Computers and Internet Books

This book is not only an excellent guide to Ruby and Rails for PHP developers, it is, quite simply, an excellent resource on professional web development. It offers insight into how to properly manage a product and customer expectations, from the planning stages to site delivery. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Pragmatic has truly become the #1 resource on the market today for great Rails reference books and with 'Rails for PHP Developers' that tradition continues. With ~400 pages of material spread over 13 chapters, you will learn to get Ruby working with PHP and you will find that it's one relationship that is a happy one!

Rails is one of the newest "hot" technologies in the marketplace and it's due to ease of use and rapid deployment. PHP has been a web technology long popular for dynamic content. If you are an existing PHP developer that is looking to add Rails support to your web app, this is a great resource to have by your side. Content is good, and the "all bells no whistles" design serves well for the reader.

Easy to recommend, great to learn from.

***** RECOMMENDED

This is one of the first practical books to be published that is entirely Rails 2.0 focused, but its real strength is in the terrific, direct comparisons to how to accomplish the same tasks in PHP. By directly linking specific features, functions, and other programmatic process in PHP to Rails, this book lets you learn something new (Rails) by revealing the similarities (and differences) with something you already know (PHP).

The author is clearly an expert PHP programmer, and while you will certainly come away with an appreciation for the elegance and parsimony of Ruby the programming language and Rails the web application framework, the book is by no means "down on PHP." Indeed, I learned a couple of PHP tricks, that let me do a few (simple) Rails-like patterns in PHP.

In all, this is a terrific book, and if you're a PHP developer interested in learning about Rails, this book is *the* way to do it.

Any criticisms you have encountered about this book being biased towards prepress are true. But if you are involved with PDF in prepress, this book is very good.

This book will take you from beginner (but not novice) to advanced intermediate. It won't take you to expert; but then expert comes with experience. Given that each prepress environment has its own peculiarities, you'll have to work within your system to take it to its limits. This book can help some of the way.

My only complaint is related to my personal situation. On occasions, concerning some particularly fine points, the book suggests "ask your prepress partner". I am trying to become that prepress person, so I found this frustrating. Understandable, but frustrating.

I needed something more comprehensive and revealing than the usual offering of beginners texts. Yet, I WAS a beginner.

This book not only covers the general abilities of Acrobat, it discuses little known intricacies and technical issues that will make you a power user in record time.

Remarkably, the information is explained in simple, ordinary language.

I started working for a medium sized ad agency 2 years ago. Every document we produce has to be made in to PDF format for review by our clients. I could make a PDF, but really had no true understanding of the settings and what I was really doing. This book is truly excellent at giving a novice a complete understanding of the PDF format. For someone already knowlegeable about the PDF format it is also a very valuable reference. This is one of the most useful computer books I have bought in years and I buy alot of them. When our tech-guy has problems with Acrobat he comes to me and borrows this book.

The best thing about the book is that it breaks down PDF creation by program. For example, if you use Quark Xpress there is a chapter dedicated on how to use Acrobat with Quark. If you use Microsoft Word there is another chapter on using Acrobat with it. These chapters present you with real world scenarios and how to deal with them.

This is not some kind of quick start guide. It does get in to some detail and that helped me a great deal. It doesn't just gloss-over a subject or give you bare-bones steps on how to do something.

This is an easy to understand book that will help out anbody at any level with using Acrobat. I can't say enough good things about it. This is the first book I have purchased in the "Real World" series of books... it won't be my last!

Even if you don't want to read the book,the downloadable applications are worth your money. The apps work and are of good quality. I'm using the Class Diagram to draw UML diagrams. I find it easier to use than even Visio. Drawing is much easier using the author's application (in chapter 4). Other apps are fun too. The e-commerce ASP.NET app is also useful.

This is the best book .NET book i've read. The applications discussed are really real-world apps, and the author explains them extremely well. This book helped me write my custom Windows control and I'm really thankful. Get this book if you aim more than simple toy codes.
The other good thing about this book is the use of design patterns throughout the applications. It's good to see design patterns are really used in applications. The codes run with .NET Framework 1.0 and 1.1

This book is one of the few .NET titles with some meat. I'm particularly interested in the
game application: Pacman-clone. The chapter explains very clearly, from the design, the patterns used, and implementation.
Other applications are useful too: FTP client app, XML document editor, etc.

This is a good book to have as an administrator but some commands such as redhat-config-* is outdated. Otherwise the book has some useful information one might need to quickly.

