actualy create a database?

The place where I work has a data base they want me to work on. I told them I knew nothing of SQL. The guy who wrote the data base said it wouldn't be hard for me to learn and suggested I start with sqL for dummies, every thing is pretty much straight forward and I have learned how to create tables and such using note pad, but all it is right now is a bunch of words in a txt file! Someone else told me to get SQL server 2000 I did that and looked at all the options ie:Query Analizer, Enterprize Manager,Profiler!
Where do I go from here? Is there a tutorial that will explain what to do next?
Can someone help me out?

Thanks in advance!!

If you are starting from scratch with SQL Server, you might want to try this book:
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735611424/qid%3D1041342266/sr%3D1-20/ref%3Dsr%5F1%5F2%5F20/202-8362998-9906258

It takes you through all the basics and tools, setting up tables, relationships, stored procedures etc. It doesn't take long to work through the book and it isn't much use as a reference once you've finished, so my advice is buy a used copy and save some pennies, its good, but not great value for money at full price.

What database is it they want you to work on at work? Be aware that SQL is a language (Structured Query Language), common to many database applications and quite distinct from Microsoft SQL Server, which is one database application that uses SQL, in a similar way to Oracle Database, MySQL, Access etc. etc. Enterprise Manager is a purely a GUI that allows you to administer the database. Oracle has a different GUI, so does Access, MySQL on the other hand doesn't have it's own GUI.

Regards

Owen.

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I could recommend following the official training sessions...but since I followed 1 access and 3 SQL Server training sessions myself I can tell you that it's better to invest in a good webdevelopment book which also covers SQL.

Why ? Simply because in all those training sessions not one instructor took a minute to stand still at the (web)limitations of what they were teaching you, so you use what they taught you up to the point where you can't go further and you are on your own and find workarounds using subselects and difficult combinations of triggers with constraints and stored procedures that are called by the triggers, i guess there is no way around that in my case working for a big company. And the training sessions are also not focused on the webdeveloper, sure you can use the Stored Procedures and Triggers, in fact I URGE you to explore triggers for "security" reasons.

For instance, for ColdFusion MX I would recommend WACK MX (Web Application Construction Kit). Good solid basis with usable examples and a GOOD chapter on SQL, which for some reason i only looked at earlier this week. But it's nice, diving in head first with almost all aggregate functions in one of the first samples, a report, it builds further on that and only gets better.

Oh, if you do decide to do some MM training then do them at authorised training partners, not to trash the others but that way you are sure you learn what MM thinks you should learn. And they are good courses. I just hope you like beans :-P

BTW, I myself do most things in the Enterprise Manager, it get things done...I followed the "Developing XML applications with SQL 2000" training but everything I learned this week in Advanced ColdFusion MX training makes that XML for SQL training obsolete, LOL. It is still handy to know how to do it in SQL Server though.

cfhttp webaddress to my txt file insert into database, Yawn...Next, oh CFXML CFoutput <xmlname>#fieldname#></xmlname> repeat till entire query is in xml format in the proper XML schema layout, put the thing in loop and give it a drop off adress. Schedule the thing over night and it runs itsself, like i said xml becomes easy peasy.

Ok ok, so a "Select * from table for XML RAW" does almost the same and you can also schedule those in SQL Server. You have more control through the web when you let it interact with a form so i'll take the two CF tags any day over the SQL solution...

I am getting off topic again ?
Sorry, it's just that i spent 2 years painstakingly working with asp migrating halfway from access to SQL server and now this coldfusion thing is here on my computer and a license at work <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

with kind regards,

Dennis van Galen
DMXzone Manager
FAQ, Tutorial and Extension Manager


Studio MX / CFMX PRO / SQL 2000 / NT4 AND win2kPRO / IIS5

I have just brought a book called PHP & Mysql for dummies. I run windows 2k and I have done a bit of php and mysql before. In my previous experience it was thru a webserver set up by a hosting company...when i wanted to add a table or edit a table etc. in the database i would go toa webaddress for instance my.host.com:{a number} however since i have brought this book and installed Mysql that came with it on a cd..I have yet discovered how i am able to edit the database througha browser like i havebeen able to before..is it possible for me to dothis? I'd really prefer to be able to do it that way than using txt files etc...any help much appreciated.Thank you in advance!
Rusoul