Where do I Start?

Question

    I am absolutely new to databases and SQL 2008. I am looking for recommendations from members of the forum in regards to good tutorials and books i might want to read to get a good start with databases (Microsoft SQL in particular). I am looking to start a personal project (got tired of hoping to meet a  DBA who could help me :-) ). I would like to accomplish 2 simple things initially - which should be challenging enough but do-able for someone who is very computer savvy...( I am a storage and virtualization consultant so i know my way around the windows environment (MCSE, VCP and the sorts) ).

1 - I would like to create a simple database to store my MP3 collection in
2 - I would like to create a VB script/app to read the ID3 tags of my MP3 files into said database

I realize that there are countless applications that do this already but i would like to do this on my own and work toward an idea i've been sitting on for to long.

Any, and i mean any suggestions on how to get started would be greatly appreciated (even paid learning will be considered but free would be better :-)).

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Start with one of the MSPress "Step By Step" books.  Perhaps "Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Step By Step" by Mike Hotek.

---

Aaron Alton | thehobt.blogspot.com

Answer 2

Thanks for your response ( i will let you know how the book is). Does anyone have any video learning recommendations by any chance?

Thanks.

Answer 3

Navigate to http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/express.aspx and scroll to the bottom, you'll find a set of videos on a number of introductory topics.

Regards,
Mike

---

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Answer 4

Thanks Mike!! (The link you posted should be a sticky)The videos there have been great so far. If anyone else has any other videos, books or websites that they believe would be helpful for an absolute beginner please feel free to post it. Thanks for all the suggestions thus far.

Answer 5

I've also tracked down the Absolute Beginners series for SQL Express 2005 at http://www.facultyresourcecenter.com/curriculum/pfv.aspx?ID=6686 which is an excellent and comprehensive introduction to working with SQL Express. These videos cover core concepts of relational databases and are just as useful for SQL Express 2008 as they are for 2005. There are only minor differences in some of the UI elements from Management Studio, and they obviously won't cover new features in 2008, but 98% of what you learn here is going to to SQL Express 2008.

Regards,
Mike

---

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Answer 6

Thanks once again Mike, I've gotten all the videos and will go through them in the course of the next few days. I've also ordered the step by step book recommended by Aaron. Once again if anyone has any recommendations please feel free to let me know.