Product Description

Throughout this title, the authors' discussionsare clear and direct, and the screen shots and code snippetssuccessfully illustrate development techniques. For Visual Basicdevelopers who like to stock up on the latest and greatest tips, thisoffering is a real gem. --Stephen Plain ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Good "cook-book" for VB Beginners
I got this book about 2 years a go when I was starting on VB. It helped a lot on my learning. This is a cook book or "How to..." book that teaches you how to do many usual things so it's very useful when you are a beginner so you don't have to figure out how to do this things and It save you many time. Once you get in practice probably you won't need it any more.

Excellent Answer Book - a mini-guru in your pocket
Although the book wasn't all I was looking for, it gave me more than I originally expected. I bought this book because I was tired of skimming through 10 different VB web sites looking for a quick and dirty answer to a question - and SAMPLE CODE. :)

This book met my expectations very well, it answered more than half of the questions I had...and had answers to some questions I hadn't yet thought of asking. Although it doesn't hit many of the real advanced topics I was really hoping for (i.e., calling/using C DLLs...besides just knowing you can do it), I am more than happy with it -- and recommend it to other non-VB gurus. :)

For beginners
I can't say it's a bad book but it wasn't for me.If you are relatively new to Visual Basic or you want to know what version 6 can do, take a look to this book.

Beside that, look for more specific books like those fromWrox on VB6

This book really demonstrates the power of VB6
This book has MANY provocative examples of things that can be done with VB6. The examples are non-trival and not necessarily to be comprehended in one sitting (by me at least). This is definitely a book to work with whilelearnng to use VB6 and its many features (like the Microsoft msscript.ocxcontrol (p. 506)which has really grabbed my attention). I give theauthors high marks for producing this book.

Good Book
This book is obviously not for beginners - it already said in the introduction . And it's not written in any order. It's a good idea to just jump around the book and read the sections you 're intersted in - Mostchapters discuss a new area and not related to the previous one.

Thisbook is well explained - I personally like the User Assisstance ,mostbook doesn't cover on this . Overall , this book will not teach you basicconcepts but to enhanced your skills. ... Read more

Product Description
A wonderful collection of folk songs--our living link with our nation's history. Enjoy the songs and stories of our past that have been passed down from generation to generation. Songs that make you laugh, make you cry, or make your patriotic spirit soar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Terrific book to make history come alive
We purchased this song book to enhance our homeschool studies and are enjoying the tunes and history in it.Diana Waring sure knows how to take an often bland subject and make it exciting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Pacifism Is the Christian Gospel, Not Just an Add-On
Pacifism is the heart of the Christian gospel, not an add-on by a strange fringe sect of believers. John Howard Yoder spent his entire life patiently and excellently explaining that essential truth to the entire Christian church. Craig Carter does an admirable job setting Yoder's thought in an easily readable context, seeing the strains of Yoder's argument both in his Anabaptist Mennonite roots and in his theological training with Karl Barth. Carter especially takes great pains to establish that Yoder's vision of a concrete call to radical political discipleship is both fundamentally biblical and more Nicene and Chalcedonian than the Constantinian establishment government church ever was - or is.

The primary problem with systematically presenting Yoder's thought is that Yoder rejected systematization itself as Constantinian. Carter remarks on page 18, "Yoder wrote no major systematic treatise in which the comprehensiveness, logical rigor, and originality of his theology could be readily ascertained," and later on the same page says, "Although Yoder considered the possibility of writing a basic introduction to ethics or to his thought as a whole, he rejected the idea as being inconsistent with his firm rejection of foundationalism or methodologism." So why write a methodical/systematic treatise of his thought? I am reminded of the conversation I had a young Mennonite student a few years ago where he said he was interested in writing a systematic theology of Mennonites so that they could be more effective in ecumenical dialogue. I think the primary gift that Mennonites - and Yoder - provide to ecumenical dialogue is the refusal to write systematic theologies. Yoder wrote specific essays to specific people for specific purposes, as Carter notes, in full line with the Anabaptist commitment to Christ that he admired. Why don't we keep doing the same thing today? Carter presents a helpful guide to begin to read Yoder - but its main draw is not to summarize Yoder so one can stop there, but to entice all Christians into reading Yoder himself - and to entering into a life of true discipleship.

