books

Hi , i am new to certifications in general..
I would like to do the certification exam 70-431. However i want to study on my own instead of going to classes.
what if i get the microsoft e-learning books or microsoft press books? will this be enough in helpnig me with the course requirements?
what are the difference between the two e-learning and MS Press books?

I would recommend both the e-Learning and the MSPress books. (The eLearning is a bit on the light side.)

However, you MUST download and install SQL Server 2005, and be very familiar with how to accomplish most administrative tasks. The latest reports are that the test has a significant number of 'simulation' questions. Just studing books isn't enough according to several folks that have recently failed to pass.

|||Thanks Arnie,

I have been using sql2000 for some time now and have recently (8months) have been using sql 2005 .
Thanks for the tip on simulation questions..
there are heaps of books for 70-431 for MS Press books. Do i need to get 1 of them only or the whole lot.?.
( i am referencing to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcts/sql/default.mspx)

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While I won't 'tell' you that you have to buy certain books, personally, I consider the last four of those titles to be necessary 'reference' books for any dba.

They are all excellent resourses, and you will only 'grow out of' the first two titles. (Any book by Karen Delany is a MUST to own and read!)

Good luck.

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I have seen people fail this exam three times, I am not actively planning to take it but I have previous SQL Server certification. Install the product with at least one gig of ram and spend time with what is new in SQL Server 2005. Spend time with Management Studio Microsoft have added some things and have changed where others are located so if you know the product ask for where is all tasks, new query window, what is in the properties on the server level, database. What is moved to the surface area configuration tool. This will keep your reading for about one month. One more thing the index subsystem which ANSI SQL calls the physical is all new and it is very big. so spend time with the exam requirement document, bol and the product. Good luck.

Bitmask Multi-value report parameters

Hello all,
Is there any way to return a multi-value parameter as a sum of the
values instead of a comma seperated string?
For example, I have a table where one of the values is a bitmasked
number, representing a combination of 4 possible options.
I have the Report Parameter setup with Non-queried values. Ex. Opt1 = 1, Opt2 = 2, Opt3 = 4, Opt4 = 8.
And in my query, the WHERE clause is setup like: WHERE @.param &
ColumnX != 0
But of course, if I select multiple values for Opt1 and Opt3, it
returns 1,4 instead of 5.
Any suggestions?
Thanks - JasonYour parameter can be mapped to an expression. Query parameter and Report
Parameters are two different things. RS automatically creates the report
parameter for you so it seems like they are the same thing.
To do this is a two step process:
1. In layout tab, Report Menu ->Report Parameters. Change the name of the
parameter so it does not equal the name in your query.
2. Dataset tab, click on the ..., parameters tab. In the right column click
on the mapping and change to an expression which brings up the expression
builder. Have the expression builder change this to the way you want. You
might need to create some code behind report to do this.
I suggest whipping together a little VB test app to work out the code to
convert a comma separated string into a bitmask.
Bruce Loehle-Conger
MVP SQL Server Reporting Services
"Jason" <flajason@.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1176830583.305883.64460@.n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> Hello all,
> Is there any way to return a multi-value parameter as a sum of the
> values instead of a comma seperated string?
> For example, I have a table where one of the values is a bitmasked
> number, representing a combination of 4 possible options.
> I have the Report Parameter setup with Non-queried values. Ex. Opt1 => 1, Opt2 = 2, Opt3 = 4, Opt4 = 8.
> And in my query, the WHERE clause is setup like: WHERE @.param &
> ColumnX != 0
> But of course, if I select multiple values for Opt1 and Opt3, it
> returns 1,4 instead of 5.
> Any suggestions?
> Thanks - Jason
>