SQL Server Books - Page 3

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (SQL Server Series)

Edward Melomed, Irina Gorbach, Alexander Berger, Py Bateman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services provides fast access to data by means of multidimensional data structures and the multidimensional query languag MDX. Analysis Services provides the capability to design, create, and manage multidimensional cubes based on data warehouse tables, and it serves as the foundation for the Microsoft  Business Intelligence strategy.

 

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services gives the reader insight into the way Analysis Services functions. It not only explains ways to design and create multidimensional objects, databases, dimensions, and cubes, but also provides invaluable information about the reasons behind design decisions made by the development team. 

 

Here's what you will find inside:

• Understand the key concepts of multidimensional modeling
• Explore the multidimensional object model and its definition language
• Learn the main concepts of the MDX language and gain an in-depth understanding of advanced MDX concepts
• Understand the mechanisms of integrating multidimensional and relational databases
• Learn how to build client applications to access data in Analysis Services
• Examine server architecture, including main data structures, data processing, and query resolution algorithms
• Gain a deep understanding of the internal and external protocols for data transfer, including the XML/A protocol
• Explore how Analysis Services manages memory
• Explore the security model, including role-based security, code-access security, and data security
• Discover how to monitor and manage Analysis Services

All the code for the sample database used in the book can be found at www.informit.com/title/0672327821.

Delivering Business Intelligence with Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Brian Larson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not As Useful If You Already Work In BI 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I've already got experience with tools such as Cognos, ProClarity, Informatica and others. I bought this book to figure out how to use Microsoft's BI tools.

The book really is a case study book where you are the business analyst, the data modeler, the systems analyst the ETL guy and the report developer. It is written with a "learn by doing" premise. If you haven't done all of the business requirements exercises, data modeler tasks, etc... you won't be able to do the Integration Services exercises or the MDX exercises in the book. In other words, you must 1) read the book in the order of its chapters and 2) do the exercises in the chapter order.

Additionally, many chapters are a review of the theory (like snowflake vs. star), business requirements gathering and why you have data marts stuff like that. If you already know how to do these things, or you know that you don't have to take on that role, then you probably won't find this book as useful.

Editorial Review:

Transform disparate enterprise data into actionable business intelligence

Put timely, mission-critical information in the hands of employees across your organization using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and the comprehensive information in this unique resource. Delivering Business Intelligence with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 shows you, step-by-step, how to author, customize, and distribute information that will give your company the competitive edge. It's all right here--from data mining, warehousing, and scripting techniques to MDX queries, KPI analysis, and the all-new Unified Dimensional Model. Real-world examples, start-to-finish exercises, and downloadable code throughout illustrate all of the integration, analysis, and reporting capabilities of SQL Server 2005.

Microsoft® SQL Server(TM) 2005 Administrator's Companion (Pro - Administrator's Companion)

Edward Whalen, Victor Isakov, Marcilina Garcia, Burzin Patel, Stacia Misner

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great Reference Book for DBA'a 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

My department is in the process of migrating to MS SQL2005 from SQL2000 and this book is a must have for any administrator. If your familar with previous administrator companion books, this one is very similar in nature. The book has already paid for itself in tips in performance configurations. The author's include small 'Real World' sections in most area's that provide a good information and suggestions.

In addition, if you are new to MS SQL2005, this book will provide good background information and review all the concepts that make a good DBA.

Editorial Review:

This comprehensive administrator’s reference delivers the details you need to successfully plan, deploy, administer, and support Microsoft SQL Server 2005. The authors—experts in database technologies—provide easy-to-follow procedures, practical workarounds, and key troubleshooting tactics for everyday, on-the-job results. Delve into system features and capabilities—and get hands-on insights for implementing business intelligence applications in organizations of any size. This book covers planning and designing optimal database systems, configuring SQL Server to your I/O system and model system capacity, optimizing for improved performance, and data analysis and reporting. With the ADMINISTRATOR’S COMPANION, you get the in-depth information you need in a single volume. Includes a companion CD.

Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services

Paul Turley, Thiago Silva, Bryan C. Smith, Ken Withee

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Editorial Review:

* Teaches solution architects, designers, and developers how to use Microsoft's reporting platform to create reporting and business intelligence (BI) solutions
* Updated with new information about holistic BI solutions, comprehensive OLAP/Analysis Services reporting, and complete production deployment scenarios
* Includes programming examples focused on specific, scenario-based solutions
* Explains reporting services architecture and business intelligence, teaches the fundamentals of designing reports through the use of careful planning considerations, and covers advanced report design and filtering techniques

Programming Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Andrew J Brust, Stephen Forte

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Learn the essentials for developing mobile applications for any device. Focusing on proven techniques and practices, this guide addresses the real-world needs of experienced Microsoft Windows® mobile developers. Users are growing increasingly dependent on mobile devices, and with innovations such as the Windows Vista(tm) Sync Center that make it easy to manage data synchronization, this proliferation will continue. Developers need to respond to this evolution with more than simple adaptations of the user interface--they need to implement mobile solutions for most of their applications. From expert authors with years of real-world experience, this book addresses this evolution, covering key mobile-development topics, including design, debugging, deployment, performance optimization, security, and globalization. It also covers mobile applications that use Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 2.0, Microsoft SQL Server(tm) 2005 Everywhere Edition, and Microsoft Windows Mobile® 5.0, running on devices such as Pocket PCs and Windows Mobile Smartphones. In addition, it includes extensive code samples in Microsoft Visual C#®, with additional code sample in Microsoft Visual Basic® on the book's companion Web site.

