Dale Withroder said
I read the book, followed the examples. This was a worthy introduction to SSIS and gave me a good start on my new job writing ETLs.
There are typos, a few code errors. The writing can be uneven. Somehow I survived. You will too.
DBguru said
Yes, authors are very knowledgeable, but the book is very difficult to read and to learn SSIS.
I am DBA/ Data Warehousing / ETL developer with over 10 years in the field and had real trouble following the "story" and small print that dominates the book. WORX should really do a better job in editing and formatting the book. The code examples are very difficult to read and follow. No consistent presentation format. In many examples authors make statements and comment before presenting the problem. The whole book written in a "story" style and lacks structure and formatting to make it more readable. Many errors and WORX Forums for the book is no help. Problems and questions posted on Forum are neglected and not addressed. It is really a shame when a book with a lot of good info is so badly written and edited.
Phil P said
So far this book is great for basics. It gives a great overview of all the options you have to create a SSIS package. I had previously purchased the expert version because I had DTS experience and realized SSIS was totally different. So I bought the professional version and it's filled in a lot of gaps. It's also got nice tutorials at the end of the chapters that help you to create a basic SSIS package which is incredibly helpful for learning the new tools that are available.
Clyde LeBonz said
I originally intended to give this book two (2) stars, just because I was hacked off at the terrible index, but the content is worth at least three stars. The problem is locating the specific content you need.
Example: User-defined package variables are often critical pieces of a SSIS package. Want to find out how to get/set package variable values from an Execute SQL Task? Well, you won't get anywhere trying to look up "Variables" in the index. Just when you think the text does not address this important issue, you browse the Execute SQL Task section and -- lo! -- there is an extended discussion on how to access package variables from SQL queries. But none of it is referenced by the "Variables" entry in the index.
Brian Knight, by all accounts, is a good writer who knows his material, but any book that has ten (!) authors can't help but display a variety of writing styles and competencies. The book is adequate as a learning tool, but not as a reference. If the publisher had been in less of a hurry to get to market, Mr. Knight might have been allowed to take on fewer collaborators and produced a more coherent book. And a more complete index.
James A. Russell said
If you're needing an SSIS primer, this is a great place to start. There are definitely holes the "how to" part of some sections. However, you really get a good idea of what's possible in SSIS. If you want script specifics, you may need to search for it on MSDN or the web in general--but, at least you know what to look for.
Buy this before you buy the Expert companion title if you're new to figuring out how things work in SSIS. I had several years of experience with DTS packages, and this book was a perfect start for me.
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