MSSQL 2000. Exam 70-229
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Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! Have anyone of you taken this exam- SQL 2000 Database Design? I would like to find and talk with somebody who has - I've got some questions to ask. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Igor escosoft@flash.net
igor
igor -
Hello Igor,
You can post questions about the exam in our Certification discussion area. We'll be glad to discuss as long as it doesn't get into anything that would fall under the NDA.
Andy
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Thats cheating! You cant take the test and THEN write the book about it!
Andy
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, Actually I was 80% done when I took the beta. Had to be sure I covered everything. Took the live test to be sure that nothing changed.BTW, I passed both.
Steve Jones
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Andy, Steve! Actually, right now I do not have any specific technical question or problem that I would like to get some help with or talk about. I am rather concerned with making right steps toward my goal of preparing for 70-229. I have been studying some books (such as Richard Alan McMahon, Sean Case SQL Server 2000 Database Design of Coriolis, Jeffrey Bane, Anil Desai, Craig Robinson Study Guide for Exam 70-229, etc.) for a month or so, and have made a substantial progress toward understanding the SQL Server 2000 “bolts and nuts”. There is however one thing that concerns me. Every now and then I see notes that Microsoft has been trying to make its exams including 70-229 “not passable” for those who do not work with the subject software on a regular basis. Such notes discourage and upset me, because I do not work with the SQL Server on a daily basis. On the other hand I did work with the SQL Server 2000, as well as with all other major RDBMS systems. I am strong with the fundamentals of RDBMS theory, I am good with SQL, I have written a substantial number of triggers and stored procedures with T-SQL, produced a few logical designs (ERDs, etc) for new databases. I think that I am pretty close to meeting the formal standards and requirements affiliated with a database designer. Is not all that a good foundation to use for successful preparation and passing of 70-229? Is my understanding of the situation is wrong? Am I underestimating it? What is your opinion? What would you suggest in this case? I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks. Igor
igor
igor -
Lots of questions!
First of all, I dont believe in underestimating any test. While study guides are good, I think the tasks MS outlines for each test (on the MCP site) are an even better guide. If you can talk to someone thoroughly about each item, you're ready for the test. I think its ok to say that I saw nothing "tricky" on the exam. Of course whether you consider a question or exam "tricky" has a lot to do with where you're at on the learning curve.
I'll be honest, I think you can pass the exam without working with SQL everyday. Just the nature of the test - you have a fair idea of what categories and focus it will have, you concentrate your efforts on those areas. In particular MS makes a habit of heavily testing new features, so spend extra time on those as well. Im making the assumption that you'll use the product to work through examples, questions, etc, so that you have some hands on experience.
It's doable. You'll learn a lot from the process. You won't know it all, but it's a start. I'd suggest following up with the other SQL exam once you pass this one.
Please keep in mind this point - passing both exams or even achieving the MCDBA doesn't make you an expert or a DBA. To become either of the later DOES require working with it a lot...every day. But eventually someone will need an entry level DBA, assistant DBA, programmer that focuses on data access, something that will let you get a foot in the door to get that experience.
Andy
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Andy, thank you for your valuable input. Could you please tell me the URL of the “MCP site” being mentioned in your latest posting? Thanks. Igor
igor
igor -
Sure - try this one:
http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/exams/70-229.asp
If you're not familiar with it, scroll down to where you see "Skills Measured", thats the important part!
Andy
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I agree with Andy. Nothing really tricky. Not sure if other RDBMSs support INSTEAD OF Trigers or some other new features in SQL 2000, but outside of the new features, this was a pretty straightforward SQL exam.
Steve Jones
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have been trying to run a simple DTS package that would load a .txt file into a table. The txt file has {lf} for lines/rows and '," for columns. Each time I get an error message that reads "...unexpected end-of-life encountered in data file". Shall I provide some sort of EOF-line or indicate a number of rows to be loaded. Please advise. Thank you for your help
igor
igor -
Please post questions in the appropriate forums (DTS). Not all readers check all open discussions, you're much more likely to get a good answer if you post in the right place. Also helps later on when you're searching for something!
Andy
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Hi, again. Hope everyone had a great holiday! Steve, I thought you wrote the Sybex for 70-228 not 70-229, under another name? I only found a study guide for 70-229 by Sybex. I bought the Virtual Trainer for 70-228 and have joined the Rocky Mountain SQL Users Group.The liason from MS suggested finding a charity to build a DB for for free, of course, to build experience. (Wolfgang, chair, has offered to let a friend and I work on a pet charity project of his. Needless to say, we are pretty excited to get to work with him!) Don't get discouraged, folks I've spoken with say the test is doable and they don't have a lot of experience, either.
Sivea -
Good luck. Come back if you have more questions. No, I wrote the 229 Design book. J Steven Jones.
Steve Jones
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Oops, sorry Steve. Guess vacation was a little too long. ;^)
I haven't selected a book to prep for 70-229. I am kind of waiting for the New Rider book to appear, I hate to admit. I like to have a couple to browse through and choose from, if only to say I checked out alternatives! The Shinder/Osborne is a definite no starter, though. I'm a little tired of the erratic writing style and hear reports that this time the material is equally inconsistent.
On what seems to be nearly everyone's advice I purchased "admin911 SQL Server 2000" and "Inside SQL Server 2000" as well as Celko's "Instant SQL Programming" and "SQL for Smarties". I've also purchased appropriate practice exams. Don't leave home without them, Igor!
Sivea Key
Sivea
, Actually I was 80% done when I took the beta. Had to be sure I covered everything. Took the live test to be sure that nothing changed.Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 22 total)
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