Databases Books

Before proceeding, I have an admission to make. I have worked with Scott as his technical editor on another book. However my assessment here is as objective as I can be.

I have worked with LINQ for quite a while now, since I came across it in the early stages at the MVP summit a few years ago. In many ways I think it's a very easy subject to learn b/c in many ways, it is so similar to SQL. At the same time, as with anything, true mastery is not easy. Because I also teach a course on LINQ and Entity Framework, I buy every LINQ book that I can find and have seen it covered as a topic in many of the most recent C# books. The whole line of LINQ books that have come out are, in my opinion, very good. And while they all cover essentially the same topics, they all have their own way to approach the subject so I've gained a good bit by examining how each author approaches the subject. I think this book is a solid 4.5 stars - there wasn't 4.5 available but I think it's a lot closer to a five than a 4.

Why do I think that? First off, it's thorough. Apparently another reader doesn't agree with this assesment and decided the book warranted 1 star b/c of it's light treatment [..]. While equality and non-discrimination are laudable objectives, I think getting upset b/c a book didn't give equal coverage to both languages is ridiculous and punishing an author with a 1 star review is really unfairly punitive. But, if equal coverage of both languages is what you need in a book - then be advised, you're going to be disappointed. If on the other hand, you feel that you can code in either language and that understanding the framework is what's important, well, you'll find this book rewarding. Code examples in both languages (and hey, if we're going to knock authors for discriminating against VB.NET, why not trash everyone that doesn't cover managed C++ or J# too. And what about F#?) take up a lot of space and Scott uses that space to delve into the functional areas of LINQ.

It starts out covering the new language features of VB.NET 9 and C# 3.0 - features necessary to support linq and which are used commonly when coding with LINQ. Those include features such as object initializers, collection initializers, extension methods, implicitly typed local variables, lambda expressions, expression trees etc.

He proceeds to the basic mechanics of LINQ queries. Much of this is covered in MSDN but he certainly expounds upon each area enough to make a substantive difference in your understanding. He moves on to LINQ to Objects and has a pretty detailed coverage of using LINQ to create business objects. He then moves to LINQ to XML and LINQ to Sql. The LINQ to XML coverage is excellent and leaves you wanting for nothing. The LINQ to Sql discussion is also pretty detailed although the coverage related to passing LINQ through tiers is a little short. However that's the case with each LINQ book and that's mainly b/c LINQ 2 Sql's n-tier story is not a happy one. He does cover the .Attach method which is about all you really can cover in that respect without really covering it as its own topic.

In his coverage of each of these, he covers the use of Lambda expressions and expression trees and provides many examples of each. Readers will likely find this coverage alone justification for buying the book. In my experinece, truly understanding LAMDAS is not hard, but learning them (at least for me) wasn't very linear. Instead of learning a little more each time I studied them, i typically made little progress and then had an 'a-ha' moment. To that end, seeing diverse examples really helped me out along the way - since seeing different implementation helped me have more a-ha's.

With respect to LINQ to Sql - Scott dedicates a good bit of the book to it. In fact, I think he may have dedicated a little too much to it. Not in the sense that other areas were left short b/c he covered L2S so in depth, but I have found that LINQ to sql is very limiting in many business respects and its use in a mulit-tier scenario (and for that matter, any time you can't keep a persistent connection open) really limits its usefulness. He covers the ins and outs of it and has a pretty decent demo application that's built throughout the chapter. THe coverage is extensive enough that you may walk away from it feeling like it'd be a great choice for your own business application - at least in my experience, I've found that may not be the best idea. Again though, it's not the author's fault there are those limitations and it'd be unfair to fault him for covering it too well.

THe book is big enough that he gives each area the attention it deserves so even though Linq 2 sql gets a lot of coverage, so does everythign else. There are copious examples throughout the book and they are all original enough that you can definitely get a full understanding of the issue at hand.

So if you're looking for a solid LINQ reference that covers all of the important aspects of LINQ - you'll like this book. If on the other hand, you are looking for a book that is absolutely non-discriminatory in its coverage of VB.NET (I'll note as well that at no time does this book present itself as though it covered each language equally) - well, learning LINQ is the last of your problems

Microsoft's Common Language Runtime (CLR) is a series of subroutines that basically make up the foundation of a programming language. This is an integral part of Microsoft's .NET framework which is basically an extension of the operating system to provide additional functionality. And of course to tie the user to the Microsoft operating system.

In SQL Server 2005, CLR has been built into the database itself so that developers can approach problems by programming in either SQL or CLR or a combination of both. This book is a general introduction to programming in CLR with SQL Server 2005. It is intended to be an 'open book' that you would keep open in front of you as you program using the CLR functions.

