Database Developers Secrets with SQL Server X, with CD-ROM

This book should be more appropriately titled as "MSSQL-Server Guide for Practitioners" because it is written by practicing professionals for pratitioners, and every advice given by the authors can be counted on for its useful and pratical value. The first two chapters form good readings for the MIS managers and they can benefit by saving a few gray hairs over the hardware selection process and making of informed decision on the upgrading versus the new installation dilemma. Application programmers can also benefit from the chapters on the features and use of the Enterprise Manager, T-SQL, tables,views and indexes, the login process, and last but not least, the stored procedures and triggers. The best part of the book is the more comprehensive treatment of data transfers and the bcp for DBA. All in all, this book has been consulted in large amount for our first successful project and installation.

These guys know SQLserver inside out, and let you benefit from their knowledge. The discussion is not just another manual, but real tips, tricks and traps.

I have looked through several books on MS SQL Server, and found them all to be severely lacking. This one comes closest to giving me a one book refernce. It also contains many practical samples such as a way of getting around xp_sendmail limitations. It's worth the price just for that! I would have liked more coverage on things like BCP, though