Since its introduction over a decade ago, the Microsoft SQL Server query language, Transact-SQL, has become increasingly popular and more powerful. The current version sports such advanced features as OLE Automation support, cross-platform querying facilities, and full-text search management. This book is the consummate guide to Microsoft Transact-SQL. From data type nuances to complex statistical computations to the bevy of undocumented features in the language, The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL imparts the knowledge you need to become a virtuoso of the language as quickly as possible. In this book, you will find the information, explanations, and advice you need to master Transact-SQL and develop the best possible Transact-SQL code. Some 600 code examples not only illustrate important concepts and best practices, but also provide working Transact-SQL code that can be incorporated into your own real-world DBMS applications. Your journey begins with an introduction explaining language fundamentals such as database and table creation, inserting and updating data, queries, joins, data presentation, and managing transactions. Moving on to more advanced topics, the journey continues with in-depth coverage Comprehensive, written in understandable terms, and full of practical information and examples, The Guru's Guide to Transact-SQL is an indispensable reference for anyone working with this database development language. The accompanying CD-ROM includes the complete set of code examples found in the book as well as a SQL programming environment that will speed the development of your own top-notch Transact-SQL code.
I recently grabbed this long time technical favorite off of my shelf to look up some reference information. Once again I was pleased at how well this technical book was written and quickly was reviewing other things I had not thought of. While there are many references to older versions of SQL Server, the code still holds strong and will be of benefit to novices and advanced users.
This was the book I liked best when I just started with SQL (or TSQL) in mid 2012. It is old though, with syntax mainly in version 2000 or 2005. But it gives smart ideas about how to use TSQL to do different sorts of things. Also, it’s a hard book to read, so it’s worth revisiting from time to time (I’m still doing that now).