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Archive for the ‘SQLAuthority Book Review’ Category

SQLAuthority News – A Quick History of Writing Three Books in Year 2011

Posted in About Me, PostADay, SQL, SQL Authority, SQL Query, SQL Server, SQL Tips and Tricks, SQLAuthority Book Review, T SQL, Technology on December 30, 2011 | 10 Comments »

This has been an eventful year for me. I write in various formats online and offline but becoming a published author of printed book was always my dream.

Every day I write continuously. Here are few of the writing tasks I do in my everyday routine.

I write -

Emails

I write nearly 400+ emails every day. I get about 1000 emails and 10s of thousands of spam e-mails. I am thankful that 99.99% of the spam is caught by spam filters. The remaining spam I report to my email provider. However, I still get over 1000 valid emails. I do my best to answer each of them. I write a customized email to every single person. I research quite often for a few answers and that makes me write more and more. Work and personal emails combined together means I write more than 400 emails a day. If I take a one day vacation, the next day I find myself writing 800+ emails. An empty inbox has been just a dream forever.

Web Browser

To answer emails I have to research a lot, and every day I keep on finding myself writing more and more on various browsers and in search engine boxes. An efficiency tool helped me discover that I write more than 2000+ words every day just in the search engine box. I think 2000+ words is a lot of typing!

Social Media

You can find me on pretty much all the social media sites – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+. I have been writing various status updates and sharing information which interests me. I really find this easy but sometime this can be very distracting as well. I often cut off myself from all the social media when I am working on something important but when I find leisure time I often spend considerable time on my social media. I often answer a few technical questions on Facebook as well engage with community folks.

Blogs

I have blogged every day for the last five years and if you consider the average length of the blog post to be about 500 words, and since I am about to reach the 2000th  blog post, I have written about 1,000,000 (1 Million) words so far. As per Wikipedia the longest novel is Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady (by Samuel Richardson) and it has 969,000 words. If you think War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy was the longest novel, it had only 587,28 words. Well, just writing blog posts I have done almost the same amount of writing as the longest novel in the world. Note that here I am not comparing the quality or genre of the work, just comparing the length of the work.

My Daughters Workbook

I did not want to include this here. However, it is currently the best part of my life. I enjoy doing work books with my 2.25 year old daughter. I enjoy it, I sometimes write the letter ‘A’ hundreds of time to demonstrate how it is written to my daughter. Recently she spotted the letter A in the newspaper and ran to me and proudly demonstrated to me that it is ‘Daddy’s A’. I loved it, I cherish every moment of my life when I am writing with my daughter. I think this is the best time spent.

3 Books in Year 2011

After writing so much throughout my life I always wanted to write a book that adds real value to the publishing world. I wanted to write a book which tremendously helps the community. I am fortunate that I was able to write three various books in the year 2011. I am lucky to write three books which covers various aspect of my favorite technology, SQL Server.

SQL Programming

SQL developers need to be able to create processes for working databases by using one of many programming objects (like functions, stored procedures, constrains, or triggers). By creating objects that talk with SQL you simply change the way other programs (like applications or web pages) can interconnect. These eternal programs only need to call your programming objects by name rather than needing to submit large pieces of advance code. With SQL Programming Development (Volume 4 of 5) in the SQL Server Joes 2 Pros development series, you learn how programming objects work in SQL Server.

[Amazon] | [Flipkart] | [Kindle]

SQL Wait Stats

You learn a lot when thrown into a crisis situation, where everyone is looking to you for answers. The system is down, the CEO is pleading with you for answers, as each minute of downtime further cuts into the company’s bottom line. You can almost hear the fiscal charts turning upside down. The simple fix you thought would work when you received the call will not fix the scenario you’ve just walked into. In a hurry, you need new ideas right away. Let this book be your solution manual at work.

[Amazon] | [Flipkart] | [Kindle]

SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers

Today we use computers for various activities, motor vehicles for traveling to places, and mobile phones for conversation. How many of us can claim the invention of the micro-processor, a basic wheel, or the telegraph? Similarly, this book was not written overnight. The journey of this book goes many years back with many individuals to be thanked. Though each of these chapters are geared towards convenience we highly recommend reading each of the sections irrespective of the roles you might be doing since each of the sections have some interesting trivia about working with SQL Server. In the industry the role of accidental DBA’s (especially with SQL Server) is very common. Hence, if you have performed the role of DBA for a short stint and want to brush-up your fundamentals then the upcoming sections will be a great review.

[Amazon] | [Flipkart] | [IndiaPlaza] [Sample Chapters] | [Kindle]

In future blog posts I will dive deeper into these books’ writing experiences.

