Review of Active Directory for Dummies (Paperback)

Doing Active Directory right was important to my small technology company, so I bought more than ten books on Active Directory, Windows 2000 Server, and DNS. This Dummies book I took home and planned to skim through itfirst, thinking it would be a nice quick introduction.

The book gotmislaid, and I did not pick it up again until I was nicely up to speed withActive Directory and had done several installations. I read it anyway on aSaturday night as a quick review and was surprised at the clear style, niceorganization, and adequacy of its coverage of the subject matter.

If youhave just a day or two to get up to speed with this important new Microsofttechnology, this book will certainly do. System administrators andarchitects will want a more technical treatment.

Product Description
Active Directory, a fundamental component of Windows 2000, is revolutionizing the way people design and manage networks. Whether you are a savvy system administrator or are new to networking and information technology, Active Directory For Dummies helps you understand this wonderful new operating system technology.

This unpretentious resource presents the fundamentals of Active Directory and then moves right into planning, implementing, and managing it. Active Directory For Dummies offers a clear explanation of the program and a cataloging of its benefits and buzzwords. Explore the following topics in easy-to-understand language:

• Prepare your environment for a shift to Active Directory.
• Consider logical structure issues like planning the DNS namespace, designing the tree, and defining an organizational unit (OU) model.
• Build a model of an Active Directory domain and create your first objects.
• Migrate from an existing environment to an Active Directory environment.
• Manage security, users, resources, and replication traffic within the Active Directory tree.
• Understand how the Active Directory Services Interface works with other Microsoft technology.

Active Directory For Dummies also includes cool Web links for information on the program as well as a special section on troubleshooting common problems that may arise during installation and operation of Active Directory. The enclosed CD-ROM offers you 60-day test-drive versions of Visio Professional and Visio Enterprise as well as trial versions of Entevo DirectMigrate2000, EtherPeek 4.0, EtherHelp, TokenPeek, and TokenHelp.

From the Back Cover
Visio Professional Test Drive plus migration tools on CD-ROM

Plain-English explanations of trees, forests, and other Active Directory concepts

Harness the power of Active Directory for everything from migration to network management If you're an IT professional, Active Directory is probably the one feature of Windows 2000 you're most excited about. But because it's so different from NT, it's also a little scary. Relax! With this friendly guide at your side, you'll quickly get a handle on this powerful network management tool - and jumpstart your deployment of Windows 2000. all this on the bonus CD-ROM 60-day Test Drive version of Visio Professional and Visio Enterprise Trial versions of Entevo DirectMigrate2000, EtherPeek, 4.0, EtherHelp, TokenPeek, and TokenHelp Plus all original Visio files for figures in the book so that you don't have to create your Active Directory diagrams from scratch! PC with Pentium 90 or faster running Windows 95 or later; or NT 4 or later.

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Review of FileMaker Pro Business Applications: For versions 8 and 8.5 (Paperback)

Just popped on to Amazon to see what other books are for Filemaker Pro and thought I would check the rating of the book I am currently using.

Lets me describe the book by chapters:
1: Describing a DDB
2: Other Filemaker products you can buy
3: Installing the program and viewing existing DDB records.
4: Starting to build a DDB, making fields, adding tables, and lists
5: Different types of fields; text, number, date, calculation....
6: Layout types, standard, columnar, table, label
7: Relational Database Design. How to make relationships
8: Calculation fields
9 Using script maker
10: Planning a business solution

11-22: Part two (starting at page 143), each chapter describes one of the authors DDB's and how he made it. The problem is he says, `put a portal here' but does not tell you how, or how to actually get the data to pop into the windows the way you need it to. He leaves out critical details that prevent you from creating something.

Part III (have not read this part yet)
Deployment options
Server 8
Security issues
Getting Data into and out of
FM with other applications
Web publishing

Ch. 7 was the only chapter that was of any use to me!
The book:
Does not describe very well when or why to use various things (portals, look-ups),
I can not figure out how to make a Portal that works properly
I can not figure out how to make a Look-up that works properly
I had to download one of the authors DDB's and dissect it to figure out how to make a relationship work properly.

I'm buying another book!
Rob

Product Description
The ability to manage information is the key to businesses thriving in an increasingly competitive market. With FileMaker® Pro Business Applications, small business owners and workgroup managers can find out how to write custom database applications in order to add value to critical business information. After demonstrating how easily a database can be written using FileMaker Pro, this book presents a set of 11 business database case studies, all of which can be easily adapted by readers for their own data management requirements. The final section of the book offers ideas on deploying database solutions over a network and the web.Learn how to: Build a database and design layouts. Create relationships between tables. Automate tasks using scripts and buttons. Secure data through the use of accounts and privileges. Exchange data with other applications.

About the Author
Arthur W. Evans has been designing database solutions for business, government, education, and charity sector clients using FileMaker for over 16 years, having first used FileMaker to analyze coastal erosion rates around the UK for his doctoral thesis. He has helped clients ranging in size from one-person bands to the United Nations add value to business information using FileMaker Pro, and has also written training materials and technical papers for FileMaker, Apple, and Claris. His professional practice, AWE Consultancy, is a member of the FileMaker Solutions Alliance and has offices in London and Northern Ireland.

