Rating: 
Summary: Very good overall
Review: A few topics are skimmed over, but overall a solid book.
Rating: 
Summary: Should Be On Every DBA's Shelf!
Review: A truely do-it-all book. Robert Vieira has written the Transact-SQL programmer's dream. Not only is it a good reference for the more advanced DBA, but makes a decent beginner's guide (the book is not a "teach yourself", but rather for a beginner who has completed some SQL Server basics). This is the book for the beginner who wants to move through intermediate to advanced topics. The book covers:I. Particulars and History - Building DB Connected Systems, Data Access Models. II. RDBMS - The components of a SQL Server DB III. Tools of the Trade - Client/Server Network Utilities, Enterprise Manager, DTS, MS DTC, Performance Monitor, Profiler, Query Analyzer, OSQL, Service Manager Then The Good Stuff: First the basics: IV. The Foundation Statements of T-SQL - Select, Where, ETC. V. Joining Tables - Inner/Outer, Cross, Full, Union VI. Creating and Altering Tables Then the Intermediate Stuff: VII. Constraints - Primary Keys, Foreign Keys, Unique, Check, Default, Disabling, Rules, Triggers VIII.Normalization and Basic Design Issues - Relationships, Diagramming, De-Normalizing, Examples Then the Advanced Stuff: IX. Speeding Performance: Storage and Index Structures X. Views - Simple, Complex, Editing, etc. XI. Writing Scripts and Batches - OSQL XII. Code Storage: Stored Procedures - Intermediate to Advanced - This is pretty much exhaustivly covered. Includes error handling, control of flow. XIII.Transactions and Locks - More advanced SProc handling, Checkpoints, Locks and Concurrancy, Handling Deadlocks XIV. Triggers - A truely great chapter, untangling what is usually a badly explained subject. And a lot more... Chapters 15 through 25 cover the really advanced subjects like: Advanced Queries, Distributed Queries/Transactions, SQL Cursors, BCP, DTS, Replication (in detail), Advanced DB Design, OLAP (in detail), English Query and Full Text Search, Security (very well done), Performance Tuning (in detail), Advanced Administration. The appendices cover: Global Variables, Functions, Tools, Error Listing, Access Upsizing. An excellent index rounds out the package. If you are worried about coverage on any of the above topics...don't the book is a real luggable (1.5" thick, a couple of pounds in weight). The only other book I would recommend to round out the SQL Server DBA's library would be MS Press' Administrator's Pocket Guide. You really won't need anything else! This book is a must have.
Rating: 
Summary: Out of date
Review: After all the ballyhoo on this book, I went and bought it. Frankly, I'm disappointed. Were there pages missing or did old Rob forget about T-SQL error handling? With SQL Server 2000 on the street much of what you see here is old hat. Current books cover SQL 2000. This one doesn't. For a guy that apparently spends more times in newsgroups than he does with the product, the self-important style is inappropriate. Go and earn your stripes, Rob.
Rating:
Summary: Professional SQL Server 7.0 Programming
Review: I have read both books that Rob Vieira has written on SQL Server (Professional SQL Server 7.0 Programming and Professional SQL Server 2000 Programming) and have found that both books are great for mastering SQL Server. There is still a lot of SQL Server 7.0 applications and databases out there in the real world. If you are assigned to develop or maintain such a database, you need to read this book. You could combine this with Thearon Willis' book "Beginning Visual Basic SQL Server 7.0" to get a better understanding of using SQL Server 7.0 and Visual Basic 5.0/6.0 together (and also ADO/RDO/DAO).
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Book for New DBA's
Review: I really did not know SQL but after reading this book i passed the SQL MCDBA exams and got certified.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book with simple style
Review: I used this book to prepare for exam 70-029 and have passed with a score of 857. It covers all the topics required for this exam. It is not exactly exam oriented, but makes your foundation of SQL server very strong. I also used transcender to prepare for this exam. I like Mr Vieira's sense of humor (the key, the whole key and nothing but the key so help you Codd) :-) I didn't have any experience in sql server and found this book very helpful as my first book of sql server.
Rating:
Summary: A great book, but misses some of the deeper details.
Review: If this book was titled a beginning book, it would defniitely get 5 stars. It is extremely clear, well written, and covers the essential topics that will confront a SQL Server 7.0 programmer. However, some details are missed. Examples: An SP programmed to raise errors with severity levels of 20+ will run "successfully" within DTS. Apparently DTS interprets any non-syntax error producing run as successful. How does one check for errors, and run different SPs within DTS based on errors raised? When writing an SP raising errors with severity levels of 20+, the with log option is required. However, this option requires heightened security levels than db_owner. What role should be assigned to the user of SP? Under what conditions? These are relevant questions when developing real world apps, and are not clearly addressed. Again, this a great book, and readily recommend it. However, its title (and size) imply a level of detail that is sometimes missing.
Rating:
Summary: Clear and indepth book by a programer for programers
Review: Most technical books on advanced subjects leave much to be desired. They are often too academic and are for the most part a repeat of the manufacturers standard literature, (for example Microsoft's literature). Robert Viera has written a book that is easy enough for the beginner to follow and yet aimed at the serious professional dealing with real world technical problems. Professional SQL Server 7.0 Programming tacles the challenges that programmers face in the real world and it does it with in-depth discussion and examples. You hardly need to refere to other sources for more information. What's more, I was pleasantly amazed when the author returned my email cry for help within a half hour. I was faced with a Microsoft bug in SQL 7 and Microsoft tech support was no where to be found. Mr. Vieira's prompt response saved the day. I don't expect the author to substitute for Microsoft technical support, but the incident convinced me that he was a working programmer's writing from the view point of a programmer. I look forwards to buying any other books that he will author. How about one on MS Visual Interdev or ASP?
Rating:
Summary: One of the great book about the subject
Review: Robert did the great job. This is a must have book for people working with MS SQL 7 and later. As IT proffessional, I must say, that this book sets standards how the book for IT professionals (and for MS-SQL server beginners too) should be written. The book covers in detail not only relational database design and programming issues, but security and administrative issues, data replication and distributed data are cowered in detail as well and in my opinion, is one of the best books ever written about the MS SQL 7 server.
Rating:
Summary: Good SQL Server Book
Review: The book has a great summarization of database concepts in the first few chapters. It discusses thoroughly many concepts surrounding the GUI of SQL Server. Where it lacks though is the discussion of transact-sql. I do not know if I am being overly harsh on this issue, but overall the book was excellent. I went and purchased The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL and looked at the Microsoft Press SQL Server book to get additional information. All these books I have mentioned are excellent resources to get a firm handle on SQL Server, not to mention a nice DB Design book for reference.
| 