A must read for any christians!
This is the best place to begin if you are not familiar with Yoder. My only gripe with the book is that it is bit too technical for anyone not trained in theology.But again, definitely easier to read than "Politics of Jesus."

Higly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
"In mid-May 1775, the American Revolution was barely a month old. Many British soldiers were in Boston, Massachusetts. The American troops were nearby. The next battle could break out at any moment.

Fifteen-year-old John Greenwood's parents lived in Boston. But John lived with his uncle 150 miles away. When the war started, he decided to go back to Boston to check on his family. But when he arrived, the British soldiers wouldn't let anyone into the city. Instead John joined the American army and soon found himself at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Did John have the courage to make it through the battle? Could the Americans beat the powerful British?

In the back of this book, you'll find a script and instructions for putting on a reader's theater performance of this adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Reader's Theatre -- A Great Plus!
This well-written book is based on the memoirs of John Greenwood, who later became George Washington's favorite dentist.The illustrations add charm to the story, and the story is different than all of the traditional ones told about George Washington.This book also includes a Reader's Theatre section that is invaluable for classroom use.Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
Now in its third edition, Introduction to Robotics by John J. Craig provides readers with real-world practicality with underlying theory presented. With one half of the material from traditional mechanical engineering material, one fourth control theoretical material, and one fourth computer science, the book covers rigid-body transformations, forward and inverse positional kinematics, velocities and Jacobians of linkages, dynamics, linear control, non-linear control, force control methodologies, mechanical design aspects and programming of robots. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Book Fell Apart!
Opened the book for the first time when it arrived and it cracked, then sections of pages began to break apart and fall out.Had to three hole punch the whole book in order to keep it together.

Modified DH convention and poor explainations ruin it
I had nothing but problems with this book. First off, Craig uses modified DH conventiom, not the standard convention. Anyone that has used any non Craig book needs to know that ahead of time as Craig mentions "other methods" in passing but makes it sound like his the official version, which it's not. At least not outside industrial robotics for sure. His explainations are inadequate at best. He uses methods for dynamics that are more computer code oriented, and don't really give you a feel for what is happening as a whole. It's definitely not how you would want to do these problems on paper. And if all you had to learn dynamics from was this book, the method is probably the least of your concerns. And some examples would be nice. I gave it two stars because if you treat the book as an industrial robotics primer and not a primary source of robotics equations, it might not be so bad. It does have some interesting to read sections and it did introduce me to a matlab toolbox which I found useful, although it does not always play nice with the modified DH, it does have a modified option for some of its features.

Good introduction but poor on kinematics
The first 3 chapters begin very well giving the reader decent examples with how to derive frame assignments and forward kinematic matrices. Starting with chapter 4, the book begins to descend into a nightmare of ambiguity and frustration. Typos begin cropping up every where. The author then begins to take short cuts with deriving particular formulas with no clear explanation how those formulas are derived. One example is when the author begins to explain how to solve for an inverse kinematics problem and says to use the law of cosines, but then writes a formula that is not the law of cosines with no clarification how he came to that point. Homework problems are also given, but do not reflect the few examples given within the chapter leaving the reader in a very difficult position and in most cases unable to solve the problem. I would highly recommend getting a book other than this one. If it is required for a class, make sure the teacher has sufficient supplemental material that will augment the many failings this text has.

Robotics Instructor - Oklahoma
I teach a introductory course in robotics that is targeted for the senior/graduate level student in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering /Computer Science. The goal is to understand the kinematics, dynamics and ultimately the control of robotic manipulators. Unequivocally, this is one of the best books in introductory robotics! This book is not for the robotic tinkerer or the amateur, but for the engineer who is desirous of obtaining a sound understanding of the principles involved.

In the past four years that I have taught this subject, the student feedback has been consistent: The mechanical engineers think the controls part is too tough and the electrical engineers feel that the mechanics portion is too dense! This is the beauty of Mechatronics! One can only appreciate the material if he/she has a good understanding of both the mechanical aspects as well as the electrical aspects of the robot.
In the class that I teach, the students work on a group based term project where they implement the concepts on an actual manipulator. The students very quickly realise that "hobby"-ist approach to robotics will not work and the concepts of kinematics and dynamics are vital to the proper control of robots.

