Looking for a good book on SQL...

A link not a book;
http://www.1keydata.com/sql/sql.html

or

W3Schools is usually a prety good place to get the straight goods,
http://www.w3schools.com/sql/default.asp

There are quite a few FREE online tutorials and resources that are really good if you do a simple search.

Good luck

Here is the link for the MSDE docuementation from Microsoft. MSDE is not a crippled verson but it does have some limitations. You have to know the SQL DBCC commands and regular SQL to query from it but otherwise it is a good free product. If you have Enterprise Manager, you can register a MSDE instance and can manage it with EM. All of the SQL books will be devoted to full blown SQL Server with a GUI or at least ISQL that I know of. Good luck in your search.

Get the current Version of the M$ SQL-Server Online-Documentation. BTW there is a new ServicePack for the SQL-Server and also for the MSDE

Hi, if your are seaching for books on Sql, you don't need to search far; try www.amazon.com

They have in stock books for both novices and experts at very affordable prices.

And a large rang in stock too. I had the same problem with .NET technologies. I got all my materials to help me in developing .Net applications from there.

'hope this helps.

I search for the topic I want on Amazon. Then I look at only the highest rated selections. For each of those I read all the user comments. It has to have raves from nearly everyone. If there are a few bad reviews I look at the nature of the review and the profile of the reviewer. Since I started doing that I have not been burned on a book.

Another option is to get a trial subscription to O'Reilly/Safari. Do a search and sort by descending copyright date. Then you can look at the latest releases first and review them on Amazon. I would advise you to subscribe to Safari and take advantage of being to look at a large number of references on a given subject. I have no connection with Safari or O'Reilly. I haven't bought a technical book since I started subscribing. I just change the books on my online bookshelf as required.

I think you need more than just a SQL primer. There is a book called 'MSDE Developer's Guide' by Dan Rahmel that covers a lot of area for someone with no database experience...and it is specific for MSDE. BTW, the upcoming SQL Express 2005 will be virtually identical to SQL Server. So any SQL Server resource will apply.

I used to teach an SQL course at the college level and used "Understanding SQL" by Martin Gruber (Sybex ISBN 0895886448) as the course text. I'm sure there must be a newer edition out.

Lots of people use SQL (the language) and Microsoft SQL Server as if they are one and the same. They aren't. I would recommend you learn SQL the language first, then learn about Microsoft's version of it.

You didn't mention how much database experience you have, but if you are an Access developer, a good book for you might be "Professional SQL Server Development with Access 2000" by Rick Dobson (WROX ISBN 1861004834).

Just above this post.

Donna