Inside Microsoft® SQL Server(TM) 2005: Query Tuning and Optimization

Kalen Delaney, Sunil Agarwal, Craig Freedman, Ron Talmage, Adam Machanic

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Books Online gone prolix 2 out of 5 stars.
22 of 24 people found this review helpful.

I was disappointed with this book, which I bought together with SQL Tuning by Dan Tow, hoping to get well-digested expert advice. SQL Tuning was all that I hoped for, and I highly recommend it.

This book, though, has that creepy quality so common to MSFT Press books, where very knowledgeable people, usually connected with the MSFT development teams, list feature after feature in long, passive-voice descriptions, failing to discriminate for the reader and advise as to what is useful and what is not. You have the sense that they spent lots of time at trade shows touting the latest horde of "features", and little time coding under the strain of deadlines and client expectations. To them, every SQL Server nuance is always useful and wonderful and should get fair mention :(

This is a simple example, but SQL Tuning tells me that table scans are normally fine when selecting above 20% of rows, and index seeks are good for row counts under a percent, the space between depending on circumstance (which gray space the book goes on to address). This book, meanwhile, provides no real guidance, and tells me that table scans can be good, and indexes are useful too, and that SQL Server handles both nicely, and that the optimizer selects one or the other, and that it uses iterators, and that they are important, and that you can see what the optimizer has selected, and that you can change that if you want, and that you can automate the change, and that you can document the change, and here are the 4 related undocumented stored procs, and that this is new for 2005, and that there are other related matters, and that SQL Server has all this. Thanks!

Seems they are always plugging the product and never can admit to having suffered with its complexity. The recommendations, if you get them, are always muted by a kool-aid soaked affinity for SQL Server, which does all things well and will never fail to offer just the feature you need to succeed.

The book runs very long and strikes me as a big core dump on 3,000 topics, none of which seem prioritized or emphasized in distinct categories. Sure, the book has distinct chapters into which related material is dumped, but this fails to serve as **guidance**, which is what you are buying the book for. Not written by people in the trenches. Not recommended unless you want to buy some additional MSFT documentation.

Editorial Review:

Dive deep into the internals of query tuning and optimization in SQL Server 2005 with this comprehensive reference. Understanding the internals of SQL Server helps database developers and administrators to better create, access, and effectively process information from enterprise data. Written by experts on SQL Server, this volume from the Inside Microsoft SQL Server series of books focuses on query tuning and optimization. You'll take an in-depth look at the best ways to make queries more efficient and effective, while maximizing existing resources. Includes extensive code samples and table examples to help database developers and administrators understand the intricacies and help promote mastery of query tuning and optimization.

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-432): Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Implementation and Maintenance (PRO-Certification)

Mike Hotek

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Editorial Review:

Long Description Announcing an all-new SELF-PACED TRAINING KIT designed to help maximize your performance on 70-432, the required exam for the new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification for SQL Server 2008 Implementation and Maintenance. This 2-in-1 kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features exam candidates want most including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and customizable testing options. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for the skills and expertise you can apply to the job. Focusing on implementing and maintaining a SQL Server 2008 database, this official study guide covers installing and configuring SQL Server 2008; managing SQL Server Agent jobs, alerts, and operators; implementing security features; backing up and restoring databases; monitoring and troubleshooting SQL Server; optimizing performance using the Resource Governor and Database Engine Tuning Advisor; and implementing high availability. Work at your own pace through the lessons and lab exercises. Then assess yourself using 300+ practice and review questions on the CD, featuring multiple, customizable testing options to meet your specific needs. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives. You get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get an evaluation version of SQL Server 2008 software and an exam discount voucher making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-445): Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Erik Veerman, Teo Lachev, Dejan Sarka, Javier Loria, Solid Quality Learning

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Announcing an all-new Self-Paced Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on 70-445, the required exam for the new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence certification. This 2-in-1 kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features exam candidates want most--including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and customizable testing options. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.

Work at your own pace through the lessons and lab exercises. Focusing on the technology skills required to build business intelligence applications using SQL Server 2005, this official study guide covers topics such as installing, configuring, and deploying SQL Server Analysis Services, SQL Server Reporting Services, and SQL Server Integration Services.