All in all, this book is an absolute "must read" for anyone serious about robotics, especially those desirous of pursuing graduate study in robotics or related areas.

The worst textbook I've ever had.
I had this book for an Intro to Robotics class I took. And I must say, this is by far the worst textbook I've ever read. It is dense, confusing, and hard to read. There are typos everywhere. When it is laying out problems and equations, it likes to skip a few steps and assume you can follow along. To sum it up, this book is useless.

Seriously, if you are going to take a course and this book is required, don't take the course. If the prof was any good they wouldn't pick this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Publisher: London : Published for the Early English Text Society by Paul, Trench, TrübnerPublication date: 1916Notes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Theology; Encyclopedias and dictionaries; Reference / Encyclopedias; Religion / Christianity / Catholic; Religion / Christian Theology / General; Religion / Christian Theology / Systematic; ... Read more

Product Description
Although computer-based tests (CBT) have been administered for many years, improvements in the speed and power of computers coupled with reductions in their cost have made large-scale computer delivery of tests increasingly feasible. CBT is now a common form of test delivery for licensure, certification, and admissions tests. Many large-scale, high-stakes testing programs have introduced CBT either as an option or as the sole means of test delivery. Although this movement to CBT has, to a great extent, been successful, it has not been without problems. Advances in psychometrics are required to ensure that those who rely on test results can have at least the same confidence in CBTs as they have in traditional forms of assessment.

This volume stems from an ETS-sponsored colloquium in which more than 200 measurement professionals from eight countries and 29 states convened to assess the current and future status of CBT. The formal agenda for the colloquium was divided into three major segments: Test Models, Test Administration, and Test Analysis and Scoring. Each segment consisted of several presentations followed by comments from noted psychometricians and a break-out session in which presenters and discussants identified important issues and established priorities for a CBT research agenda. This volume contains the papers presented at the colloquium, the discussant remarks based on those papers, and the research agenda that was generated from the break-out sessions.

Computer-Based Testing: Building the Foundation for Future Assessments is must reading for professionals, scholars, and advanced students working in the testing field, as well as people in the information technology field who have an interest in testing.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Fascinating work on one of the great mysteries of 16th-century North America
Until I stumbled across a publication notice for this book in The Chronicle of Higher Education, I had never heard of Chief Tascalusa or Mabila, but the story sounded fascinating.The lost battlefield of a bloody conflict between Hernando de Soto's army and an Indian tribe (or two) defending their turf--who could resist?In many ways it is a sort of American Troy.

I eventually ordered the book and wasn't able to put it down.Now, let the general reader beware: this is a scholarly work that has plenty of footnotes and lots of what most people would call "dry" passages.But I enjoy such arcane matters and realize that they are the building blocks of good scholarship.And in that regard, this book does not disappoint.The Search for Mabila represents the work of an assemblage of (mostly) academic experts on the prehistory of Alabama--its geography, archaeology, and pre-Columbian cultures--all seeking to locate the lost site of Mabila (whence the city of Mobile derives its name).Because we have only one true eyewitness account of the battle, and that is very succinct (there are three other surviving accounts, but all told either at a distance of time or even second-hand), clues are sparse and the gaps among the narratives require extensive reconstruction and speculation.Different chapters explore everything from the earliest maps of the Gulf Coast to late Mississippian tribal pottery and culture to the types of flora and fauna that probably existed in the area in the 1540s, all in an effort to discover where Mabila once stood.While the conclusions are inconclusive, it's the search that matters.And as Vernon James Knight notes in the closing pages, even negative conclusions help narrow the possibilities for future research.This book certainly takes a huge step in that direction.