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Review of MSDE Bible (Paperback)

I don't understand, why do you write a book that contains nothing but information about SQL Server, and call it MSDE bible? In my opinion just trying to sell copies of a rehash of other ideas. I bought this book in hopes of really learning the best way to do things in MSDE without the benefit of the GUI Enterprise Manager in SQL Server. Well in a word this book does not even come close. There is one puny little chapter on SQLDMO which leaves much to be desired. To say the least I am extremely irritated that they 'show you how to do this in MSDE by explaning how to do it in Enterprise Manager in SQL Server.' Does anyone else find that odd? I mean please if I wanted to know how to do something in SQL Server I would have bought a SQL Server book, instead I feel like I have been duped into buying a book that is misrepresentative of its contents. Do not waste your money, this book will not help you learn MSDE.

Product Description
Developers, programmers, software architects, technical managers, and technical support staff who work with MSDE (Microsoft Data Engine) applications will all benefit from this book, which guides you through everything from installation and configuration of MSDE to administration and deployment.

Some of the topics covered in this reference include: the MSDE architecture; database structures; data retrieval and modification; database administration; securing MSDE applications; database monitoring and maintenance; and packaging SQL in stored procedures.

The CD-ROM included with the book contains all the example code.

From the Back Cover
If MSDE can do it, you can do it too… If you're a developer, programmer, software architect, or technical support person in an environment using MSDE applications, you'll benefit from this book. Providing comprehensive coverage of MSDE's features, this guide demonstrates how to make the most of this database engine using SQL Server Enterprise Manager, Access 2000, SQL commands, Visual Studio®, and DMO. Plus, you'll get pointers on providing scalable database solutions, securing your applications, monitoring and maintaining your databases, and more! Inside, you'll find complete coverage of Microsoft® SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine

• Determine when and why to use MSDE
• Install and configure MSDE
• Understand the MSDE architecture and database structures
• Build custom applications
• Implement security features
• Deploy and administer MSDE applications
• Retrieve and modify data
• Monitor and maintain databases
• Migrate existing solutions that use Microsoft Jet Database Engine

The CD-ROM includes all example code from the book Shareware programs are fully functional, free trial versions of copyrighted programs. If you like particular programs, register with their authors for a nominal fee and receive licenses, enhanced versions, and technical support. Freeware programs are free, copyrighted games, applications, and utilities. You can copy them to as many PCs as you like-free-but they have no technical support.

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Review of Googlepedia: The Ultimate Google Resource (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

As webweaver and search optimizer for my company, I'm always on Internet information overload. There's a lot to be said for any book that gives me ready access to the many topics I need to access only occasionally, as well as the many others I didn't even know I needed to know about. This book excels at taking you into the confusing fine points of using Google. Blogger tags vs. HTML? I finally got it. Self-hosting your blog? Got that, too. The subtleties of sitemaps ... at last! Yes, with a great deal of effort and eye strain you could find much of this information on Google itself. I, for one, am happy to have so much information compiled and printed next to my workstation and to have the author's knowing voice guide me over the speed bumps. A good investment because of the hours of searching it saved me, though probably doomed to a short shelf life. I only wish the book came with an update feature ...

Product Description

Googlepedia® Third Edition

The all-encompassing book about everything Google. Not only will you learn advanced search techniques, but you also will learn how to master Google's web and software tools. It's all inside!

Google Chrome

Google's new web browser

Google Gadgets

create your own gadgets

Google Gears

turn web applications into desktop applications

Android

use Google's phone

Blogger

create your own personal blog

Gmail

Google's web-based email service

Google Web Search

the most popular search on the Internet

Google AdSense

put profit-making ads on their own website

Google AdWords

buy keyword advertising on the Google site

Google Product Search

find hot deals without ever leaving your office chair

Google Calendar

a web-based scheduling and public calendar service

Google Desktop

search documents and emails on your PC's hard drive

Google Docs

create and share web-based word processing and spreadsheet documents

Google Earth

a fun way to view 3D maps of any location on Earth

YouTube

view and share videos over the Web

Google Groups

a collection of user-created message forums

Google Maps

maps, satellite images, and driving directions for any location

GOOGLE MAY BE THE INTERNET'S MOST POPULAR SEARCH SITE, BUT IT'S ALSO MORE THAN JUST SIMPLE WEB SEARCHES.

• Use Google developer tools and APIs

• Create MySpace and Facebook applications with OpenSocial

• Use Google Gears to turn web-based applications into desktop applications

• Use Google to search for news headlines, scholarly articles, and the best prices on the Web

• Read and respond to blog postings and create your own blogs with Blogger

• View the latest viral videos with YouTube

• Use Android, the new Google phone

• Use Google with the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch

• Create maps and driving directions with Google Maps

• Use Google's free web-based email service Gmail

• Create your own custom Google Maps mashups–and put customized Google search on your own website

Michael Miller has written more than 80 nonfiction how-to books, including Que's Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics, YouTube for Business, and Photopedia: The Ultimate Digital Photography Resource.

Category: Internet

Covers: Google

User Level: Intermediate to Advanced

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