After five years, the latest version of SQL Server was finally released under the title of SQL Server 2005. There are a lot of changes that have come along with this version, but a lot of the underlying philosophy and techniques are still the same. Professional SQL Server 2005 Programming takes the approach that it will not focus on just what is new; rather it takes the approach that it is more important to gain the understanding of the overall product and, more importantly, learn how to develop systems that meet your performance needs and store your data in a efficient manner.
The beginning portion of this book has been split out into a separate book called "Beginning SQL Server 2005 Programming." It was felt that to try to add all the updated information, there was no way to keep the integrity of what was to be presented, and still keep the book small enough to bind. Professional SQL Server 2005 Programming weighs in at over 880 pages as it is. The book contains 25 chapters and three appendices. In an effort to keep this review shorter than the book, I will list a group of chapter titles and then comment about them as a group.
Chapter 1: Being Objective: Re-Examining Objects in SQL Server
Chapter 2: Tool Time
Chapter 3: Basic T-SQL
Chapter 4: Creating and Altering Tables
Chapter 5: Reviewing Keys and Constraints
Chapter 6: Asking a Better Question: Advanced Queries
These chapters focus on the basis of SQL Server by looking at the database objects that are contained within the system. It follows through the tools that are included, especially the new services that are introduced with the 2005 system. You will learn the fundamentals of T-SQL, building and modifying tables, and setting up keys and constraints as well as building queries to manipulate your data. It is here that you will re-familiarize yourself with the fundamental concepts.
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