With a lot of effort and a little luck, maybe one day we will unearth Mabila and the historical treasures that lie buried there.When we do, we will glimpse a forgotten but fascinating chapter of our history. ... Read more

Product Description
The second author is with the Univ. of Colorado, Boulder. Presents a discussion of genetic research on behavior and focuses on cognitive abilities, personality, psychopathology, and psychopharmacology. Written for psychology, psychiatry, behavioral, biomedical, and biological sciences professionals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Introductory book on behavioral genetics
The book is a rather good introductory book upon behavioral genetics, covering various emotional and behavioral disorders.It is stimulating and interesting, and very academic in nature.To a reader searching for practical implication of behavioral genetics, there may be little appointment.No matter what, I do agree that the behavioral genetics is a subject that every psychologist, or even every person, should have some ideas about this new development in science. ... Read more

Product Description
A poignant historical tale about honor, betrayal, forgiveness, and the power of standing for the truth. By John Craig McDonald, the author of Among His Personal Effects. The pawns had been played. Now it was time to set the larger pieces in motion. But would they live to see the end of the battle? Scotland, 1513. King James of Scotland’s noose has been tightening around the neck of Sir Alexander Guthrie for years. Now, with England continuing to raid the Scottish Borders, King James decides to attack the neighboring country. To Alex, everything about this venture smacks of the sovereign’s reckless disregard for the people of Scotland. Yet, as a knight, is Alex doomed to leave all he holds dear—powerless to do anything but follow? Time and ale are wreaking havoc on the traveling musician, Andrew Ritchie. But behind the wild living is the secret of a haunted past…and a face he cannot forget. Rachel Tanner, a young maid of dubious parentage in the Guthries’ household, is under the protection of her beloved Father Francis…until one dark night in a stable propels her on a courageous journey. ... Read more

Product Description
A look at the assassination of John F. Kennedy offers evidence that places Charles Rogers--a psychopath wanted for the murder and dismemberment of his parents in 1965--at the site of the crime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Must Read
This book is fantastic.It grabs you from the very beginning and you can't put it down.The research is also extremely impressive.It is a real-life mystery murder that unfolds in shocking ways with information that really gets you thinking.I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in getting an answer to who really shot Kennedy.

Interesting.
I have read a lot of books on the JFK assissination.

This book caught my eye for that reason. However, once I began reading it, this book kept my attention. It read like a novel. I liked that, it was a switch from the usual fact presented like facts JFK conspiracy books. I liked that about this book. It certainly had me convinced that this guy had something to do with the JFK murder. It made me wonder why we didn't do more then in regards to this guy.

The book was gory when talking about the dismemberment of his mother and father. I really didn't like that. I'm not sure that it added much to the book except some length. However, it did make me realize that this was the type of man who would do what he thought needed to be done and might certainly shoot at a president.

This book is very interesting and those interested in reading about the JFK assassination would do well to consider reading this book. It is an easy one to skip over with the massive amounts of books available to read. However, the novel like feel of this does not detract from the research completed and conclusions drawn in this book.

A fascinating book.
I have read quite a lot of books about the Kennedy assassination but this one is the best by far. It is well written and reads like a thriller.

Atthe end of the book a groundsheet of the Rogers' house is shown. This helpsto understand the description of the crime and the search through the houseby the two police officers. What I miss is a groundsheet of the parsonage.From the description it is not possible for me to imagine how it lookedlike. It plays an important role so I think it would better the book if itwas printed too. A thing that makes me curious is: what did the authors puton their trail? Where they one of those informed by Marietta Gerhart? ... Read more

Product Description
Here is a comprehensive accounting of all United States and allied submarine attacks on the Japanese for which success was claimed or occurred. The expanded coverage focuses on successes by U.S. and British and Dutch submarines in the Pacific and Indian oceans, Soviet submarines, and losses caused by mines laid by submarines. The book also includes details from top-secret "Ultra" messages decoded during the war and recently translated documents that provide correct Japanese ship names, ship type and tonnage, convoy names, human loss numbers and other attack details, as well as a military evaluation of each attack. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review by Stonebooks.com (Military books)
Everyone seems to agree Axis Submarine Successes of World War II by Jurgen Rohwer is the ultimate published source for attacks and sinkings by German, Italian, and Japanese subs during 1939-1945. The original version, published in 1983, was updated in a new edition in 1999, and that's the current gold standard on the subject. Although the second edition improved the reliability of data, the overall structure and organization remained unchanged.
On the other hand, the original Naval Institute Press version of Alden's book, U.S. Submarine Attacks during World War II, published in 1989, has undergone more of a transformation. Now in its fourth edition, and with a slightly different title, Alden's book includes much more data, features an improved layout, and now appears to be the ultimate guide to the topic. While the 1989 edition included a great deal of information, much of it was flagged as uncertain or contradictory, and there appeared to be some holes in the data. Those issues don't dog the latest version, although Alden himself cautions that, especially in regard to translated Japanese material that has come to him second- or third-hand, room remains for improvement.
How did Alden reach this point? He explains that after his first edition was published by NIP a number of researchers from around the globe began to assist him. Based on that work, an updated edition of 110 copies was self-published in 1999. Following more research and an update to a new database management system, a private third edition of a dozen copies was distributed to a select group of associates. The latest version includes even more information from Japanese sources and brings the book to a new level of accuracy and completeness.

