Review of Oracle9i Application Server Portal Handbook (Osborne ORACLE Press Series) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

Oracle Portal allows you to "Webify" a database, as well as to create a general-purpose portal for your users.The ideas and techniques from this book helped me get a database of mine onto the Web quickly and efficiently.Everything you'll need is there, from the initial installation of the product, to on-going administration of your portal(s).In between is a thorough treatment of what should be done to facilitate browser-based access to your data.

The book doesn't just dump syntax on you.It explains what portals are, and how to plan for one before building it.Key features of the Oracle product are explained clearly, first at a high level, so that you will later understand what you're doing when it gets to "click here, and type there."And, when it does get down to the lowest-level details, the book reflects the care that the authors must have taken to ensure accuracy.

All-in-all, a thorough treatment that should be indispensable to new Portal developers, while still offering value to all but the most advanced and experienced ones.

Product Description
From the official publishers of Oracle Press books, here is an essential handbook for DBAs working with Oracle Portal. The book explains how to build and deploy portal-driven Web sites using Oracle Portal and demonstrates methods for rapidly creating forms, reports, and graphics applications. Written by a member of the Oracle Portal Customer Advisory Board (CAB), this Oracle-authorized resource includes Oracle Portal 3.0 on CD-ROM.

From the Back Cover
Build and Maintain Self-Service, Integrated Enterprise Portals

Leverage the power of the Internet and Oracle9i Application Server Portal to organize and enable access to critical business information--and gain strategic competitive advantages for your organization. Officially authorized by Oracle Corporation, Oracle9i Application Server Portal Handbook explains how to use all the features of this powerful product to build enterprise information portals for integrated and personalized access to business information, Web content, and legacy applications. You'll learn to seamlessly publish content on an intranet, develop robust Web applications, implement security features, and maintain peak performance.

• Install and configure Oracle9i Application Server Portal
• Define user, system, and architectural requirements
• Design an enterprise information portal (EIP)
• Enable distributed administration, user-generated content, and flexible searching with Portal Content Areas
• Use the built-in portlets for granular, secure, and standardized access
• Develop Enterprise Forms and Reports
• Use the built-in graphical display features, such as Charts, Calendars, and Hierarchies
• Tune, monitor, and maintain the Portal

3 CD-ROMs include official Oracle9i Application Server Portal -- a $50 value!

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Review of How To Be a Successful Technical Trainer: Core Skills for Instructor Certification (Paperback)

This is a very useful book to help prepare for the CTT exam; and considering the fact that it isn't that expensive - I recommend it. However, be aware that it is only a helpful tool and not anywhere close to a complete or comprehensive study guide - although, as far as I know, this is the best thing available. That is because there is almost nothing else available. You can go out to the Comptia site and through them get official materials - however, these materials are EXTREMELY VAGUE & EXTREMELY SUBJECTIVE. In my mind, they really aren't worth getting; and I've had both the Competencies Booklet and their nearly useless Videotape.
This book weighs in at close to 400 pages, but it is a really quick read - even for a slow-poke reader like me. And the 2 authors break the book down to analyze the competencies in real human terms, as opposed to the vague generalities that fill the official booklet. They also provide lots of very helpful & useful observations that will help you as an instructor - even if they don't relate directly to the exam.
There are 2 shortfalls with this book however.
ONE, they have quite a number of practice questions in the book. But these will not prepare you in the least, for the real CTT written exam. Their questions are quite good; but way too straight-forward.The CTT exam is the most insane, subjective exam I've ever seen; and as a bootcamp instructor for nearly 3 years; I've taken close to 100 certification exams from about 8 different vendors. Their questions are a good start, but you need to go out to google and search on "CTT practice". I found 2 practice exams when I took this... Both of these practice question sets were wild & flakey;but they got me in the right frame of mind for the insanity that is the: "CTT written exam" - it was much crazier. And without seeing those practice questions, I would not have even scored 25%, let alone pass. There is a certain type of wrong /insane answer that you need to learn how to recognize in order to pass that test.
THE SECOND SHORTFALL WITH THIS BOOK IS THAT IT SAYS NOTHING TO HELP YOU WITH THE VIDEOTAPE YOU MUST SUBMIT AS THE 2ND STEP TOWARDS THE CTT Certification. It does reprint the CTT handbook that was current when the book was published, and that does contain references to the videotape you must prepare - but it is again, extremely vague. The official videotape that you can get through COMPtia, is likewise, extremely vague, and in my opinion
nearly worthless.
...

Product Description
This one-of-a-kind guidebook is designed to help you meet the need for competent trainers in the exploding technology sector. Follow instructional principles approved by the International Board of Standards for Training Performance. Learn to use questions, group dynamics, feedback, and other training tools effectively. Thoroughly addresses training styles and learning needs in 14 delineated principles.

From the Back Cover
As an expert in your technical area, you may be indispensable to those around you. But, until you become a certified trainer, you won't earn the career or financial recognition you deserve. This one-of-a-kind guidebook is designed to help you meet the need for competent trainers in the exploding technology sector. Follow instructional principles approved by the International Board of Standards for Training Performance. In addition to providing step-by-step teaching assistance, and developing your career, this invaluable resource may also help you become a more informed technical expert!

• Apply clearly defined and illustrated principles to your technical training regimen
• Communicate effectively with learners of diverse background and experience
• Convey authority while maintaining your personal style
• Provide positive reinforcement and motivational incentives designed to reach all learners
• Synthesize course information, personalities, and instructional media
• Cultivate multiple training styles to meet individuated learning needs
• Design coaching and feedback strategies, including student evaluations
• Pace lessons appropriately to maximize information absorption
• Determine objectives, evaluate the audience, then deliver effective presentations
• Accommodate training certifications that recognize CTT, including Novel's CNI,Microsoft certifications, Adobe's ACE, Corel's CCI, and Lotus' CLI

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