Seeking solid MS SQL primer - your old standby fave?

[ColdFuse]

hello. hopefully you'll sympathize w/ me when i say that while sifting through the incredibly deep and vast results of a web search -- just about anything in which "MS SQL 2000" is included (or even narrowing it to MS SQL 2000 data types syntax) for example-- unless one is familiar w/ the resource (such as Tek-tips, or microsoft.com... it's very difficult to know where to begin.

i'm hoping to be pointed in the direction of a quality resource for starting out with MS SQL Server 2000. It doesn't have to be "SQL for dummies" style-- but, i don't want to have to read volumes either. hopefully you know what i mean-- the type of thing you might hand out to students in a 200 level college course or so... deep enough that i can learn, yet quick enough to learn enough to make some headway over a weekend's time or so. i'm counting on it that you probably have a favorite that just about fits that description. i'd really appreciate you sharing a URL or two.

thank you!!

 

[r937]

Books Online deserves very carful perusal

r937.com | rudy.ca

 

[Walid]

Books online is a valuable resource, no doubt about it, but it is more of a reference than a tutorial for beginners.
If you have the time and your primary goal is to gain deep understanding, pick one of Wrox’s Beginning SQL-Server 200X books. If you are starting from scratch, go directly to 2005 instead of 2000.



Walid Magd (MCP)

The primary challenge of every software development team is to engineer the illusion of simplicity in the face of essential complexity.
-Grady Booch

 

[SQLSister]

Useful Reference Books for SQL Server Professionals faq183-3324

Questions about posting. See faq183-874
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[ColdFuse]

Hello. I want to thank you for your generous replies. I'm going to sound very naive, but instead of googling and acting like i know something-- i'll just admit that i've never been to Books Online before (or, i just don't recall). i assume you mean booksonline.com to find something for purchasing?

If i extrapolate accurately, the general consensus here, not surprisingly, is that there really isn't anything that you'd endorse which isn't already in print, or on its way to the publisher. i appreciate that (if i read you right). indeed, the most beneficial learning i've experienced has been from books. i wish i could afford to buy a few. if any, i'll have to pick one and go with it.

In this instance, I was looking for a 'quick fix'. Working with coldfusion, having trouble with MS Access throwing errors on what i believed to be standard, proper SQL queries, i thought i'd try something more like a real database. since i had a copy of SQL 2000, i wanted to give it a go. I think Walid felt most of what i was trying to express-- yes, i was looking for more of a tutorial-- a sort of 'crash course'. i realize that's no way to learn, but this was something i was down to the wire on. shamefully, i did not succeed.

sorry for the lengthy post, but i'll wrap up w/ the only real inquiry to which i'd like a response. if you were in my position, as a relative novice when it comes to understanding database technology-- more the installation, and administration than SQL, (i know some SQL and w/ r937's site, it looks like i've got a great resource by which i might learn more) would i be most wise to buy a book on MS SQL 200x, or would you recommend something else-- perhaps not so 'proprietary'?
Obviously, when it comes to the real world, i'm not going to see much MySQL and PosgreSQL.

thank you so much for reading, and for your participation!

 

[jrbarnett]

Books Online is a set of help files, examples etc supplied with SQL Server. When you install SQL Server on your PC or server, Books online will be installed (unless you choose not to install them). They are accessible from an icon within the Microsoft SQL Server folder in the Start Menu.

If you're looking for a general introduction to relational databases, you can't go far wrong with the Fundamentals of Relational Database Design document available from

http://www.abcdataworks.com/fundamentals.htm

This is very well written and covers database design, simple SQL and concepts applicable to all relational databases, including SQL Server and Access.

John

 

[SQLSister]

Coldfuse, don't forget the library as a source of books. Look at the books onthe FAQ and see if your library has them or can get them on inter-library loan. The FAQ has the books that many of the frequent posters to this forum (at the time the list was created) have been using themselves. Maybe we need to revist the list for SQL Server 2005 books - anyone who wants to add one please post it here or if I get time, I'll add a thread to get new suggestions.

Questions about posting. See faq183-874
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[thendrickson]

Just my 2 cents worth.

I have often been dropped into something that I had zero knowlege of.

I found the SAMS Teach Yourself (Something) in (A Ridculously Short Time) to be very valuable.

These books can provide a good basic understanding that you can build upon. Do not get the idea they are very in depth though.

Spend a weekend locked in your room with the book. a thermos of coffee and a PC

 

[Gooser]

Amen again, SQL Sister!

Get a library card and use it. Library books are free and they never give you a hassle when you don't like them and you want to return them. Plus, the library is a great source of free music CDs to listen to on your train ride into work, oh wait,..that's me.

and amen to you too thendrickson!

I've got the Pierce County Library System's copy of SAMS Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes (2nd) sitting on my desk in front of me. Even though I've been a MS SQL dba for quite some time now, it's always good to review the last few chapters and remember some of the advanced stuff you don't use on a daily basis, then think of how you might floptimize what you are doing. Plus if you have no clue about something, they can be a great source to find what it is that you need to Google. There are always a hundred ways to skin the cat, but don't you want the quickest and easiest? (quick and easy for the server, not necessarily the dba)

However, the single most important reference document ever for a dba (from any camp) is this: The Puppy Chart

Oh, and TekTips forums help a lot too.

v/r

Gooser

Why do today
that which may not need to be done tomorrow --me

 

[r937]

fabulous chart, thanks for the link!!

^*bookmarked*



r937.com | rudy.ca

 

[Gooser]

My fiancee won't let me hang the puppy chart above the mantle... >:-<