Alden writes in the Preface:
The primary objective of this book is to provide a comprehensive list of all U.S. submarine attacks for which success was claimed (or was later found to have occurred), together with corresponding information on Japanese and other ship losses during the war. In the interest of completeness, the record has been expanded to include the few attacks made by U.S. submarines in the Atlantic, the attacks made by British and Dutch submarines operating in the Pacific and Indian oceans, those made by Soviet submarines late in the war, and casualties caused by mines laid in the Far Eastern areas by U.S. and Allied submarines.
Much of the basic information herein was published in 1989 in my book U.S. Submarine Attacks During World War II (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute). As I noted in the preface to that volume, it was "by no means ... the final word on the achievements of U.S. and Allied submarines" during the war. In fact, the objective was to "facilitate the work of future researchers by providing a handy compilation of the data recorded by others, including those entries that have turned out to be false leads in the search for the truth." Many individuals responded with new data, but the bulk of the information that has been added subsequently comes from three sources: originally top-secret ULTRA intelligence information derived from Japanese radio messages intercepted and decrypted during the war; information translated from Japanese publications by William G. Somerville of Lincolnshire, England; and material translated from Japanese and other documents by Erich Muhlthaler of Burghausen, Germany.
....
Users are reminded that this list contains only attacks that were originally claimed as successful or were later determined to have been successful. Approximately an equal number of unsuccessful attacks are not included.
Note that post-war records have shown conclusively that many claimed hits were actually misses or duds; others were based on very weak visual or audio indications and are unsupported by any records discovered to date. The fact that a claim is listed in this book should never be interpreted as evidence of an actual hit.
Users are urged to read the...explanatory material before attempting to interpret the records of attacks, which are extremely condensed and use many abbreviations.


Alden's concluding sentence in his explanation is something of an understatement. While he uses a format not terribly different from Rohwer, and he covers essentially the same kind of operations as Rohwer, Alden's approach is far richer in terms of information. Most importantly, Alden includes for each attack a section of comments, often equivalent of a solid paragraph of text. Alden also uses a substantially broader range of abbreviations, and that's especially evident in his comments, which sometimes read like a secret code. Without taking time to learn some of the essential abbreviations, the tables--and the comments in particular--can be nearly impossible to decipher.
Almost the entire book comprises data about submarine attacks reduced to a tabular format with standardized entries (all of which, apparently, is currently stored in the database designed by McDonald). The table is made up of nineteen fields or elements. Here they are, quoting Alden's explanation:


1. Submarine hull number and name
2. Patrol number
3. Commanding officer's name
4. Month and year
5. Date and hour
6. Submarine's position
7. Type of target believed attacked
8. Estimated target size
9. Type of attack: torpedo hits and number fired, or gun attack
10. Result claimed: sunk, damaged, or other

The next seven data elements, which appear below the submarine entries, after the attack number, present the attack as reported from the Japanese perspective:

11. Reference Source(s): major ones are noted here, others elsewhere as described in the detailed section
12. Date: usually but not always the same as reported by the submarine
13. Location of attack: this seldom agrees exactly with the position reported by the sub- marine
14. Type of ship actually attacked
15. Tonnage of ship attacked (gross tons for merchant types, standard displacement tons for regular warships)
16. Name of ship attacked {incorrect or non-valid names are in braces}
17. Damage incurred: sunk; heavy, medium, or light damage; undamaged, etc.

