Programming Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2000 with XML, Second Edition

After a quick tour of what XML means for business today, whether in business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B), or business to enterprise (B2E) scenarios, this text jumps right in with a tutorial on using XML in Microsoft Transact-SQL (T-SQL) supported in SQL Server. The author provides nuts-and-bolts information on querying databases and returning XML, along with different options for formatting XML data.

Next comes a tutorial for using ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), the preferred standard for programming with databases in Windows, and how to use XML within this API. Short code excerpts will show you how to perform common programming tasks quickly. The support for XML in Microsoft doesn't stop there, of course, and the book next focuses in on support for Web publishing in SQL Server through XML. This powerful feature shows you how to define templates that can be used to query and update data via HTTP using URLs. Sections on mapping schemas show how XML can be used to move data between different database schemas. An important section on the T-SQL OpenXML function shows how to perform a range of database tasks, including inserting XML data in bulk into database tables.

In its closing sections, this text illustrates key technologies using a nicely functional online computer store complete with shopping basket, product catalog, and simulated order processing, all using XML techniques demonstrated earlier on.

In all, this book delivers a solid tour of what's available in SQL Server, ADO, and other Microsoft tools and technologies. Suitable for any Windows IT professional who works with databases, this title is a capable tutorial and guide to what's out there today with XML on the Microsoft platform. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Overview of today's XML for business used with Microsoft database technologies (integration with XML, B2B, B2C, and B2E scenarios)
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL) support for XML in SQL Server (SELECT FOR XML, RAW, AUTO, and EXPLICIT modes)
• ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) support for XML (XML query templates, executing XML queries)
• SQLOLEDB XML properties (including style sheets and managing the output format)
• Web publishing with SQL Server (SQL Server HTTP publishing overview, publishing a database, virtual directories and IIS, URL queries, plus style sheets and stored procedures)
• XML templates for retrieving data over the Web (templates and parameterized templates, style sheets, posting templates)
• XML mapping schemas (mapping schemas used with ADO and over HTTP, advanced notations)
• Using OpenXML for receiving and inserting XML documents (overflow data and edge tables)
• XML for SQL Server 2000 Web Release (using Updategrams to insert, query, update, and delete XML data)
• Case study for an online computer store using SQL Server and XML (including catalog and shopping basket management, connecting to BizTalk Server 2000)
• Appendix for a basic XML tutorial

This is a good book for any one that is looking to find over all information that can give glimpse into the features of SQL Server and be able to utilize to build XML-enabled data-pages.


Make sure you buy the 2nd Edition   November 21, 2002
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Most of the reviews here seem to relate to the first edition (which was admittedly kind of short). The book has been updated, and the second edition covers new stuff like XSD Schemas, Diffgrams, SOAP Virtual Names, and all the other SQLXML 3.0 features. I found the book really useful, and easy to read. The examples are great and the concepts are all well explained. Definitely worth buying if you're planning to use SQL Server's XML functionality.


Good! And rapid.   October 21, 2001
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

I never expected so much useful information into such a small book. Good books don't sell by weight or page count.
I found this book concise and clear (this man knows how to teach). It sure doesn't explain everything about the subject, but it gives the big picture, with an impressive number of details too.
Ideal to start working in small time.
NOTE about who is this book for:
As title state, this book teaches how to use the XML features of SQL Server 2000, not how to use SQL2000, so if you don't know SQL Server you better read something else first.
From the XML XSL XPath X... side, this book is also for novices as it has a very good appendix that teaches all you need to understand the book.


Good and Practical   August 9, 2001
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Although this book didn't go quite as in depth as I would have liked it to, it was well layed out and had a lot of practical examples. Everything in it was easy to follow and focused on making the technology work instead of delving into the techie jargon about the theory behind it. This book won't make you an expert, but will give you enough to be able to start plugging this stuff into your projects pretty quickly.