Beginning C# Databases

Databases are a complete mystery to me. This book is exactly what I need to become a DBA overnight. I am extremely impressed with the way it manages to deal with a multitude of Microsoft development environments.

This is one of the best database tutorials I have come across. I'm an old hand at using Microsoft Access (MS Jet) databases with Visual Basic, but I have struggled in the world of database servers. SQL Server has been a total mystery to me, even after reading (OK--trying to read) another book on SQL Server. It's not SQL that has stumped me; it's the transition from a simple Access file to a db server.'Beginning C# Databases' addresses that need quite well. It begins with a walkthrough of the installation of MSDE (the personal version of SQL Server that ships with VS.Net). From there, it explains the VS.Net 'Server Explorer', which I had not been able to figure out. All of that was worth the price of the book for me, and it's all in the first chapter!The book contains a pretty good tutorial on SQL. Old hands will probably want to skip it (nothing beyond SELECT, UPDATE, and DELETE), but if you're new to database programming, it's enough to get you started.The treatment of ADO.Net is pretty conventional, but its coverage of beginner-to-intermediate topics (relationships, input validation, authentication, transactions) is quite good. I have moved myself from 'knowing enough to get it done' to 'knowing enough to do it pretty well'. All-in-all, money well spent.

The book presents a lot of insight into ADO.NET - a thorough conceptual review, including lots of easy to grasp examples and 'try it out' code. I would recommend this book to 'any' one who's interested in developing a strong hold on ADO.NET and thinking of carrying on and creating larger, scalable data applications. Don't think twice!

This is a great book to begin using databases with C#. It touches on a lot of topics but does not go into too much depth in any of them.One nice part of this book is how it makes sure your environment is configured so you can avoid confusing error messages and so forth. I have written quite a bit of C++ and worked with a variety of databases over the years. However, being new to development on the Windows platform, .Net Framework, VS .Net, and SQL Server this book got me up to speed in a matter of days. The books takes you through- The environment (and setting it up)- ADO.Net- ASP .Net (but short)- XML- SQL Serverand a variety of very good topics within each subject. Once your through with it an experienced programmer is ready to go on his own and a beginner knows where to go from here.The text and explanations are clear, gives you details in the beginning, and then skips the detailed navigation steps before you are half way through the book. I loved that.You won't go off writing commercial code when you're done, but you sure will accellerate you getting there. When I started I knew nothing, now I am aware of what is there and what I need to pick up.Highly recommended for those that are new to the .Net Framework and has programmed before.Cheers!

When i began learning .NET and C#, after getting the basics of .NET Framework, I wanted to quickly cover ground and at the same time be productive. I picked up this book and boy I tell you -- i got a quick understanding of ADO.NET all the way from basic dataset stuff to transactions and XML quickly. I own other books on .NET but they don't cover ado.net transactions and ado.net events the way this book does. Examples and practial, clear and simple which is what is required for a beginners book. This book is a must in every C# programmers library. It has much deeper content than the Beginning VB.NET databases book also from Wrox.I would strongly recommend to others that after learning the basics of C#(variables,types,classes,oop) one should get this book and learn ADO.NET. ADO.NET is a major component of the .NET framework and this book will get you there quickly and painlessly !!