Mastering SQL Server 2000 Book

A book so fat that it is almost a cube, Mastering SQL Server 2000 purports to be "the only SQL Server book you need", with its 1,200 pages covering both the background and the practicalities for all levels of user, especially those with healthy biceps--it weighs more than 2 kilos.Following the introductory chapters, there are five further parts dealing with Transact-SQL (SQL Server's querying language), Enterprise Manager, administration, application development and advanced topics. A reasonable number of screen shots enliven the text but some of the diagrams aren't worth the page real estate they occupy.One of the advanced topics covered is Analysis Services and the chapter begins with an introduction to OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing). Unfortunately, the second sentence in the explanation of new terminology reads "A cube is a collection of data that's been aggregated along multiple dimensions to make querying happen quickly". As an explanation to a beginner this is less than perfectly helpful, especially as the terms aggregate and dimension have yet to be defined. Sadly, this rather cavalier attitude to the way in which the information is presented is characteristic of the book.On the bright side the book does cover a whole raft of topics and there will be something of value in there for everyone. The authors have been at pains to cover the really new topics in SQL Server 2000 such as the much-improved English Query and data mining.Though intimidating for the beginner and with no added value in the form of a CD-ROM, Mastering SQL Server 2000 contains a lot of information that forms a useful reference to those with existing database server experience. --Mark WhitehornRead More