Then assess yourself using hundreds of practice questions on the CD, featuring multiple, customizable testing options to meet your specific needs. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives or chapters. You get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers--including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get an evaluation version of SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition software and an exam discount voucher--making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.

A Developer's Guide to Data Modeling for SQL Server: Covering SQL Server 2005 and 2008 (Addison-Wesley Microsoft Technology Series)

Eric Johnson, Joshua Jones

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

“Eric and Joshua do an excellent job explaining the importance of data modeling and how to do it correctly. Rather than relying only on academic concepts, they use real-world examples to illustrate the important concepts that many database and application developers tend to ignore. The writing style is conversational and accessible to both database design novices and seasoned pros alike. Readers who are responsible for designing, implementing, and managing databases will benefit greatly from Joshua’s and Eric’s expertise.”
—Anil Desai, Consultant, Anil Desai, Inc.

“Almost every IT project involves data storage of some kind, and for most that means a relational database management system (RDBMS). This book is written for a database-centric audience (database modelers, architects, designers, developers, etc.). The authors do a great job of showing us how to take a project from its initial stages of requirements gathering all the way through to implementation. Along the way we learn how to handle some of the real-world design issues that typically surface as we go through the process.

“The bottom line here is simple. This is the book you want to have just finished reading when your boss says ‘We have a new project I would like your help with.’”
—Ronald Landers, Technical Consultant, IT Professionals, Inc.

“The Data Model is the foundation of the application. I’m pleased to see additional books being written to address this critical phase. This book presents a balanced and pragmatic view with the right priorities to get your SQL server project off to a great start and a long life.”
—Paul Nielsen, SQL Server MVP, SQLServerBible.com

“This is a truly excellent introduction to the database design methodology that will work for both novices and advanced designers. The authors do a good job at explaining the basics of relational database modeling and how they fit into modern business architecture. This book teaches us how to identify the business problems that have to be satisfied by a database and then proceeds to explain how to build a solid solution from scratch.”
—Alexzander N. Nepomnjashiy, Microsoft SQL Server DBA, NeoSystems North-West, Inc.

“A Developer’s Guide to Data Modeling for SQL Server explains the concepts and practice of data modeling with a clarity that makes the technology accessible to anyone building databases and data-driven applications.

“Eric Johnson and Joshua Jones combine a deep understanding of the science of data modeling with the art that comes with years of experience. If you’re new to data modeling, or find the need to brush up on its concepts, this book is for you.”
—Peter Varhol, Executive Editor, Redmond Magazine


Model SQL Server Databases That Work Better, Do More, and Evolve More Smoothly

Effective data modeling is essential to ensuring that your databases will perform well, scale well, and evolve to meet changing requirements. However, if you’re modeling databases to run on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or 2005, theoretical or platform-agnostic data modeling knowledge isn’t enough: models that don’t reflect SQL Server’s unique real-world strengths and weaknesses often lead to disastrous performance.

A Developer’s Guide to Data Modeling for SQL Server is a practical, SQL Server-specific guide to data modeling for every developer, architect, and administrator. This book offers you invaluable start-to-finish guidance for designing new databases, redesigning existing SQL Server data models, and migrating databases from other platforms.

You’ll begin with a concise, practical overview of the core data modeling techniques. Next, you’ll walk through requirements gathering and discover how to convert requirements into effective SQL Server logical models. Finally, you’ll systematically transform those logical models into physical models that make the most of SQL Server’s extended functionality. All of this book’s many examples are available for download from a companion Web site.

This book enables you to

• Understand your data model’s physical elements, from storage to referential integrity
• Provide programmability via stored procedures, user-defined functions, triggers, and .NET CLR integration
• Normalize data models, one step at a time
• Gather and interpret requirements more effectively
• Learn an effective methodology for creating logical models
• Overcome modeling problems related to entities, attribute, data types, storage overhead, performance, and relationships
• Create physical models—from establishing naming guidelines through implementing business rules and constraints
• Use SQL Server’s unique indexing capabilities, and overcome their limitations
• Create abstraction layers that enhance security, extensibility, and flexibility

MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-441): Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2005 (Self-Paced Training Kits)

Dejan Sarka, Andy Leonard, Javier Loria, Adolfo Wiernik

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Announcing an all-new Self-Paced Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on 70-441, one of the required exams for the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Database Developer certification. This 2-in-1 kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features exam candidates want most--including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and customizable testing options. It also provides real-world scenarios, case study examples, and troubleshooting labs for skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.

Work at your own pace through the lessons and lab exercises. Focusing on the job role of designing database solutions, this official study guide covers topics such as designing a logical and physical database, implementing database security, creating a test plan and a deployment plan, and drafting a performance baseline and benchmark strategy.

Then assess yourself using 200+ practice questions on the CD, featuring multiple, customizable testing options to meet your specific needs. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives or chapters. You get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers--including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get an evaluation version of SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition software and an exam discount voucher--making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.