In the bottom line(s), printed in italics, are the following data:

18. Comments: an abbreviated account of the attack as presented in the submarine's patrol report (PR), followed by details from the specific sources and comments by the author [in brackets].
19. Alden Evaluation: Alden's personal overall evaluation of the attack's outcome:
S for sunk,
D for damaged,
0 for not hit, etc.
These are followed by symbols for Alden's estimate of the reliability of the source data. See the detailed section for a full explanation.
Each one of those fields can have a wide range of values. The "claim," for example, can have eight different codes, ranging from sunk to damaged to "not a valid attack." Abbreviations for ship types go on for almost three columns, including "Wh" for whaling vessel, "Sam" for sampan, "Crab" for crab fishing vessel, and so on. Miscellaneous abbreviations include "b/u" for breaking-up noise, a simple "M" for the ubiquitous maru, and "S" for sank, sinking, sunk, etc.

Our only quibble is the decision to put the commentary in italics because that only reduces the legibility of what is already--quite understandably--some rather cramped and tiny text. But that's a small and unimportant caveat in a sea of data carefully refined and displayed.
Alden and his colleagues have individually and collectively spent scores of years on this project, and it shows. With so much of the original information augmented by Ultra reports and cross-referenced against Japanese sources, it's unlikely that any major revisions will be necessary, although the relentless researchers will doubtless continue to uncover fresh nuggets about some attacks. Perhaps the next step is to put the database on the Web in a searchable, interactive format allowing users to manipulate and view entries in much the same way baseball fans can, for example, access and investigate MLB statistics for the past hundred years or so.
Until then, the fourth edition of United States and Allied Submarine Successes is gold. If you're into submarines, especially Allied submarines during World War II, you can't live without this. It has an extravagant price tag, but Alden and crew have devoted significant chunks of their lives to this project out of sheer dedication. Even if McFarland sells a ton of copies, the authors' remuneration won't work out to more than a few cents for each hour of labor. Consequently, the least we can do is let them know how much we appreciate their diligence and hard work.
Thanks, guys. Good job.
We've added United States and Allied Submarine Successes to our Recommended Reading list.

... Read more

Product Description
Family business leaders of the past could often guaranteedecades of success built on a single, long-lived strategic plan. Butthe current rapid rate of change makes ongoing success an infinitelymore difficult challenge. What works today is passé tomorrow. In MakeChange Your Family Business Tradition, those involved in or with afamily firm will learn how to: build and preserve a foundation forconstant renewal; modify the company’s culture while preserving itsvalues; recognize and overcome the inhibitors to change; adapttraditions to contemporary realities; develop characteristics of aneffective change leader; respect the past while embracing the future;encourage and make room for the next generation’s changes; gainfamily and employee commitment to change...and much more. ... Read more

Product Description

For students in the introductory course in database who want to learn how to design rather than just manipulate relational databases.The book that balances database theory, business problem solving, and hands-on-practice.  This book prepares student for the workplace without sacrificing rigorous academic theory. 

Customer Reviews (4)

Publisher problems
Nothing to complain about from the seller. Transaction was fine. I'd avoid this publisher though if I were anyone else. The first book I got from the publisher had NONE of the vital graphs and charts were missing. This one has them but I feel like some of the stuff in the book is just random jibba jabba. :)Again, nothing against the seller, the book was in excellent shape, arrived promptly and I couldn't complain. The book is pretty rough though, meaning the stuff the publisher put in it, or didn't.

Great price
The book was exactly as described by the seller. The price was right and the shipping was extremely quick.

This book is NOT for beginners.Very obtuse and boring.
I am taking a Database class online with my local college and this is the required text.This book is very difficult to understand.The wording in this book reminds me of the political science texts I had to suffer through to fulfill basic requirements in undergraduate school.Many passages seem very circular.I have a master's degree in mathematics and am already familiar with database design and I still am often perplexed by the unclear writing and examples in this book.After reading chapter four I could not even attempt the exercises.(I have a 98% average 1/2 way through the sememter.)So, in desperation, I finally went online to see if anyone else had a better explanation of what should be basic terms and ideas.Within 10 minutes I had found several websites that explained all terminology very clearly with excellent, concrete, consistent, examples.

So, I am completely giving up on this book.I will use some of the great websites I have found to learn this subject matter instead.I only need the book now for my class homework.It is upsetting b/c I paid over $100 for nothing.

