Excellent coverage of XML features
This book covers all the gaps that exist in the XML feature list provided on MSDN and TechNet. The examples are succinct and to the point and the text is very well written. The examples in the book clearly illustrate the point that the author is trying to make and the common pitfalls are documented very well as well. I had always had difficulty in understanding XML features in RDBMS and this book helped me a lot to overcome those fears.
Great companion resource to SQLXML BOL
This book is an excellent addition to the documentation provided with SQLXML, especially if you are just starting to use SQLXML. The book helps you decide if SQLXML is right for your situation. If it is, the book will continue to walk you through some real examples, covering some of the pros and cons of different methods. Being a developer, I highly recommend this book if you are using or considering to use SQLXML in a Microsoft environment.
Too narrow
This book is technically competent, but goes right past the two most important factors; if you are developing XML, then you will probably be using Java, and that if you are developing applications (even with XML) on SQL server, then you are probably using COM+. Sorry.
Ideal technical publication
This is what a technical publication should be. The book covers all aspects of SQLXML, from programming to administrative issues (including security concerns -- everyone needs to do more of that). It even discusses some of the other technologies out there, such as Oracle's integration with XML and the native xml datatype. If you are using or thinking of using SQLXML, I'd consider this book to be required reading.
Comprehensive, Reality-Based Guidance
The people who wrote this book have a great deal of real-world experience using these technologies, and it shows. While the SQL Server product documentation and the first generation of SQL Server XML books are great for giving you a categorical treatment of the features, this book emphasizes the techniques that are proving to be most useful while providing experience-based warnings about potential pitfalls in other techniques. It's also great for getting perspective on pros and cons when you are designing something that could be implemented in multiple ways using SQL Server XML.
(10 reviews)
