Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services 2005

Professional SQL Server 2005 Integration Services (Programmer to Programmer)

Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2005: T-SQL Querying (Solid Quality Learning)

Delivering Business Intelligence with Microsoft SQL Server 2005

The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit : With SQL Server 2005 and the Microsoft Business Intelligence Toolset

Database Design

Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2005 Analysis Services Step by Step (Step by Step (Microsoft))

Format: Paperback
Author: Reed Jacobson
ReleaseDate: 26 April, 2006
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Rating:

A troubled work
Chapter 2 was more confusing in its presentation but I got something out of it. Chapter 1 made several good points. Chapter 3 began the hands-on so I installed the sample files and sample database contained on the accompanying CD-ROM -- only to find that I couldn't successfully install the database! The CD contains only the ". mdf" file for the sql database (no . ldf), not enough to "restore" or "attach" the database. Their script to install the DB also errored out. I was unable to locate any useful help or errata on the MsPress website. It looks like the authors spent a lot of time and effort developing the step-by-step examples so I'm quite disappointed that I can't proceed further into chapter 3. I'd recommend looking to the Microsoft SSAS tutorial instead of this book.

I'm shocked
I have the previous version of this book; Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services Step by Step, and I don't remember it being this bad. I am both shocked and surprised at how completely faulty this book is. Don't get me wrong, I know Reed Jacobson as I had met him at the SQL Server 2005 launch event, and I don't necessarily blame him for the poor standing. I do however blame Microsoft as there is no way they could have performed any sort of Technical Editorial on this book. If you do decide to buy it, watch out for the Writeback partitions exercise in Chapter 10. It blew up my Virtual Server. Twice.