Going into DB war zone. Need help !

[vaib]

Hi all,

I am a .net developer for the past 2.5 years. I am very good with
coding as far as C#, Asp.Net, JScript, etc. is concerned but I am not
very well versed with databases(sql server). Although I can write
simple joins and stuff but it give me jitters when it comes to more
advanced stuff like writing complex dynamic sql and stuff. Also, I
feel the need to consult google for syntax of a lot of things. I know
sql is just like any other language and it's only a matter of time and
practice before I become really good at it. But the thing is that I
would be joining a startup soon where there is a lot of DB intensive
work and I don't want to go there without good DB knowledge. It would
also be a very good opportunity for me to learn DB.

So, basically what I am asking here is for help. Please tell me some
resources\site\tutorial\book that you know of that can give me a lot
of hands-on exercises. All I want is a lot exercises to do. Writing
lots of dynamic sql. Scenario based questions. Stuff that can prepare
me for the war!

Thanking in anticipation. I only turn to usenet when I am need some
serious help.

[Bob Barrows]

Avoiding dynamic sql is a better goal, especially if writing web-based
applications (sql injection is enabled by the use of dynamic sql).
Parameterized stored procedures are a must for the serious sql server
developer.

Anyways, you're putting the cart before the horse here. You really need to
learn to write queries (sql) before moving on to dynamic sql. Dynamic sql is
simply the process of concatenating some strings together to form a sql
statement that gets passed to a database to be executed. If you can't write
sql statements, dynamic sql is out of the question.

But if you must, Erland's written some good articles on the subject. You can
find them along with several other good articles at www.sommarskog.se

www.sqlservercentral.com is an excellent resource.
I've heard some good recommendations for a book called Database Design For
Mere Mortals, although I've never read it myself.

Other than that - dive into SQL Books Online (BOL - it's installed on your
machine when you install sql server client tools - you can also read them
online at microsoft.com - use those google skills to find it <g>), and start
reading.

[Erland Sommarskog]

vaib (vaibhav...@gmail.com) writes:
> So, basically what I am asking here is for help. Please tell me some
> resources\site\tutorial\book that you know of that can give me a lot
> of hands-on exercises. All I want is a lot exercises to do. Writing
> lots of dynamic sql. Scenario based questions. Stuff that can prepare
> me for the war!

The books on these page are well worth the money:
http://tsql.solidq.com/books/index.htm

Start with Fundamentals (which is the only book to have exercises). The
other two books are intended for the somewhat experienced programmer.

...and there is little reason to use Google for the syntax. SQL Server
comes with Books Online installed on your hard disk.


--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esq...@sommarskog.se

Links for SQL Server Books Online:
SQL 2008: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/cc514207.aspx
SQL 2005: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb895970.aspx

[vaib]

On Jan 21, 3:32 am, Erland Sommarskog <esq...@sommarskog.se> wrote:

Hi,

Yes I found the first book very useful. Thanks a lot. Any other such
resources?

[vaib]

> www.sqlservercentral.comis an excellent resource.

> I've heard some good recommendations for a book called Database Design For
> Mere Mortals, although I've never read it myself.
>
> Other than that - dive into SQL Books Online (BOL - it's installed on your
> machine when you install sql server client tools - you can also read them
> online at microsoft.com - use those google skills to find it <g>), and start
> reading.

Hi,

Not putting the cart before the horse. You should not expect that from
someone who is 2.5 years experienced! I am just asking for hands on
practice resources. And I know what dynamic sql is. Just want to have
practice on it too.

Thanks anyways.

[Erland Sommarskog]

vaib (vaibhav...@gmail.com) writes:
> Yes I found the first book very useful. Thanks a lot. Any other such
> resources?

Gosh! You've read it already. That was quick. :-)

Michael Coles has a book "T-SQL Programmer's Guide" which also containts
exercises. I have not read the book, but it seems to be a general survey
of what's in the box.

Another title is Adam Machanic's "Expert SQL Server 2005 Development". This
is not a general book, but takes a deeper look at a specific problems to
show what is possible. There is an SQL 2008 version of the book with
different authors, but I don't think it holds the same standard.

I would also like to recommend Alex Kuznetsov "Defensive Database
Programming". Not everything he suggests may always be possible to implement
in practice, but it can still serve as a en eye-opener.

If you expect to venture into database design, Louis Davidson's "Pro SQL
Server 2008 Database Design and Implementation" can teach you some best
practices.

And again, I definitely recommend to proceed with Itzik's two other books.
Not only does he learn you all constructs how you can use, but he also
looks at common problems that reoccurs every now and then.

[vaib]

On Jan 21, 9:42 pm, Erland Sommarskog <esq...@sommarskog.se> wrote:

Hey,

No I didn't read that book but I got myself one after carefully
analyzing it :)

Thanks a lot for all the resources. Look into them right now.
Itzik seems to be like Jeffery Richter of SqlServer.

[Andrew Morton]

Bob Barrows wrote:
> Avoiding dynamic sql is a better goal, especially if writing web-based
> applications (sql injection is enabled by the use of dynamic sql).

That isn't exactly accurate: you can use parameters in SQL generated at
run-time by the application.

--
Andrew