These is some discussion in the book about the decision to use CLR or to stay with SQL, but obviously these authors are believers in CLR. If nothing else, reading the book will give you a good idea about CLR and whether you want ot use it or not.

Note that since the announcement of .NET, the developers of Linux, Oracle and others have announced that they will also offer .NET/CLR support. It appears this is going to be the way and the light in the future.

Programming the Paradox Engine: C++ Windows Applications tells you everything you need to know to make your Paradox business applications faster and more
functional with C++.

First, the authors explain how to access and fine-tune the Paradox engine to speed up an application. Then, they provide a "just-in-time tutorial" filled with performance
routines and extensive source code examples that demonstrate the advantages of using C++ to develop Paradox applications. A virtual gold mine of ready-to-use code is
included.

This book is the authoritative source for any art enthusiast interested in the development of Object ID. It describes in detail how international; cultural heritage organizations, law-enforcement agencies, the art trade, appraisers, the insurance industry and customs agencies all contributed to its formulation.. The Object ID Checklist is included with guidance on how to use it. Every conference is documented along with the proposed descriptive items and the reasons for accepting or rejecting the inclusion of each in the checklist.

I would recommend this book to people who have browsed the web and now want to get involved in writing their own web pages. I love the fact its Macintosh oriented! Also, this book takes you through a (brief) history of hypertext, html, etc. and explains (briefly) the controversies between purists and standardizers - I have a better understanding of where all this came from. Pfaffenberger is an excellent and entertaining writer - maybe a little tiny bit simplistic in some ways but not condescendingly patronizing and very thorough. After having looked through several books including "HTML for Dummies" (definitely condescending) and another thick book professing to give you everything you need to know on running a website (which was written by a compendium of people and assumed you understood all sorts of things) - I would say this is a great starting point. (I rated a 9 because I feel there is ALWAYS room for improvement...)

This book is a pocket-size reference that allows you to quickly and easily find all commands, code, function or statements you may need without the cumbersome use of the IBM reference manuals. Seems to be very easy to use and I would highly recommend it if you need a reference guide.

"These short or excepted selections from the Golden Age of Russian literature were carefully chosen for their worth as literary works and for their applicability in the intermediate classroom.
The student of Russian at that level has the right to enjoy the golden moments in Russian culture without having his limited facility with the language over-challenged. This reader has tried to bridge that gap.
Each work is accompanied by a working vocabulary beneath each page of text.
This vocabulary is meant to allow for smooth reading and to avoid the tedium of looking up words in a glossary or dictionary. However, there is an end vocabulary which contains all other words for reference.
Following the works of each author are questions designed to stimulate discussion on the author's biography and on the content of his stories.
The second half of the nineteenth century was remarkable for the abundance of fine writers who made an impact on the literary world of Russia.
Among them were Turgenev, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and Chekhov.
The four authors have done much to enrich man's knowledge of himself, of his inner life and his relations to his fellow man.
They were the sensitive observers and analyzers of their contemporaries' social behavior.....
..... The reader will find that TURGENEV, TOLSTOY, DOSTOYEVSKY AND CHEKHOV ARE INDEED A QUARTET OF RUSSIAN MASTERS.
[from the book introduction by Edward Swick]

I have used this book for past 3 years in my classroom (college). Easy to read, comprehend, and error free. Looking forward to the 2007 edition.

The books title is true. If you don't have alot time to learn Access, this small book will give you a crash course that still manages to teach some of the most important topics. I have looked at and used other books and this is the best short course I've seen.

Most small business founder because they lack sufficient management skills with respect to their cash flows and problems of keeping track of their finances. Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition that is with Excel Spreadsheets, "The Quick Guide To Small Business Budgeting" by Julie Mucha-Aydlott is a complete, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'user friendly' "how-to manual providing step-by-step, do-it-yourself instructions for creating a personal budget, creating a business budget, creating business cash flow projections, creating personal finance statements, and estimating income taxes. "The Quick Guide To Small Business Budgeting" uses real-world examples that will enable those with no previous financial accounting experience or skills to successful identify, calculate, and track cash flows and expenditures associated with virtually any kind of commercial enterprise. Of special value are the templates in an accompanying CD that provide Microsoft Excel forms that include: Personal Budget; Business Budget; Cash Flow Forecast; Work in Progress; Weekly Cash Flow Forecast; and Personal Financial Statement. Especially recommended for small business owners who don't have the capital to hire professional accounting services, "The Quick Guide To Small Business Budgeting" will prove as invaluable as it is practical.