This is my carry-around, cheat-sheet, security-blanket, reminder book... when I get busy with customers crying about load averages, reports to acknowledge, system emails to pour through (I know, there are scripts for that!..), and troubleshooting to do, sometimes I just cannot get my brain to sort my "all things Linux" database to find what I need (was it a -R or -r with chown??) Maybe it's an age thing, or a vitamin thing, but this little book is my start-with book. It's easy to flip thru and find that little crumb you are looking for to get going again. And by all means, it is not a Linux in a Nutshell, or other more comprehensive reference book, but certainly for quickie RH-specific double-checks, it's perfect.

This is not my only Linux reference, but it's the one I'm finding it easy to use quickly when all I need is some specific piece of information to get something done.

Unlike many of the larger 'bible'-type books, this one is small and easy to use and keep handy. I have some of the larger books as well, but I think this one is more useful if I need to look something up quick or if I need to carry a book with me back to the computer lab.

In short -- this is a great, concise Red Hat reference. I'd recommend it as a compliment to having some of the larger, more in-depth books.

As a medical device industry executive I found this book extremely useful as I explore ways to track samples, instruments and other "soft" assets in a hospital environment. I appreciate this is not an obscure technical treatise or a textbook but rather a review of the capabilities, limitations and applications of RFID. It gives me the wherewithal now to think out of the box as my group designs high value products where tracking and confidentiality are important. Well written with very crisp and useful graphics.

I have just read RFID - Item Level Management and I am thoroughly impressed. It explains the technology in such a way that even non-engineers like myself can understand it. My company is looking at RFID as a way to combat counterfeit goods, and this informative book explains how we can proceed in selecting our RFID solution and even how to implement it. The authors explained not only the advantages of item level tagging but also the challenges and limitations. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand better the opportunities that ILT affords us.

I don't usually write reviews for the products I buy on Amazon, but do rely partly on the reviews posted by others for products I consider buying from Amazon or elsewhere. In the case of this book, I felt compelled to return the favor of giving a review for all the reviews I have found helpful over the years.

I keep hearing about RFID and how it is the leap in technology that goes beyond the bar code. Since I am involved in clinical trials, I wanted to learn what this all about and how it might apply to my profession. I've looked at RFID books in bookstores, but most of them were too technical for my level. I'm more of an end user, not an IT techie. This book gave some good basics on what RFID can and can't be expected to do and why there are so many different shapes, sizes and read distances of RFID tags. Tags that work on small sample vials may not be suited for use on large boxes coming from far away places where the intent is to have many entities utilize the same RFID tag on the box.

If your goal it to develop a basic understanding what RFID is, what it is not, what it can and can't do, how to determine the right kind of RFID technology for your intended application, how to maintain privacy where needed, and want a short lecture on system implementation, this book will be worthy of your reading time.

This book was above and beyond my expectations when i first bought it. It was not incredibly long, yet very thurogh. It explains everything, packets, the network layers, and the internet backbone and how it all connects. It also shows how to use functions built in on your operating system, like ping, trace route, among others. Highly reccomended!

4.5 STARS

If you want an intro book to:
- Computer Networking,
- how the Internet (www) works,
- TCP/IP Protocol, layers, and utilities,
- Networking Applications
(with lots of diagrams, eye-friendly page layout, extensive index, end-of-chapter summary, Q&A, terminology) then .... you MUST read this book.

Make sure to read the 3rd edition (c. 2004). This edition has some new chapters and material over the 2nd edition and even discusses recent and emerging technologies, and does not spend time going over obsolete protocols or apps.

NOTE: I think this book deserves a 4 1/2 stars because some material (like Encryption part) could have been explained more elegant and easier. Nevertheless the author does an excellent job at providing further references for more detailed analysis (e.g. RFC recommendations).

I read the first revision of this book and it was a joy to read. Each chapter is short and fun. It covers just the right amount of material. It is nice to see books that are well written. Although the book is very introductory, you actually learn a lot!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ... 15

1 Overview ... 17
... 1.1 Introduction ... 17
... 1.2 Brief history of SAP ... 20
... 1.3 SAP Implementation Overview ... 21
... 1.4 SAP Navigation Basics ... 25
... 1.5 Summary ... 31

2 SAP Enterprise Structure ... 33
... 2.1 Building an Enterprise Structure ... 34
... 2.2 Building a Straw Man ... 35
... 2.3 Straw Man Design ... 39
... 2.4 Configuration of Enterprise Structure ... 41
... 2.5 Summary ... 65

3 Financial Accounting Component (FI) Global Settings ... 67
... 3.1 What Is a Document in SAP? ... 68
... 3.2 Configuration of Global Settings ... 71
... 3.3 Sales and Purchase Tax ... 109
... 3.4 Summary ... 119

4 New General Ledger ... 121
... 4.1 Overview of the GL ... 122
... 4.2 Building Your New GL Blueprint ... 127
... 4.3 Configuration Steps to Activate the New GL ... 129
... 4.4 Summary ... 162

