SQL training advice anyone?
Discussion
Don't know if anyone can help...
Basically, I use SQL databases (2000 at the moment, but just going to 2005 this month) for Web development... I understand SQL (the language bit!), but am looking for a training course that covers some of the more admin-y stuff like correctly setting up databases (so that they don't grow ridiculously huge), securoty and users, and how to set up FT indexing etc... I'm self-taught, so have some areas that I know very little about, and have some bad habits to boot!
Problem is that most of the courses I've been able to find have either been squarely aimed at administrators - and I don't need 5 days of SQL admin training; it'd melt my brain - or spend the first two days covering stuff I already know (what a relational database is, using select queries, etc).
Work has a limited training budget too, but I reckon there's maybe a grand and a bit that could be liberated without too much hassle.
So has anyone seen / been on / heard of any courses that seem to cover what I'm after? Or even possibly a decent book? - I've never seen a SQL book that isn't either massively overcomplicated, or just doesn't work in a real world situation - but I've been unlucky on that front, so I guess I haven't looked that hard if I'm fair...
...anyway, enough waffling, let the recommendations pour forth!
CH
Basically, I use SQL databases (2000 at the moment, but just going to 2005 this month) for Web development... I understand SQL (the language bit!), but am looking for a training course that covers some of the more admin-y stuff like correctly setting up databases (so that they don't grow ridiculously huge), securoty and users, and how to set up FT indexing etc... I'm self-taught, so have some areas that I know very little about, and have some bad habits to boot!
Problem is that most of the courses I've been able to find have either been squarely aimed at administrators - and I don't need 5 days of SQL admin training; it'd melt my brain - or spend the first two days covering stuff I already know (what a relational database is, using select queries, etc).
Work has a limited training budget too, but I reckon there's maybe a grand and a bit that could be liberated without too much hassle.
So has anyone seen / been on / heard of any courses that seem to cover what I'm after? Or even possibly a decent book? - I've never seen a SQL book that isn't either massively overcomplicated, or just doesn't work in a real world situation - but I've been unlucky on that front, so I guess I haven't looked that hard if I'm fair...
...anyway, enough waffling, let the recommendations pour forth!
CH
You are after two things from what I can tell:
1) A quick guide to database administration
2) Database design for people who already know some SQL
My answer to (1) is "why bother?". Microsoft have wisely made SQL Server more and more self-managing, self-optimising. There's nothing to do anymore. So why worry? It used to be people needed DB admins to look after day-to-day care of systems. These days we put in a system, the client does absolutely NOTHING to the database. We call in a year or two later - and everything is working just great. Our biggest battle with customers is to persuade them that just because the database is in good nick it STILL needs to be BACKED UP!
As for (2). Optimising queries, indexing etc. Buy a good book on SQL Server. I like Wrox press ones. Skip the chapters you don't need. If you go on a training course you'll have to put up with the rest of the group going through stuff you already know...sooo boring.
1) A quick guide to database administration
2) Database design for people who already know some SQL
My answer to (1) is "why bother?". Microsoft have wisely made SQL Server more and more self-managing, self-optimising. There's nothing to do anymore. So why worry? It used to be people needed DB admins to look after day-to-day care of systems. These days we put in a system, the client does absolutely NOTHING to the database. We call in a year or two later - and everything is working just great. Our biggest battle with customers is to persuade them that just because the database is in good nick it STILL needs to be BACKED UP!
As for (2). Optimising queries, indexing etc. Buy a good book on SQL Server. I like Wrox press ones. Skip the chapters you don't need. If you go on a training course you'll have to put up with the rest of the group going through stuff you already know...sooo boring.
Cheers Don,
Yep, that's a pretty accurate assessment of what I'm after - I'd still kindof like to go on a training course if I could find a good one, as it's quite nice from a career / job satisfaction POV, and I can't really think of any other training that's particularly job relevant at the moment...
Might see if I can do a bit of both - ie: book for the admin side and a course for some of the programming stuff, or vice versa... or I might just go the good old fashioned route of creating a test db to practise on... trouble is, missing a useful/vital bit of info is how the current dbs we have are not set up as well as they might be.
CH
Yep, that's a pretty accurate assessment of what I'm after - I'd still kindof like to go on a training course if I could find a good one, as it's quite nice from a career / job satisfaction POV, and I can't really think of any other training that's particularly job relevant at the moment...
Might see if I can do a bit of both - ie: book for the admin side and a course for some of the programming stuff, or vice versa... or I might just go the good old fashioned route of creating a test db to practise on... trouble is, missing a useful/vital bit of info is how the current dbs we have are not set up as well as they might be.
CH
Learning Tree courses are quite good.
www.learningtree.co.uk/training-directory/SQL-Server-Training-8.htm
We use them at work. I'd done the SQL Intro (albeit about 5 years ago!).
www.learningtree.co.uk/training-directory/SQL-Server-Training-8.htm
We use them at work. I'd done the SQL Intro (albeit about 5 years ago!).
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