to use as a study guide. I had no confidence that what was in the book was what I needed to study or was it in SQL Books Online and I may miss a topic if I did not go there instead. Very poorly written. Bad examples and too vague. This book is a rehash of the SQL Server 7 book and not updated very much. the new functionality such as user defined types was one paragraph. However, the other books by Osborne, "Windows 2000 Server" and the datbase adminstration books were very helpful in passing the exams.
Product: Book Textbook Binding
Title: MCSE : SQL Server 7 Administration: Training Guide : Exam : 70-028 (MCSE
Publisher: New Riders Publishing
Authors: Christoph Wille, Damir Bersinic, Tim Crothers, Brad McGehee, Rob Scrimger
Rating: 4/5
Title: MCSE : SQL Server 7 Administration: Training Guide : Exam : 70-028 (MCSE
Publisher: New Riders Publishing
Authors: Christoph Wille, Damir Bersinic, Tim Crothers, Brad McGehee, Rob Scrimger
Rating: 4/5
The book has cover almost all the material. But not too strong on the Replication. In addition, I have use Transeder and the transender isn't going to help like all the NT Exam. Make sure you have full understading, do NOT depend on only Transender and this study guide.
Product: Book Paperback
Title: Oracle Utilities: Using Hidden Programs, Import/Export, SQL*Loader, Oradebug, Dbverify, Tkprof and More
Publisher: Rampant TechPress
Authors: Dave Moore
Rating: 5/5
Title: Oracle Utilities: Using Hidden Programs, Import/Export, SQL*Loader, Oradebug, Dbverify, Tkprof and More
Publisher: Rampant TechPress
Authors: Dave Moore
Rating: 5/5
I was surprised how much value I got out of this book, since I have a large collection of Oracle books on a wide range of topics. This one was different though and I quickly learned about utilities I never knew existed. For the ones I already knew about, Moore concentrates on performance instead of going over the basics. TKPROF has finally been explained to me in a format that I can use.
