Rating: 
Summary: Well-organized, thorough book
Review: As a trainer, I look for books that communicate their content in an easily understood manner and that provide enough meat to answer people's questions. This books fits the bill so well that I'm considering using it instead of the Microsoft Official Curriculum in the courses I teach. Each right-hand page is a figure that illustrates or summarizes what the left-hand page explains in a narrative format. I went through this book alongside the Microsoft course 2071 manual and learned much more from this book. The CD includes sample databases, the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE), an updated SQL Server Books Online and an evaluation copy of SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition. It has risen to the top of my recommended reading list I supply to students regarding SQL.
Rating:
Summary: Well-organized, thorough book
Review: As a trainer, I look for books that communicate their content in an easily understood manner and that provide enough meat to answer people's questions. This books fits the bill so well that I'm considering using it instead of the Microsoft Official Curriculum in the courses I teach. Each right-hand page is a figure that illustrates or summarizes what the left-hand page explains in a narrative format. I went through this book alongside the Microsoft course 2071 manual and learned much more from this book. The CD includes sample databases, the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE), an updated SQL Server Books Online and an evaluation copy of SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition. It has risen to the top of my recommended reading list I supply to students regarding SQL.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book Ever!!!
Review: I picked up this book last week and I have to say
what an excellent book it is! I have been using SQL
syntax for ten years but have always been intimidated by SQL Server. Not
anymore! This book is the best book I have ever read on ANY computer topic.
The two-page format makes it easy to learn a new skill. The examples are
clear and easy to follow. I was especially impressed with the writers ability to
start with simple examples and expand on them from there. The CD that comes with he book includes an evaluaton copy of SQL Server so you have everything you need to start right away.
If you don't learn SQL Server from this book, then there is little hope you ever will!
Rating: 
Summary: Murach's SQL for SQL Server
Review: I realize everyone gave it 5 stars but my question to all of them is did you read the entire book? This book is absolutely excellent..... for a reference book and a quick refresher book on How To ... but it does not teach. Teaching is more than a quick synopsis page of what the command does and a page of reiteration of that same info. True the Murach style of side to side page of one topic is a very good thing but... teaching is not a complete chapter on some topic with a conclusion (Perspective) at the end. Teaching requires additional lessons and exercises at least at the end of each chapter to reinforce and to give hands on for the material just covered. This book after the first two chapters has none. Zilch, nada, zero. No reinforcing exercises what so ever. You have your "How To's" on each two pages, a usual one paragraph conclusion and terms reiteration at the end of each chapter and then on to the next chapter. Yes you can learn from this style but it will be a bit difficult and it is one of the very few books I have ever had in my 18 years of IT where there were no additional re-inforcing exercises to "cement" what you just learned. No hands on after the chapter. That cost this book a 3 Star rating. BTW, I completed the whole book before I wrote this. I am going to have to get another SQL book to assist in "cementing" the How To's into my skillset.
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive reference and professional training manual
Review: Murach's SQL For SQL Server is a comprehensive reference and professional training manual for computer programmers which offers both basic and advanced tutorials in such things as how to write SQL queries that retrieve and update the stored contents of a Microsoft SQL Server database; designing databases; and using features embraced by professions such as triggers, locking and security, stored procedures; and much, much more. A solid guide packed with examples, tips, tricks, and techniques, Murach's SQL For SQL Server also includes a CD-ROM containing the Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine, Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Evaluation Edition, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Books Online, five databases that can be used in conjunction with the text, examples from the book, and a great deal more. Murach's SQL For SQL Server is an invaluable and highly recommended addition to SQL oriented reference collections.
Rating:
Summary: Great Starting Point, Great Reference
Review: SQL for SQL Server is a book that should be on every developer's bookshelf. It would be a great tool to have in the Administrator's library as well, though it is more language-specific than adminstrative-task oriented. The book starts with language elements, then moves through database design and implementation issues and finally on to "advanced SQL skills" - much of which is oriented to working with a larger SQL Server implementation with pre-existing code, views, tables, etc. There is good information on backups, restores, things like that, but my opinion is that the book is so much more a reference on the language and implementation than the administration of SQL Server - that's where the completeness of the coverage is really what makes it unique. For example, if you want to understand the CASE and COALESCE functions - it's covered with narrative and direct examples of the usage. CONVERT, CAST, UNIONs, are more examples. This text is one that you can put on the shelf and refer to whenever you get stuck with a function/syntax issue. Combined with Books Online, you'll be set. One thing I would like to see more of is an explanation of the gotchas, with some workaround ideas. It would be great to have a mix of SQL for SQL Server, SQL for Smarties and the tidbits from Sharon Dooley's Essential SQL Server 7 book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Starting Point, Great Reference
Review: SQL for SQL Server is a book that should be on every developer's bookshelf. It would be a great tool to have in the Administrator's library as well, though it is more language-specific than adminstrative-task oriented. The book starts with language elements, then moves through database design and implementation issues and finally on to "advanced SQL skills" - much of which is oriented to working with a larger SQL Server implementation with pre-existing code, views, tables, etc. There is good information on backups, restores, things like that, but my opinion is that the book is so much more a reference on the language and implementation than the administration of SQL Server - that's where the completeness of the coverage is really what makes it unique. For example, if you want to understand the CASE and COALESCE functions - it's covered with narrative and direct examples of the usage. CONVERT, CAST, UNIONs, are more examples. This text is one that you can put on the shelf and refer to whenever you get stuck with a function/syntax issue. Combined with Books Online, you'll be set. One thing I would like to see more of is an explanation of the gotchas, with some workaround ideas. It would be great to have a mix of SQL for SQL Server, SQL for Smarties and the tidbits from Sharon Dooley's Essential SQL Server 7 book.
Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as hands on
Review: The most important feature of this book is that it provides good coverage of SQL Server topics with good comprehension. I was skeptical when I heard of the 2 page format: explain a concept on the left page and show an example emphasizing important points on the right page. It turned out to be an excellent approach to teaching a subject area. Each concept is bite sized. Each example demonstrates the concept. The important points reinforce the key items and introduce subtleties you might not encounter until you've used SQL Server for a while. I read the book as background to the 70-229 SQL Server Design exam. This book's scope provides only a subset of the exam's topics. It is a great SQL Server introduction book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book to learn SQL Server and T-SQL
Review: This book gets right to the meat of SQL Server and T-SQL code. It is clear, concise, and right to the point. This book would make an excellent text book for any SQL Class. Worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Another Professional Book From Murach
Review: This book should be required reading for any application developer using SQL Server. The layout of syntax, guidelines, and examples on one page with explanations on a matching page provide an easy and quick reference to SQL Server. It is a straight-forward presentation of SQL Server information and a book that will stay on my bookshelf.
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