Posted by blueghost73@yahoo.com on 07/17/06 17:14

I do software support for software that works with both Oracle and SQL
Server, so I mostly just write queries to look at the data related to
the software. When I first started, I bought a couple of books to learn
the basics, intentionally going with generic books that would help with
both types of databases. I've got the basics down, and now I'm looking
for a really detailed reference book that goes really indepth into
querying for SQL Server specifically. Currently, we only work with the
2000 version, but we'll be going to 2005 soon, so I think I'd rather go
with a book on 2005, although if you know one that covers the
differences between them, that would be great. Any recommendations?

Besides just writing queries, I'd also like to learn more about SQL
Server in general. DBA > software support, so I'd like to head my
career in that direction. I was looking at Microsoft's new
certification path for SQL 2005. Given that my company won't pay to
send me for training, and I really don't want to have to put down
$2200+ to pay for a class, I was thinking that I might be able to learn
enough on my own to pass the first test and get the MCTS title. I
ordered the Training Kit from Microsoft Press for that, which comes
with a 180 day trial of SQL Server 2005 to play with, along with a huge
book. Does anyone have any other recommendations for resources to help
learn this stuff?

--Richard

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