I did read the other review.He must work for the book company or already know a lot more than I do about databases.Bottom line, if you are a beginning database designer or need this a supplementary material for a class, LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE.If you are an instructor, please, please find a better book for your students.

Setting your Foundation
Learning to develop and manage database systems professionallyie:client/server and web-based applications, requires a thorough understanding of the core underpinnings Re: database & application design and development.

Book 1:
-Database Development and Management (foundations of Database Design)" ISBN: 0849333180

Book 2:
-Database Design and Development a Visual approach" ISBN: 0130351229

are 2 books that help fill gaps in the area of database development, specifically as it relates to the relational theory, your choice of relational design/development methodology, transforming a conceptual database blueprint into a working logical and physical design, and carrying out the nitty-gritty implementation aspects of your design using SQL and other database & programming constructs.

Now with regards each book :
Note: (due to review real estate constraints, i shall limit this review to Book 2, the current book in question.
you'll find a Book 1 review on the customer review page for :Database Development and Management (foundations of Database Design)" ÏSBN: 0849333180

Book 2: "Database Design and Development a Visual approach" ISBN 0130351229;

This book shows you how, (by stepping one literally and visually through multi-frame diagrams) to:
- create databases with ORACLE using SQL
- create databases with MS SQL SERVER using SQL and
- create databases in MS Access using SQL

and how to retrieve data from each of these specific database implementations as well.

it equally instructs on how to access databases via web-applications with Microsoft ASP.Net, & on how to maintain a database with Microsoft ASP.Net .

I enjoyed the manner in which the authors went to work on the relational theory, delineating step-by-step the conceptual design process, normalization and how to consolidate a database design/blueprint to weed out / curbit any design excesses.

from this book you will learn

Fundamentals:
------------
- what a database is, what the elements, component parts & pieces that make one up are.

-what the database development process is all about, what is involved within each of the different stages , what the different stages are there for, & where to commence each task within the database project from,(step by step)

For example: in the Conceptual design stage, we are provided a straight forward, no fluff, 5-step process for ERD construction, to determine what constitues an entity & how to identify entities by oneself.
this is accomplished by asking 2 questions:
-"is there more than one" ie: (is there more than one instance?),
-"is there a variation over time" ie: (do the number of instances grow & shrink, change, get added or removed over the years) .

- instructions on how one even begins to produce a blueprint-design/data model for a database ie: whats involved,what does it take ie:(the actual pratical hands on step-by-step actions involved).

-how do you get to the physical table structures, normalize, transform a blueprint you learn to produce, into a physical database object, and how you get to implementing it all in SQL.

whether you are interested in developing or supporting database infrastructure's for ORACLE, MS Access, SQL Server or IBM's DB2, the design foundations holds.

At the end of reading this book , you will be able to apply the knowledge u will have progressively gathered from progressing through the database system development life cycle's A to Z, to design & develop a db that solves a business problem .

you will have down rather well, the steps to laying out/producing a good database application design blueprint using both the theoretical underpinnings of (the conceptualdesign stage), and the hands-on practise you will have garnered, from stepping through the db system development lifecycle.

Also, you will have learnt how to access your databases via a web enabled front-end interface you will develop for it using Microsoft ASP.Net ie: how to create a web-enabled front-end UI(user interface)using Visual Web developer,to interface with your database and make it possible to gain access to your database over the web.

the book equally instructs as well on how to maintain the database you've created by these means, from the Web-enabled user interface application u developed using ASP.Net

I appreciated the approach used in this book because it is a more wholistic approach , teaching one how to design and develop a database and intergrate ASP.Net to create forms with menus et cetera which allow you to gain access , query the databases contents & harness its power right over the internet.

This is a rather relevant & sought after skill in the job market today; making this book a useful find for those who want to learn how to build a complete database solution through a test database project undertaking.

Thanks to book 1 and 2, you will have a very solid hands-on foundation in working both the db design theory angle and its direct implementation aspects.

A recent other book i found & just finished reading regarding building web-enabled interfaces and building internet solutions around accessible client/server database applications, is a book entitled: "Internet & World Wide Web, How to Program" (3rd edition) ISBN: 8120328027. (a great volumn)

But that is another story

cheers :-)
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