Rating: 
Summary: Rob has written a masterpiece
Review: This book is worth it's weight in gold. The expert explanations surpass a basic coverage and give you a balance of sterling explanation and vivid examples, which is something many authors lack the ability to do.
The coverage of of all other modules that come with SQL server 2000 is better than any out there and a must for a developer using SQL server 2000. I was able to write some awesome SQLXML code directly from this book that allowed us to roll out reporting to our users with no client side worries. This is the best intro to XML as you will find. Obviously XML, OLAP and other topics like this need further discussion in full editions, but the author is quick to point that out and gives you just what you need to get started and tells you the best places to find continuing information.
SQL 2000 is so different from version 7.0, this book was rightfully not titled as an edition of the 7.0 book. They are two different animals. Rob has written a followup to this book and it's correctly titled the same as the 2000 book, 2nd edition. I'm so eager for it to be in stock. It must be a very popular book. I would pay full price for it knowing it's a second edition. That is how good Rob is at doing what he does. Any new information from someone as expert as Rob is worth the price.
Don't hesitate picking this one up if you want the best SQL 2000 programming book on the market. Again, anyone knows the supporting technologies of SQL SERVER are not able to be fully covered in one book, but an solid introduction into what they can do and beyond in most cases, is essential to a book of this integrity and usefulness.
Other authors write several SQL server books, change the title slightly and sell them as new books. Rob is very up front about things and if you read the intro to this book you will see the good reason Rob did not simply title it an edition to the 7.0 version. He is not only a master of SQL, he is a very very honest man who covers anything like that in the first few pages. He did what was right in the end as you will find with this great tome that will be open on your desk more than on the shelf. I wish I could somehow guarantee that, but only can tell you that is my experience. I'm a professional developer and this is our number one SQL server book, as it is for our largest vendors. In fact it's required reading and purchased for all IT employees of our main vendor, a huge international company.
Great book. There is none better.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent but flawed
Review: This book has some good info, but the book itself has many flaws. First, much of the info is copied verbatim from the 7.0 book. That would be OK if this were a second edition, but it is being sold as a whole new book. Second, half the book consists of printouts of the screens from the various Sql Server tools. For example, the DTS and replication coverage consists almost entirely of screen printouts. Some pages are literally two screen prints with a sentence or two between them. One gets the impression the Rob hasn't used these technologies much and is using graphics to bulk up the book. Regardless of the reasons for the flaws, they greatly devalue the book for me. I would say that if you have the 7.0 book, you don't need this one. Also, keep in mind that if you are working with DTS, replication, XML, OLAP and many others you will need other books unless you simply want to review printouts of Sql Server screen printouts.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book
Review: This book covers the client side of Sql Server application development extremely well. It covers nearly all the client side technolgies and provides real-world examples for putting them to work. Rob is a good teacher and I've put many of his recommendations into practice. Get a good T-Sql book to go with it and you have all you need to build sophisticated Sql Server applications.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother
Review: Like another review, I find the 'Professional' in the title inappropriate. I'm an experienced SQL developer and I quickly discovered that there was never anything in here that I either didn't know already or had already seen (in more detail) in BOL. It seems to cover the very basics of everything. But in the real-world (where most professionals live) you oh-so quickly have to get in much deeper than that! If this were a professional book, on all the topics included, it would have to be three or four times the size. In the end I crossed out 'Professional' and put 'Amateur' in its place, and then gave it away. Might be Ok for beginners.
Rating:
Summary: The required book to pass the MCP 70-229 exam
Review: If you need to understand the FUNDAMENTALS of SQL Server 2000 then read this book. Also if you are preparing for the MCP 70-229 exam, this book is a required read. Mr. Viera has done an excellent job.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent SQL Server Reference
Review: Simply the best.... No ther Wrox,MS Press or even APress book comes close. Still a classic
Rating:
Summary: Good Reference
Review: This book is one of the best for SQL Server 2000. I bought also the by Example book by FG Guerrero an CE Rojas, but this one is much better. Obviously I prefer BOL to any book, but this book made a good job in organizing all these hundreds of pages and topics. It's a good reference too. I used as a preparation to 70-229 with BOL and passed it the first time without difficults.
Rating:
Summary: A Great SQL Reference - for all levels
Review: I purchased this book to learn how to write some really basic stored procedures, I started to read this book and applied the examples to some SQL tasks at my place of employment, the examples are real world friendly, and describe in detail what they do in SQL and you learn as you go. The authors writing style is concise, informative, and animated. I would recommend this SQL book for anyone who needs to apply a reference for real world SQL programming. A MUST HAVE FOR ALL SQL DEVELOPERS !!
Rating:
Summary: There just can't be anything better than this
Review: I'll just start saying this, before I read this book, I just knew how to write some simple SQL statements, after reading this, and only this book I passed the Microsoft certification exam on SQL Server 2000. With simple explanations, easy to follow examples (but don't think that because the examples are simple, they are not practical), and comments on how to use them in the real world, you really become an expert using SQL Server 2000. Everything is covered, from simple to more complex queries, from Stored Procedures to User Defined Functions, Triggers, Defaults, Views, Security, you name it. A really must have for anyone who is seriously thinking of becomming a database designer or administrator.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Breadth, Average Depth
Review: As has already been stated this is not a reference book. I think the author has covered quite a bit in this book but I think the "Professional" in the title is a little misleading. It doesn't quite have the technical depth I would consider to be "Professional". It also has a writing style is more along the lines of a "Dummies Guide" then a "Professional" programming book. In the end it depends what you are looking for.
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