Troy Sorzano's SQL Notes Page 2

CoolTools - Software

Star Designer $399+-

www.powersoft.com

Visual database design supports every backend but Clarion & Topspeed files. Documentation was written by programmers who basically describe each screen and every field on the screen. Which of course is no help. There is no tutorial but I did find one on CompuServe for the higher end product called S-Designer ($2999+-).

• Good Stuff: Nice graphical layout of database and relations Store all your Triggers, Stored Procedures in one place. Creates SQL scripts to build, modify, update SQL Objects Has a template language for triggers. Super flexible in that it supports almost every backend.
• Bad Stuff: Super flexible in that is supports almost every backend. Because of this you need to know a lot about your backend to get things working. The manual does not tell you what options work and which don't with your backend. You will spend lots of time generating SQL scripts then reading them to see what they do. Hey kind of reminds me of learning CW, change some properties then look at the code.

SQL-Programmer $??? download eval. copy from www.sfi-software.com

880 boul. de la Carrière, Suite 130

Hull, Québec

Canada J8Y 6T5

Tel: 819 778-5045 Fax: 819 778-7943 BBS: 819 778-8556

Complete development environment for SQL programmers. Supports MS SQL, Sybase System 11.x, and Oracle. Hard to describe but it is like the MS Enterprise Manager and ISQL combined. Great for creating triggers/store procedures and other SQL objects that need "debugging". The error messages are much more helpful than MS ISQL's. Also includes reporting on all objects, execution plans, CPU usage and I/O statistics. Multiple "FreeSQL!" (ie. ISQL type) windows can be open. So edit a trigger in one, testing in another etc.

• Good Stuff: Great for creating triggers/store procedures and other SQL objects that need "debugging". The error messages are much more helpfull than MS ISQL's. Also includes reporting on all objects,execution plans, CPU usage and I/O statistics.
• Bad Stuff: ?? only used it for a day

SQL Inspector $??? $Free from trade show for watching a demo

470 Potrero Avenue

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

Tel. (408) 523-9900

Fax (408) 523-9911

I use the ODBC Inspector that came with the package. Basically is a fancy real-time ODBC logging utility. Open ODBC Inspector then open your app watch the ODBC/SQL calls as they happen. Included time and date stamps so you know how long it took the server to respond.

• Good Stuff: This is as close as you can get to the ODBC layer for debugging. Lets you see the SQL statements that are issued when CW uses ADD,PUT,GET,REGET etc. I have learned tons of stuff from this utility it is a must have for CW development!!!! Much better then looking at the standard odbc log files. Allows you to filter ODBC calls so if you are only looking for "SQLConnect" you don’t have to wade through pages of log.
• Bad Stuff: The version I have only supports 16bit odbc.

CoolTools - Books

• teach yourself SQL in 14 days SAMS publishing Jeff Perkins & Bryan Morgan For the total beginner SQL programmer. Gets the basic's covered.
• SQL for Smarties:advanced sql programming Morgan Kaufmann by Joe Celko Night and day from "teach yourself sql" in the intro. suggests that you have a year or more of hands on sql experience. Some of the chapters are super advanced and solve only specific SQL problems.
• MS SQL Server DBA survival Guide SAMS publishing Spenik & Sledge Does not cover SQL programming but how to manage a MS SQL Server. How to backup, import, export, create objects ect. I have MSDN level 3 that includes MS SQL but no printed docs. This book may cover the same stuff that is in the manuals but I know it is easier than finding stuff in the on-line help.