Scripting XML and WMI for Microsoft® SQL ServerTM 2000: Professional Developer′s Guide (Professional Developer′s Guide Series) - Softcover

Martinsson, Tobias

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471399515 ISBN 13: 9780471399513

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2001

Synopsis

A quick–start guide to mastering all of SQL Server 2000′s hot new Web development and database programming features
SQL Server 2000′s new XML features, Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and scripting capabilities make it easier than ever for Web developers to create and manage flexible, scalable database applications optimized for the Internet––especially e–commerce applications. This quick–start guide is for Web developers and database programmers who need to get up to speed on these powerful new features. It begins with a no–frills tutorial on SQL programming basics and all the new SQL features. Then, step–by–step, it shows readers how to use those features to build cool database applications and to optimize database performance.

About this title

Review

"...a welcome and very highly recommended addition to the SQL Server reference shelf." (From Midwest Book Review, February 2001)

"In clear, accessible language.... I would highly recommend it to Web Developers." (CVu, December 2001)

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from Scripting XML and WMI for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 : Professional Developer's Guide

By Martinsson, Tobias

Foreword

Welcome to a book that was written for the Windows developer. This book presents two features of Microsoft SQL Server that have received much attention since the introduction of SQL Server 2000.

The first topic is Extensible Markup Language (XML) support in the database server. Database records are typically returned in flat, relational row sets. Today, however, it is possible to also return object-oriented, hierarchical XML document fragments from SQL Server. This technology is incorporated by both the Internet Information Services (IIS) and Microsoft Data Access Components (MDACs). Additionally, SQL Server's Transact SQL makes it possible to insert, update, and delete database records using XML document fragments. My goal with this book is to help you bring this technology into your professional development environment.

The second topic is SQL Server administration (using Windows Management Instrumentation [WMI]). WMI is the management infrastructure of choice for all Windows platforms. WMI provides a consistent interface for both local and remote administration tasks, making it extremely easy to use. As an SQL Server administrator, I think that you will find WMI intuitive to work with both locally and in distributed systems. Moreover, the WMI skills that you learn can be used to leverage systems management where WMI is supported.

How This Book Is Organized

This book is divided into three parts. The first two parts are about XML and WMI. Every part has its chapters organized to begin at the basic or fundamental level and to move on through the advanced level. The XML and WMI parts each end with a code-intensive chapter.

The third part of the book is reference material. This section is a logically structured set of collections of the SQL Server classes that are exposed through WMI. This section is a compact source for a quick lookup of classes.

Chapter 1 introduces SQL Server 2000 and walks through the installation of the SQL Server itself. This chapter also covers the installation of the WMI SQL Server Administration Provider.

Chapter 2 is a whistle-stop tour of XML. The sole focus of the chapter is the background and basics of XML and a broad view of programming basics for XML-related technologies. This chapter gets you started if you are jumping into this book without previous XML experience.

Chapter 3 deals with XML support in SQL Server. Targeting Web developers, the chapter starts with configuring IIS and SQL Server to work together and then continues with the basic forms of streaming XML from SQL Server over HTTP.

Chapter 4 defines the syntax by which SQL Server builds XML document fragments. I explain in detail the three modes that can be used for retrieving XML data.

Chapter 5 discusses annotated schemas and XPath expressions for locating SQL Server data. The chapter covers the creation of schemas and how to use them with SQL Server.

Chapter 6, as opposed to previous chapters, is not about retrieving XML data. Here, XML is used for mapping XML elements to columns of relational database tables, enabling XML content to be inserted, modified, and deleted in databases.

Chapter 7 deals with updategrams. Updategrams are XML-based documents for updating, inserting, and deleting data in relational database tables.

Chapter 8 contains examples and small discussions. The XML features are scripted in Active Server Pages and Windows Script Host by using the MDACs. Additionally, I demonstrate the object model for programmatically creating virtual directories that are mapped to SQL Server databases.

Chapter 9 introduces Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). I explain what WMI is, how it works, and the fundamentals about the Microsoft SQL Server implementation for WMI.

Chapter 10 introduces scripting WMI. The object model of the WMI scripting Application Programming Interface (API) is covered, and each object gets its own discussion. Some language peculiarities are also covered.

Chapter 11 is about WMI Query Language (WQL). I demonstrate different types of queries and describe programming with events.

Chapter 12 contains examples and small discussions. Different types of SQL Server WMI classes are demonstrated in a breadth that provides the essential knowledge to handle all SQL Server classes.

Who Should Read This Book?

A Windows developer who wants to learn the XML and WMI features of SQL Server should read this book. I do not assume that you understand XML or WMI; rather, I will tell you that a basic knowledge of SQL Server and relational databases is helpful. Furthermore, the WMI class reference will in places require a bit more than just a basic knowledge of SQL Server before it can be fully utilized. It is fortunately merciful on details.

Tools You Will Need

Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 or 2000 must be installed before you can run the examples in the book. Also, you must have obtained and installed the XML technology for SQL Server and the WMI provider for SQL Server 7.0. The XML technology and WMI Provider is included in SQL Server 2000.

To use the Web samples in this book, please ensure that an Active Server Pages-enabled Web server is installed.

Finally, if you are not using Windows 2000 or Windows Millennium Edition (which ship with WMI as a core component), you will need to install WMI by downloading it from Microsoft's Web site.

What Is on the CD-ROM?

The CD-ROM contains the scripts presented in the book. There are also scripts to demonstrate useful concepts with SQL Server's XML and WMI capabilities. A separate HTML-file with links will take you to online resources on SQL Server and WMI.

Summary

From here, we will take the plunge into SQL Server 2000 with scripting XML and WMI.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0471399515
• ISBN 13: 9780471399513
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432