Reference: Pinal Dave (http://blog.sqlauthority.com)

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SQL SERVER – Mastering the Basics – Igniting Learning – A Unique Learning Experience

Posted in Best Practices, Pinal Dave, PostADay, SQL, SQL Authority, SQL Interview Questions and Answers, SQL Query, SQL Server, SQL Tips and Tricks, SQLAuthority Book Review, SQLAuthority News, T SQL, Technology on December 22, 2011 | 39 Comments »

It has been my lifelong dream to be an author, and recently I have seen that goal realized three times.  One of the books I am most proud of is SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers. When I wrote SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers – I had very clear idea what my goals were for the book.

My goals were simple:

  1. Mastering the Basics
  2. Igniting Learning

I am very fortunate that my co-author shares the same love and passion for the SQL Server community. Vinod Kumar always believed in my same two goals. Our combined passion for the subject made writing this book a pleasant, even invigorating experience. We always felt this urge to help community and those who are eager to learn more. Years of learning the basics and practicing advanced technology led us to believe that learning the basics is sometimes the most difficult task of all. Once someone masters the basics, advanced concepts come easy. We have kept this in mind as we wrote this book.

A Book for Everyone

This book is not just for people who are looking to get their first job in the information technology field.  If you do not have an upcoming interview, if you already work in the field, but have questions about SQL Server or know that there are topics you should brush up on, then this is the book for you.

You don’t have to have a certain level of experience to get a lot from this book, either.  If you are a beginner you will not be totally confused by the topics – in fact, we tried to lay out the book for beginners.  However, experts will also find a lot to learn in these pages. Too.

Philosophy of the Book

We believe that this book will give advanced users a refresher and beginners a good learning point. We believe that after reading this book, our readers would be ignited to learn more. The goal of this book was not to tell you everything but to tell you enough so that you can learn yourself. Here is the hidden philosophy behind the book:

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” – Source Unknown

Our goal in writing this book was to give our readers a SQL Server fishing pole.  They can then learn how to “fish out” the good answers and solutions to their problems.  This book does not list the most common problems (and interview questions) and then give a long list about exactly what to do.  The point of this book was to teach the readers to think for themselves – and feed themselves for a lifetime.

Mastering the Basics

Recently someone asked me if they could pass an interview just by reading this book. The answer is – interviews are a complex process. One’s goal should not be to merely pass the interview. The goal should be to demonstrate your knowledge and find the right appropriate way to apply your learning. Think of it this way, before attempting to pass an interview just by remembering the right answers – ask yourself if you will be able to perform the real world tasks – the answer can be complex. How about this – learn all you can about the real work job before you go to the interview, and master the subject. Now when you go to the interview or to the real world job, you will always demonstrate superior quality and the ability to perform the necessary tasks.

Igniting Learning

Well, our book is exactly the same. It tells you what you should learn in depth, what you should know in the real world, what kind of information you should collect and master before you go on that interview. Do not use this book as a tool to pass the interview – it will not work that way – consider the book as ‘learning path’. Take each topic covered in the book and dwell on it, think about it and digest it slowly and masterfully. The book is designed in such a way that every important topic has enough reference material listed right below it. You can use the references listed there or do your own search on the subject. Just make sure that the learning experience is complete.

Real World Experience

In a tough job market, it can be easy to look at a job advertisement and think to yourself, “I could do that job.”  You might know just a little bit about a subject, and you think that if you study hard enough you will sound smart enough to get the job, and then later you can learn all you can about the subject.  However, while our book will certainly help with the “sounding smart” part, you will also find that it encourages you to really learn SQL Server before that interview – with lots of real world examples and pointers advanced learning.  We encourage everyone to think about the job they want and love, and go for it.  Don’t look at book as just a way to get a job.

YOU!

We are constantly flooded with numerous emails, positive comments and constructive feedback. We are overwhelmed that almost everybody has understood the philosophy behind the book. SQL Server experts have told us that this book has helped them remember the basics and many have sent us questions to incorporate into the next versions. We believe the success of this concept is the positive energy which we have received from all of YOU!

Here are few blog posts about the book:

1) Review by Nakul Vachhrajani – Good, portable book with easy to understand language on SQL Server Interview Questions & Answers

2) Review by Paras Doshi – Book Review: SQL server Interview Questions and Answers by Pinal Dave and Vinod Kumar.

