Reviews BooksSQL Server 2005 Integration Services using Visual Studio 2005: A Beginner's Guide
SQL Server 2005: A offering of Microsoft Corporation for database management, the SQL server 2005 is one of the powerful database management systems in the world. Available for integration in almost any system that uses Microsoft or Sybase systems, the SQL Server 2005 architecture is divided into three components:
This architecture in the database system enables the SQL Server 2005 to be used effectively in Database Management with a highly efficient buffer management system. Add a feature that enables transaction logging easier, the SQL Server 2005 is virtually a very strong database system.
This software development tool was released on October 2005. This release enables the user to integrate the .NET framework as part of its coding. What makes Visual Studio special is IntelliSense with takes a second look at the codes to determine if it will work with the actual application. It also has a debugger as part of the application to help the developer know more about their application. It has an SDK which provides developers an opportunity to integrate APIs to their Visual Studio version.
Jayaram Krishnaswamy is an experienced programmer for more than a decade and an accomplished writer for more than two years regarding different web technologies and database management tools. His experience and understanding of the current trends in web development and database management has made him a good candidate to write this book. The publishing company, PackT Publishing is a renowned publisher for different books regarding specific skills in programming. This is one of the many books that were published by PackT that deals with web development and database management.
Chapter 1 introduces the reader to SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) by identifying its uses to the actual business world. The common objects of SSIS are identified and their specific functions are described in this chapter. The full feature of SSIS is known through this book.
Chapter 2 guides the developers on how to build a BI project using Visual Studio 2005. Readers will be guided in a step by step approach on how to use Visual Studio 2005 and end up with a small application with the help of SSIS. The actual integration of SSIS with Visual Studio 2005 is first shown in this chapter.
Chapter 3 is a little bit specific as it discusses the steps in sending an e-mail using SMTP. This is actually a good exercise as you interact with ISP and outside sources to fire-up your application.
Chapter 4 deals with data transfer. A special section with connection management is discussed in this chapter as well.
Chapter 5 is another exercise which shows the step by step approach on how to transfer the data to an Excel file. This exercise enables the developer to built readable files to be placed in the server.
Chapter 6 is a thorough discussion of data transfer from the software development tool, specifically the SQL to the MS Access Database. This chapter also deals with Data Viewer a lot.
Chapter 7 tells of the process of developing a package which enables the software development tool to transfer files using Bulk Insert Task. The Management Console is used in this chapter which shows its importance in software development.
Chapter 8 shows the step by step process on how to divide the data from the SQL which could be sent to multiple ends. The tools that are primary used in this chapter are the Record Destination and Recordset Object plus some variables in SSIS.
Chapter 9 is another exercise wherein developers are guided to develop another application using the tools that were discussed in the previous chapters. This time, Aggregate Data Transformation is used for software development.
Chapter 10 is another exercise which instructs the developer on how to transform the data from MS Excel. This transformation will enable the developer to transfer the information to MS Access Database.
Chapter 11 deals with XML with relation to SSIS and how it could be transformed to HTML by applying XSLT.
Chapter 12 talks about File System Object and its many uses. File transfer from one user to another is also discussed in this chapter.
Chapter 13 talks about another Oracle database management application - the Oracle 10G XE and how the table from the said management application could be transferred to SSIS.
SQL Server Integration Services
SSIS - Oracle 10G to SQL Server
SSIS - Using the Object Browser
SSIS - Configuring the OLE DB Source
SSIS - Configuring SQL Server Destination Component
Chapter 14 is another exercise which deals with the web service task as a tool.
Chapter 15 discusses the options and possibilities in transferring data from one version of SQL to another.
Chapter 16 discusses two important functions in SSIS: ExecuteSQL Task and Execute Process Task. Events in Visual Studio 2005 such as OnPostExecute and OnError are discussed in this chapter.
In Chapter 17 the FTP (File Transfer Protocols) are discussed in relation with Visual Studio 2005 and SSIS.
In Chapter 18 the ActiveX Script Task becomes the focus of the application. Web browser objects and server management are used in this chapter to develop a package.
Chapters 19 and 20 are additional practices that help the developer build packages based on what they have learned so far. The former chapter talks about text files management while the latter speaks of Management Plan Tasks.
Review:
Learning SSIS is one of the most challenging skills for any developer. But this book has made it really easy for any starting developer. This book was specifically written for starting developers as it show the specific steps on how to develop an application from the scratch. Experienced developers will know a trick or two based on the things covered here. The book actually exploits all the possible functions that could be used in SSIS so experienced developers will have the chance to rediscover some of these functions and apply them to their application.
The book is written in learning stages: each part of the SSIS application along with its Visual Studio 2005 counterpart for application development is discussed. These functions are then tested to an actual application. Actual screenshots are used to give the developers an idea on how the application development progresses.
But not everything is presented at once. In the early chapters of the book, developers will first learn the basics on software development using SSIS and Visual Studio 2005. The actual use of the software development tool is presented later.
These basics are enough for the build a simple application. Once the basics are covered an exercise is presented so that developers can immediately apply what they have learned. As the chapters progresses, advanced functions and skills are presented. It is again presented through a series of screen shots so that developers could understand how it is done. Once enough information has been presented, another battery of tests so that skills will be used in the actual scenario.
If you are looking for a good book to start developing SSIS with Visual Studio 2005, this book provides a great start. This book could easily become a good reference book as the skills of the developer progresses in SSIS and Visual Studio.
This book is available for purchase at packtpub.com Beginners Guide to SQL Server Integration Services Using Visual Studio 2005
