Reviews for Transact-SQL Programming: Covers Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 /7.0 and Sybase Adaptive Server 11.5: Covers Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and Sybase Adaptive Server 11.5

1. Thorough, informative but verbose

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, June 12th, 2002

   This is a very thorough and informative treatment of the subject, if a couple of versions out of date. The style, although highly readable, is too wordy. At 800 pages it's a big book and could be trimmed to half the length without losing any information.

2. best book on t sql

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, May 12nd, 2001

   if you are new to writing stored procedures, triggers and programming aspects of them; this is the best and the only book you will need..

3. Excellent reference book

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, December 12th, 2000

   I think some reviews here are rather harsh: I used the book in helping to gain my Microsoft Certified Database Administrator qualification - I found the book to be comprehensive, containing accounts of features that I struggled or failed to find from other sources.

   I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a detailed SQL programming reference book for either the Sybase or Microsoft SQL servers. From the perspective of a candidate for the Microsoft 70-028 exam, this is the best single source of SQL information I have seen: just ensure you have enough time to read all the information it contains! It is without doubt up to O'Reilly's usual standard.

4. Still probably one of the best book on transact-sql

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, August 12th, 1999

   This is still one of the most comprehensive book on transact sql, and it contains a lot more than for instance "sybase unleashed". it is full of information, however, i have to agree with one of the previous comments that the format is best described as messy - it will probably stay as one of o'reilly's least impressive editing efforts. having said that, the information is there and the style of the author comes across as friendly and easy to read, which is a big plus. One of the big "plus" is that the book covers (and differentiates) between Microsoft and Sybase. There are just about enough examples, though i would prefer more, and the index is a little thin. so 4 crowns, not more, not less.

5. Destined to be a door-stop...

   Rated 2 out of 5 stars, April 12th, 1999

   I had high expectations for this book -- hoping that it would be of similar quality as the excellent O'Reilly Oracle PL/SQL Programming "Ants" book. What a mistake. How did O'Reilly let this horror slip past quality control?

   It really rambles in places... and seems to cover everything including the kitchen sink. Sometimes you just wish the author would get to the point.

   I've only been working with Sybase for 4months and after reading the first 500 pages feel that i've learnt very little new.

   Overall a big dissappointment -- but a welcome sign that O'Reily have started to publish books on SQLServer...