| This book takes you on a self-guided tour of all the areas covered by the Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition exam and teaches you the specific skills you'll need to achieve your MCSE certification. You'll also find helpful hints, tips, real-world examples, and exercises, as well as references to additional study materials. Specifically, this book is set up to help you in the following ways: -
Organization. The book is organized by individual exam objectives. Every objective you need to know for the Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition exam is covered in this book. We have attempted to present the objectives in an order that is as close as possible to that listed by Microsoft. However, we have not hesitated to reorganize them where needed to make the material as easy as possible for you to learn. We have also attempted to make the information accessible in the following ways: -
The full list of exam topics and objectives is included in this introduction. -
Each chapter begins with a list of the objectives to be covered. -
Each chapter also begins with an outline that provides you with an overview of the material and the page numbers where particular topics can be found. -
The objectives are repeated where the material most directly relevant to it is covered (unless the whole chapter addresses a single objective). -
Information on where the objectives are covered is also conveniently condensed on the CD that accompanies this book. -
Instructional Features. This book has been designed to provide you with multiple ways to learn and reinforce the exam material. The following are some of the helpful methods : -
Case Studies . Given the case study basis of the exam, we designed this Training Guide around them. Case studies appear in each chapter and also serve as the basis for exam questions. -
Objective Explanations . As mentioned previously, each chapter begins with a list of the objectives covered in the chapter. In addition, immediately following each objective is an explanation in a context that defines it more meaningfully. -
Study Strategies . The beginning of the chapter also includes strategies for approaching the studying and retaining of the material in the chapter, particularly as it is addressed on the exam. -
Exam Tips . Exam tips appear in the margin to provide specific exam- related advice. Such tips may address what material is covered (or not covered) on the exam, how it is covered, mnemonic devices, or particular quirks of that exam. -
Review Breaks and Summaries . Crucial information is summarized at various points in the book in lists or tables. Each chapter ends with a summary as well. -
Key Terms . A list of key terms appears at the end of each chapter. -
Notes . These appear in the margin and contain various kinds of useful information, such as tips on technology or administrative practices, historical background on terms and technologies, or side commentary on industry issues. -
Warnings . When using sophisticated information technology, there is always the potential for mistakes or even catastrophes that occur because of improper application of the technology. Warnings appear in the margin to alert you to such potential problems. -
In the Field . These more extensive discussions cover material that may not be directly relevant to the exam, but which is useful as reference material or in everyday practice. In the Field may also provide useful background or contextual information necessary for understanding the larger topic under consideration. -
Exercises . Found at the end of each chapter in the "Apply Your Knowledge" section, exercises are performance-based opportunities for you to learn and assess your knowledge. -
Extensive Practice Test Options. The book provides numerous opportunities for you to assess your knowledge and practice for the exam. The practice options include the following: -
Review Questions . These open -ended questions appear in the "Apply Your Knowledge" section at the end of each chapter. They allow you to quickly assess your comprehension of what you just read in the chapter. Answers to the questions are provided later in a separate section entitled "Answers to Review Questions." -
Exam Questions . These questions also appear in the "Apply Your Knowledge" section. Use them to help you determine what you know and what you need to review or study further. Answers and explanations for them are provided in a separate section entitled "Answers to Exam Questions." -
Practice Exam . A Practice Exam is included in the "Final Review" section. The Final Review section and the Practice Exam are discussed later in this section. -
PrepLogic . The special Training Guide version of the PrepLogic software included on the CD-ROM provides further opportunities for you to assess how well you understood the material in this book. NOTE For a description of the Que PrepLogic, Preview Edition software, please see Appendix D, "Using the PrepLogic Practice Tests, Preview Edition Software."
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Final Review. This part of the book provides you with three valuable tools for preparing for the exam. -
Fast Facts . This condensed version of the information contained in the book will prove extremely useful for last-minute review. -
Study and Exam Preparation Tips . Read this section early on to help you develop study strategies. It also provides you with valuable exam-day tips and information on exam/question formats, such as adaptive tests and case study-based questions. -
Practice . A practice exam is included. Questions are written in styles similar to those used on the actual exam. Use it to assess your understanding of the material in the book. The book includes several other features, such as a section titled "Suggested Readings and Resources" at the end of each chapter, that direct you toward further information that could aid you in your exam preparation or your actual work. There are valuable appendixes as well, including a glossary (Appendix A), an overview of the Microsoft certification program (Appendix B), and a description of what is on the CD-ROM (Appendix C). These, and all the other book features mentioned previously, will supply you with thorough exam preparation. For more information about the exam or the certification process, contact Microsoft: Microsoft Education: 800-636-7544 Internet: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Services/MSEdCert World Wide Web: http://www.microsoft.com/train_cert CompuServe Forum: GO MSEDCERT |