5 Accounts Payable ... 163
... 5.1 Overview of the P2P cycle ... 164
... 5.2 Building an AP Business Model ... 167
... 5.3 Master Data ... 168
... 5.4 Vendor Account Groups ... 171
... 5.5 Vendor Number Ranges ... 180
... 5.6 Accounting Clerks ... 185
... 5.7 Define Sensitive Fields for Dual Control ... 186
... 5.8 House Banks ... 188
... 5.9 Invoice Processing ... 193
... 5.10 Document Parking ... 197
... 5.11 Outgoing Payments Processing ... 198
... 5.12 Summary ... 213

6 Accounts Receivable ... 215
... 6.1 Overview of the Order-to-Cash Process ... 215
... 6.2 Building an Accounts Receivable Business Model ... 218
... 6.3 Master Data ... 219
... 6.4 Customer Master Records ... 219
... 6.5 Finance Documents Global Settings ... 236
... 6.6 Customer Invoice Processing ... 237
... 6.7 Customer Payments ... 239
... 6.8 Debtor Management ... 246
... 6.9 Summary ... 264

7 Asset Accounting ... 265
... 7.1 Overview of Asset Accounting ... 266
... 7.2 Building Blocks of Asset Accounting ... 267
... 7.3 Building an Asset Accounting Business Model ... 272
... 7.4 Asset Accounting Configuration ... 273
... 7.5 Asset transaction processing ... 304
... 7.6 Summary ... 320

8 Controlling Component (CO) in SAP ERP ... 323
... 8.1 Overview and Diagram ... 324
... 8.2 Subcomponents of the Controlling Component (CO) ... 325
... 8.3 Building a Controlling Model ... 327
... 8.4 Configuration Settings in the Controlling Component (CO) ... 330
... 8.5 Summary ... 361

9 ERP Financials Integration ... 363
... 9.1 Automatic Account Determination ... 365
... 9.2 Master Data ... 382
... 9.3 Interfaces ... 390
... 9.4 The Value of Integration Testing ... 396
... 9.5 Summary ... 396

10 Data Migration ... 397
... 10.1 Key Principles of Data Migration ... 398
... 10.2 The Six-Step Migration Model ... 399
... 10.3 Inventory Transfer ... 404
... 10.4 Open Items Transfer ... 405
... 10.5 Upgrade to SAP ERP ECC 6.0 ... 406
... 10.6 Asset Accounting Legacy Data Transfer ... 407
... 10.7 Summary ... 413

11 Period-End Closing ... 415
... 11.1 Fast Close with the New GL ... 416
... 11.2 Key Elements of a Period End Timetable ... 417
... 11.3 Dependent Activities Already Completed ... 417
... 11.4 Analysis of Period-End Activities ... 417
... 11.5 Summary ... 424

12 SAP ERP Financials Reporting ... 425
... 12.1 Building Your Reporting Suite ... 425
... 12.2 Reporting Tools ... 427
... 12.3 Common Reporting Requirements ... 429
... 12.4 Creating Basic Management Accounting Reports with Report Painter ... 435
... 12.5 Summary ... 455

SAP ERP Financials: Configuration and Design

A deliberation of competence and mastery in the field of SAP ERP Financials. I would say this book SAP ERP Financials: Configuration and Design by Naeem Arif and Tauseef Sheikh Muhammad is the ultimate and completely educational - it guides you, step-by-step through the process of complete implementation and integration of the Financial modules in SAP ERP and in particular ECC 6.0. A wonderful work by the duo for the beginners and the consultants who wish to acquire in-depth knowledge in SAP ERP Financials.

This is a great introduction to SAP FI/CO. Extremely well-written and easy to follow, this book uses practical examples and provides solutions to commonly encountered issues on the job.

As a professor who relies extensively on powerpoint presentations in class--and often on the 'packaged presentations' included with textbook supplemental materials--I am now revising ALL of my slides! Dr. Earnest's succinct book is so packed full of helpful, humorous insights, I read it all in one sitting. Then, I frantically searched through my own powerpoint slides and, sure enough, found "Fireball" and "High Voltage" lurking in my lectures! Surely, my students will appreciate my updated slides. No more "shades of blue so dreary" or "stale potato chips" in my classroom!

Dr. Earnest's book provides succinct, easily implemented guidance for sharpening your presentation visuals. With a few simple changes, such as focusing your slides on images more than text, you can improve the effectiveness of your communication -- getting more applause and less snores! This book is required in my undergraduate business communication class at The University of Texas at Austin, and my students send me countless stories of the rave reviews they receive on their presentations in other classes, on internships, and in their first jobs.

Please do all of your future audiences a favor and read this book!

