Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition for Dummies

For the money spent and the time invested I feel I learned a lot about the subject. Yes, it is a little slow going in the beginning, but not bad. I was actually impressed with the breadth of subjects that this book touched on. No, it did not go in depth on every subject, but it at least gives you a good base to start from. In my experience the Dummies books are always hit and miss. I really think for the money, this is a hit. Joe

There's a whole bunch to like, in my opinion, about this book and only one point that I think is pretty weak. First off, what's there to like. Probably most important is that SQL Server Express is available and it's an extremely powerful software system and it's FREE, a very good price. Second is the book which is written in the typical 'For Dummies' style, with an occasional joke thrown in, that makes it pretty easy to read and yet is doing its job of educating you about the subject. And third, there's a CD-ROM supplied with the book that contains SQL Server Express as well as a lot of ancillary but useful programs to go with it. Yes, you can download SQL Server from the Microsoft web site, but having a CD is a lot easier and faster. The weak point. There's a chapter on migrating from Microsoft Access to SQL Server that primarily talks about upgrading the tables from Access format to SQL Server format using one of the utilities provided. What's missing is a discussion on the differences in Access SQL (based on the 1989 standard) and SQL Server SQL (based on the 1992 standard). If you've used SQL to talk to Access on your previous system, you're in for a bit of a challenge to get it to talk to SQL Server.