This book is too broad in the subject area that it addresses and ends up lacking in topics where details are important. The amount of disparate bits and pieces gives the book a messy and shallow feeling. How this book attracted 5 stars from other reviewers baffles me. Don't be fooled by the thickness of the book. Most "jack of all trade" books are thick and useless. Try "SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example" by Guerrero and Rojas for a more focused text.