This Weeks GiveAway:

[Carl Trusiak]

We are giving away four copies of "Professional Java Data",
and the Author, Bjarki Holm, is on-line! (Some of you may already recognize him from his posts already )
Lets' all give him a warm JavaRanch Welcome!!!

[Bjarki Holm]

Thanks, Carl
------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Tracey Currier]

Hello Bjarki! What kind of data does your book address? I am interested in using Java with Oracle database so am learning JDBC. I also am learning Perl (may work in bioinformatics).
Thanks.

[Nick Kellett]

Hi Bjarki! I do a lot of website work connecting to back-end databases. So, I'm concerned with performance issues like query times (I guess most people are). I'm assuming your book has lots of tips on this? I'm always looking for good advice.

[Bjarki Holm]

Hello Tracey,
the book covers a lot of fields concerning data access with Java. A large part of the book is dedicated to object and relational databases and the JDBC API, so that would definitely benefit you if you are working with Oracle (actually, some of the case studies at the end of the book use Oracle for demonstration purposes).
But the book covers a lot more than just JDBC. To name but a few of the topics covered, we have SQLJ, EJB and distributed computing, JDO (Java Data Objects), JNDI, and more.
Please let me know if you need any more specific information, which I would gladly give
Cheers,
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data
[This message has been edited by Bjarki Holm (edited June 12, 2001).]

[Bjarki Holm]

Hi Nick,
yes, one section of the book deals with data access in a web-scenario (servlets-JSP-JDBC), and covers a lot of performance issues. What type of RDBMS are you using?

------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Serge Plourde]

Hi, does your book include a CD-ROM?
Which db driver do you suggest to use, while reading your book?
What are some of the "free" drivers available?
Thanks.

[Bjarki Holm]

It does not come with a CD-ROM. However, all the code in the book is downloadable from the Wrox website, free of charge, for anyone.
Generally, the book tries to steer away from using specific RDBMSs. Examples are usually given with Oracle, My SQL or SQL Server, so I would recommend using any one of these.
Cheers,
------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Nick Kellett]

MS-SQL 7 mostly. But I've used Oracle before and Access for a small project of my own. I'm competent enough to handle all the basic issues but performance is always an issue in a web app and it's the little details that really make an application shine - and I need experience to figure those out. Or that chapter in your book!

[Bjarki Holm]

In that case, Nick, you should consult chapter 9: Database Performance Issues, of the book. It covers all sorts of performance issues that can arise in database applications, and practical ways so solve them.
Additionally, most of the other chapters deal with performance issues in one way or another, in relations to their context (EJB, JDO, SQLJ, JDBC, etc.).
Cheers,

------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Nick Kellett]

Sounds great. I'm sure your book will complement Professional Java Server Programming, which is always open on my desk. Can you tell me a little more about why you included JNDI as Java Data?

[Jason Menard]

Anything in your book concerning XML? Particularly moving data in and out of an XML document from/to the database?
Thanks,
Jason

[Bjarki Holm]

Jason,
yes, there's a chapter or two on XML. Additionally, there is a detailed case study of an enterprise (fictious) web portal that communicates with a set of heterogenous content provides over the network with XML. The remote content providers provide, upon request from the web portal, content (articles, news, etc.) in XML format (retrieved from a database), and transport it using different methods of remote communications (HTTP, XML-RPC). This might interest you.

Cheers,
------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Bjarki Holm:
Jason,
yes, there's a chapter or two on XML. Additionally, there is a detailed case study of an enterprise (fictious) web portal that communicates with a set of heterogenous content provides over the network with XML. The remote content providers provide, upon request from the web portal, content (articles, news, etc.) in XML format (retrieved from a database), and transport it using different methods of remote communications (HTTP, XML-RPC). This might interest you.

Cheers,

Sounds great, thanks.

[Valdis Ozols]

Hello-
I am assuming that most of the ideas in the book can be run under Linux-I currently use SuSE 7.1 on the main machine that I am using to study Java, primarily because I like the command line interface with Linux. There are a number of good database programs that can be run under Linux. Which might be the easiest to learn so I can focus on Java?
Thank you.
------------------

[This message has been edited by Valdis Ozols (edited June 12, 2001).]

[Alex Ayzin]

Hello Bjarki,
Any information on DB2/UDB databases related issues? These questions are not widely discussed. Any advices?
Thanks,
--Alex

[Alex Ayzin]

Hello Bjarki,
Any information on DB2/UDB databases related issues? These questions are not widely discussed. Any advices?
Thanks,
--Alex

[Farooq Mehmood]

The table of contents show that this book has extensive information related to the JDBC and JDO etc.

[Bjarki Holm]

Alex,
the book tries to cover data manipulation from a general perspective, steering away from DBMS-specific stuff. In the case studies and the examples, SQL Server, mySQL and Oracle are mostly used, although I think there are a few mentions of DB2. But nothing devoted to the subject, I'm afraid.
Cheers,

------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Bjarki Holm]

Valdis,
yes, all the examples can be run under any operating system that supports the Java 2 runtime environment, which includes SuSE Linux.
What exactly do you mean by "database programs"? You can download and evaluate the example programs given in the chapters from the Wrox website, if that's what you mean.
Cheers,

------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[nabhilash]

Congrats Holm,
Waht i would be looking for is best DB performance tips with practical examples.Like using usage of Store Procedurs, Oracle Packages etc for web aplications. Does your book address these
issues
Cheers and Regards
Abhilash

[Abhilash Nair]

Cheers Holm,
Passing through the chatting, it seems to be the book would defiitely provide solutionts ot real issue problems.Overall Mr.Holm would be definitley aware of real life probs being regular adviser on Java Ranch Forums.
Congrats and whole heartly reccommended
Abhilash

[Bjarki Holm]

Thanks Abilash!
P.S. Just call me Bjarki
------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Bjarki Holm]

Nabilash,
as I mention here somewhere else in this forum, the book does indeed include a full chapter dedicated on performance issues. In addition, most of the chapters deal with performance issues in their relative context.
The book is not Oracle-specific; however, some of the case studies do use Oracle for RDBMS, and at least one of them demonstrates the usage of PL/SQL and such, if that's what you're asking about. For a detailed discussion on Oracle and Java, I would also recommend another title I co-authored; Oracle 8i Application Programming, which was published by Wrox last January.
Regards,

------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data
[This message has been edited by Bjarki Holm (edited June 13, 2001).]