 3) Review by Madhivanan SQL Server MVP  – Book Review – SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers

4) Review by Sandeep Kalra – Pinal Dave and Vinod Kumar‘s SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers: Book review

This book is available worldwide, here is the information about book – SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers

Reference: Pinal Dave (http://blog.SQLAuthority.com)

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SQL SERVER – A Quick Trick about SQL Server 2012 CONCAT Function – PRINT

Posted in Pinal Dave, PostADay, SQL, SQL Authority, SQL Function, SQL Interview Questions and Answers, SQL Query, SQL Server, SQL Tips and Tricks, SQLAuthority Book Review, T SQL, Technology on December 21, 2011 | 9 Comments »

Yesterday I posted A Quick Trick about SQL Server 2012 CONCAT function and the very first comment in few minutes of Vinod Kumar. He suggested that this function should be also used with the PRINT statement as well. While I was having conversation with him – Jacob Sebastian sent me message suggesting the same. As I got feedback in first 10 minutes of publishing the blog post – I decided to update the blog post. While I started to write there was an email from Rick Morelan suggesting that this function can be used along with PRINT statement. Alright – 3 SQL experts suggesting the same thing to me in less than 15 minutes. Here is the dedicated post addressing the same idea.

Here is the question how many of you had the same suggestion as Vinod, Jacob and Rick?

Here is the updated version of the same article. If you use PRINT statement and directly appending string and datetime datatype you will get following error.

PRINT 'Current Time ' + GETDATE()

The normal reaction to the same is to modify the script and convert datetime datatype to varchar datatype. This will not only remove the error but also a very common practice.

PRINT 'Current Time ' + CAST(GETDATE() AS VARCHAR(20))

Current Time Dec 21 2011  7:00PM

Just like earlier blog post you can now use SQL Server 2012 function CONCAT to resolve the error.

PRINT CONCAT('Current Time ', GETDATE())

I have previously written in detail article about SQL Server 2012 CONCAT function over here additionally, I have written quick guide on 14 new functions of SQL Server Denali.

I am sure Vinod, Jacob and Rick are smiling at looking at this blog post.

Watch a quick video relevent to this subject:

Reference: Pinal Dave (http://blog.SQLAuthority.com)

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SQL SERVER – A Quick Trick about SQL Server 2012 CONCAT function

Posted in Pinal Dave, PostADay, SQL, SQL Authority, SQL Function, SQL Interview Questions and Answers, SQL Query, SQL Server, SQL Tips and Tricks, SQLAuthority Book Review, T SQL, Technology on December 20, 2011 | 10 Comments »

Just a day before I was presenting at Virtual Tech Days and I wanted to demonstrate the current time to audience using SQL Server Management Studio, I ended up a quick error. If any of you ever tried to concat multiple values of different datatype this should not be surprise to you.

SELECT 'Current Time ' + GETDATE()

I quickly modified script to following workaround and my script worked right away.

SELECT 'Current Time ' + CAST(GETDATE() AS VARCHAR(20))

Current Time Dec 20 2011  7:00PM

However, I instantly realized that I can use SQL Server 2012 function which can right fit for this situation.

SELECT CONCAT('Current Time ', GETDATE())

I have previously written in detail article about SQL Server 2012 CONCAT function over here additionally, I have written quick guide on 14 new functions of SQL Server Denali.

Watch a quick video relevent to this subject:

Reference: Pinal Dave (http://blog.SQLAuthority.com)

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SQL SERVER – Where Can YOU Get My Books – SQL Server Interview Question and Answers

Posted in Best Practices, Pinal Dave, PostADay, SQL, SQL Authority, SQL Documentation, SQL Download, SQL Interview Questions and Answers, SQL Query, SQL Server, SQL Tips and Tricks, SQLAuthority Author Visit, SQLAuthority Book Review, SQLAuthority News, T SQL, Technology on December 1, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Earlier month I released by third book SQL Server Interview Question and Answers. The focus of this book is ‘master the basics’. If you rate yourself 10 out of 10 in SQL Server – this book is not for you but if you want to learn fundamentals or want to refresh your fundamentals this book is for YOU. Earlier I was overwhelmed by love you all have shown to this book on release date leading our three digit inventory to run out of stock. Read detail blog post about the subject over here A Real Story of Book Getting ‘Out of Stock’ to A 25% Discount Story Available.

Well, we learn the lesson from the experience and have made sure that the inventory does not run out any more. Since then we are now available on multiple outlets. Pretty much anywhere in USA and India the book is available. Additionally, where ever Amazon ships internationally.

I have created dedicated page where I have listed where one can avail this book from Details of SQL Server Interview Question and Answers. Even though I keep on getting common question like – where one can get this book.

You can get this book from:

USA: Amazon

India: Flipkart | IndiaPlaza | Crossword

In India now you can walk into any crossword store and ask this book, if they do not have it, you can ask them get one for you.

Reference: Pinal Dave (http://blog.SQLAuthority.com)

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