Contemporary users of presentation software like PowerPoint know how to use the program itself. What we often know less about, and the subject of Earnest's humorous and handy book, is good slide design.

Good slide design keeps your audience engaged with your message without lulling them to sleep. Good design complements your presentation without becoming a complete text of everything you wish to say. Good design skillfully incorporates a blend of template, fonts, and graphics that adds to the communicative effectiveness of your presentation. Anyone who uses PowerPoint (teachers, students, business professionals) can benefit from Earnest's on-target advice.

Using a lighthearted, crisply-written style, Earnest offer 5 easily-understood rules of good slide design that everyone can use. The specific visual examples throughout the handbook help readers to zero in on the key components of each rule of design. Moreover, Earnest's sense of humor allows the reader to recognize the kinds of slide design violations we're all guilty of making from time to time, and to have fun while learning how to avoid such infractions in the future.

Discovery Channel, move over. Keep this book at your computer terminal. Now you can indulge in (a lot) of learning, or just quenching your curiosity!

Not just for grown-ups--there's a whole chapter (pp313-334) titled "KIDSTUFF", with pointers to such sites as "Helping Your Child Learn Science", "Children's Butterfly Site", "Science Made Simple" and "Planet Pals". With the decline of our schools, perhaps kids using the Net to carve out their own learning journey will be a big part of the solution.

Oh, there's a whole chapter on Mathematics! Good for those among us who were unlucky enough not to have good math teachers at school (which is most of us, I guess. Good maths teachers are a rarity.) The sites covered here might very well spark passion in our younger folk who have this subject spoon fed to them in it's most tasteless form. I mention this because I, myself, struggled with Maths at high school. That struggle ended when I took charge of my own Maths training. I chose my own books & materials and methods of learning. And saw my Maths marks skyrocket.

Need I say more? Get this book. For yourself. For your kids. For your country which is already in painful need for the scientifically astute.

Discovery Channel, move over. Keep this book at your computer terminal. Now you can indulge in an orgy of learning, or just quenching your curiosity!

Not just for grown-ups--there's a whole chapter (pp313-334) titled "KIDSTUFF", with pointers to such sites as "Helping Your Child Learn Science", "Children's Butterfly Site", "Science Made Simple" and "Planet Pals". With the decline of our schools, perhaps kids using the Net to carve out their own learning journey will be a big part of the solution.

Oh, there's a whole chapter on Mathematics! Good for those among us who were unlucky enough not to have good math teachers at school (which is most of us, I guess. Good maths teachers are a rarity.) The sites covered here might very well spark passion in our younger folk who have this subject spoon fed to them in it's most tasteless form. I mention this because I, myself, struggled with Maths at high school. That struggle ended when I took charge of my own Maths training. I chose my own books & materials and methods of learning. And saw my Maths marks skyrocket.

Need I say more? Get this book. For yourself. For your kids. For your country which is already in painful need for the scientifically astute.

Discovery Channel, move over. Keep this book at your computer terminal. Now you can indulge in an orgy of learning, or just quenching your curiosity!

Not just for grown-ups--there's a whole chapter (pp313-334) titled "KIDSTUFF", with pointers to such sites as "Helping Your Child Learn Science", "Children's Butterfly Site", "Science Made Simple" and "Planet Pals". With the decline of our schools, perhaps kids using the Net to carve out their own learning journey will be a big part of the solution.

Oh, there's a whole chapter on Mathematics! Good for those among us who were unlucky enough not to have good math teachers at school (which is most of us, I guess. Good maths teachers are a rarity.) The sites covered here might very well spark passion in our younger folk who have this subject spoon fed to them in it's most tasteless form. I mention this because I, myself, struggled with Maths at high school. That struggle ended when I took charge of my own Maths training. I chose my own books & materials and methods of learning. And saw my Maths marks skyrocket.

Need I say more? Get this book. For yourself. For your kids. For your country which is already in painful need for the scientifically astute.

This book showed me more than I could hope to learn...I am submitting a syllabus to teach Second Life and am asking for this book as the text. Remember me from Carefree Intellagirl and Typewriter?! Rah ;-)

Second Life for Dummies was more than I expected!!...It means a great help for all those who begin in this fantastic world, and for those people who already belong to the Residents. Also has an excellent paperback and pages quality.Beautiful colours and easy graphics to understand step by step, all the procedures (even the more difficults)to explore this infinite World....To all the Fans.....Don t miss it!!!!!!

whether you're a newbie, a long term resident, or thinking about getting a Second Life, this is the most contemporary and lucid guide to the essentials of a good life in SL. An easy, fun read that will enhance your journey into virtual environments. Perfect for educators like me as well, who are interested in teaching and learning using Second Life.