May 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Professional SQL Server 2005 Integration Services
May 12, 2008 at 6:12 am
Is it just me or does Wrox have a thing for case studies? It's just a matter of personal preference but I don't really care for them.
May 12, 2008 at 10:02 am
Sorry Steve I am not with you this time. I personally don't like WROX books. They may be reach in content but I don't like their way of explanations. I agree with webooth that it is personal preference purely.
May 12, 2008 at 11:04 am
I used this book to get going with SSIS. I would rate it a bit lower than Steve did, maybe 3.5-4.0, but then I'm not buds with the authors ;). This is one of just a few SSIS books available and it is vastly better than the $44.99 Microsoft Press "Step by Step" volume which, as its name implies gives step by plodding step for various tasks -- with very little exposition or explanation.
One other thing about the "Professional...." red-cover book worth mentioning is that it has a sequel, "Expert SQL Server 2005 Integration Services" from two of the larger team of "Professional..." authors. The "Expert..." book could be considered a second-semester text for those who've covered the basics in the first book.
May 12, 2008 at 11:23 am
It's definitely personal preference, which is why I wanted to point that out with this book. I like case studies and walking through samples more than abstract code with step by step instructions. Probably people like me need examples more than explanations to getting going.
The Apress book might be better if you don't like this one. I have a short review on that one coming next week.
May 12, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I read this book...It is very good book and covered almost all topics for SSIS. A very good book...Recommanded by me for SSIS.
May 12, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I have this book and I don't find it super helpful.
On page 216, it talked about ActiveX script task, it said 'Visual Basic.Net' is the only language supported by the script task in SSIS 2005' and I found it not true.
When I use ActiveX script, the language is VB Script, Jscript, SignedJavaScript Class and SIgnedVBScript Class. The picture had the following tab - Script language, PrecompileScript Into Binary code, EntryPoint, ReadOnlyVariable, ReadWriteVariable. I only see Language, script and EntryMethod when I open the ActiveX script task editor. Am I missing something here? or my book is too old? It is the first edition.
May 12, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Loner, I think you're confusing the Script Task with the ActiveX Script Task. I've been using an on-line edition of the book at the subscription-based site www.books24x7.com. The section I think you're looking at is titled "Scripting Overview" and does distinguish among ActiveX task, Script Task, Script Component and Expression Language.
ActiveX Script Task: This task has been with DTS since SQL Server 7.0. It allows the execution of a script written in an ActiveX scripting language, such as VBScript. This task was included for backward compatibility with previous DTS packages and will be removed in the next version of SQL Server, so now is the time to upgrade to the newer components. This task will not be discussed further in this chapter.
Script Task: This task is the replacement for the ActiveX script task and is used primarily for controlling package execution. It allows the execution of a script written in Visual Basic.NET. Unfortunately, Visual Basic.NET is the only language you can use to write a script using this task. From your script, however, you can use assemblies written in other .NET languages such as C# or COM components through COM-Interop.
Script Component: This component allows for the creation of a totally custom transformation. This component is useful when the built-in transformations are not powerful or flexible enough for your needs.
Expression Language: SQL Server Integration Services includes an expression language that allows you to set variable values and perform other operations.
May 13, 2008 at 7:28 am
Personally, I would give this a 3 out of 5. I think that Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Integration Services by Kirk Haselden is a far superior book.
"Beliefs" get in the way of learning.
May 13, 2008 at 9:29 am
Personally, I feel you are very biased..
This book was written prematurely to get to market fast. Very sloppy and some of the examples, I couldnt even get to work...
I feel many of the WROX are of the same low calibre. I avoid them now...I would give it 1 ot of 5..
May 13, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Kirk Haselden is one of the author of Professional SQL Sever 2005 Integration Service.
Anyway I agree this book is not much help as far as I concern. I probably will give it a 3 out of 5 too.
May 13, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Kirk Haselden is not one of the authors of this book, i.e. Professional Sql Server 2005 Integration Services. I've got it in my hand right now. The authors are:
Brian Knight, Allan Mitchell, Darren Green, Douglas Hinson, Kathi Kellenberger, Andy Leonard, Eri Veerman, Jason Gerard, Haidong Ji, Mike Murphy.
"Beliefs" get in the way of learning.
May 14, 2008 at 11:26 am
I purchased this book in 2006 when first published as the company I was working for wanted to upgrade to SQL Server 2005 and as the Senior Database Developer/DBA, I had to evaluate how much effort it would take for the conversion of the DTS packages and sort. I found the book helpful at the basic level with it's explanation and case studies. It served as a good jumping off point as I was already very versed in DTS.
Now that I have been working with SSIS for two years, I find my skills beyond the book, however I must reiterate, it was a good jumping off point to get me thinking on SSIS.
At the time of publishing I would have rated this book a 4.5, now, I think it should be renamed with the Beginning tag to maintain that rating. As what I expect from a Professional tagged book, I'd rate it between 3.5 and 4 today.
Marvin Dillard
Senior Consultant
Claraview Inc
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