[Anu]

Mr. Holm :
Does yr book throws some light on Connection pooling. How far does it talks abt Triggers, functions and stored procedures .
Thanx
Anukampa

[Bjarki Holm]

Anukampa,
yes, it covers all of these issues in detail. Triggers are mentioned briefly, although there is not much emphasis on that subject. Connection pooling, with JDBC 2.0, and stored procedures are covered in detail, in the context of system design, performance and security.


------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Kerry Shannon]

Hello Bjarki,
Does your book also provide examples for Informix db, or do the Oracle examples easily relate?

[Bjarki Holm]

Kerry,
the book contains very few Informix examples. Most of the examples use Oracle or SQL Server. But they can easily be integrated to other RDBMSs, such as Informix - there's not very tight integration with the database server in most of the examples.
Regards,

------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Kerry Shannon]

Bjarki,
Thanks for the info.
We are developing a time entry solution in VisualAge using DB2 in the WTE, but plan to switch over to the Informix db in production that supports our Payroll system. Just planning ahead and looking for any tips and things to avoid. We have the Informix JDBC installed ready for us.

[hanumanth reddy]

Does your book cover Connector architecture to connect to EIS

hanumanth reddy http://www.cyberdosti.com

[hanumanth reddy]

and also Does it covers the latest JDBC 3.0 specification
hanumanth reddy http://www.cyberdosti.com

[Bjarki Holm]

Hanumanth,
well, it's hard to fit everything in a single book...
It does cover the JDBC 3.0 specification, with practical examples and tutorial. None of the actual case studies use JDBC 3.0 specific features, since there were no JDBC 3.0 drivers available at the time of writing.
The J2EE Connector Architecture is not covered in relation to EIS, unfortunately. But I know Wrox has an upcoming title on J2EE by the end of the summer, so stay tuned!
Cheers,

------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Joe McGuire]

Hej Bjarki!
I see that you mentioned your book covers connection pooling, which has gotten my attention. I work mostly with WebLogic Server, and the new version 6.0 is big into multi-pools. Does the book also go into multi-pools, and/or Java Transaction Services? Tak!

[Bjarki Holm]

Hi Joe,
there is a lot of information on the Java Transaction Services. Chapter 20, Java Transaction API (JTA) and Java Transaction Service (JTS) covers these in detail. The subject is also pursued further in some of the EJB chapters.
One chapter covers in fact connection pooling with Weblogic, but does not go into multi-pools, although that's an interesting subject. Sorry
P.S. I'm not Danish, if that's what you're getting at with your salute I'm actually Icelandic.
Cheers,

[This message has been edited by Bjarki Holm (edited June 13, 2001).]

[Joel Cochran]

Since I never win anything and I have the patience of a gnat, I just ordered the book. I am in the design phase of a complete platform and database independent, full client GUI rewrite of our legacy application and I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one!
Thanks Bjarki!
------------------
I'm a soldier in the NetScape Wars...
Joel

[OLGA KREMIC]

Hi Bjarki,
I've just finished studing 'Beginning JAVA 2' - Ivor Horton.
Would you think attacking "Professional Java Data" would be a good step forward or it's too early?
Thanks, Olga

[vipul gupta1000]

Hello mr Bjarki..
I just want to know from you as to how is your book different from so many books available in the markets.
i read that it contains a number of things rangings from OOPS, UML ,Database Access
(JDBC),Database Performance Issues, JNDI, servlets , ejb.............etc.... etc.
But this is their in every book...
How is your book different and what do u think will be the selling popint of your book as compared to other books....

[sachin vyahalkar]

Hi Bjarki,
I am a student and as well as part time employee(Internet Database Assistant) in one company. We are doing one project in JSP and MySQL and we are having lots of problem with the Connection Pooling. Is the Professional Java Data book will be useful for that? Does it cover Connection Pooling Topics with MySQL Database and in you opinion how effective is that? We are using DBConnectionBroker for the Connection Pooling. Is there any other Connection Pooling that we can work on.
Waiting for reply.
Bye Bye
Sachin

[Bjarki Holm]

Hi Olga,
I'm actually not familiar with Beginning Java 2, but I think that it should be safe to move to Professional Java Data, if you are already familiar with the basics of Java, and wish to experience the options available in using Java with data access.
If you need more information, don't hesitate to let me know.
Cheers,

------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data

[Bjarki Holm]

Hi Sachin,
there is a lot of devotion on connection pooling in the book. I am a little familiar with the DBConnectionBroker packages (although I have never used them in an enterprise scenario), although they are not mentioned in the Java Data book. The book puts emphasis on connection pooling with the JDBC 2.0 optional packages (ConnectionPoolDataSource, connection caching with Oracle, etc.), which means that it should benefit everyone using a JDBC standard pooling mechanism.
If you're having problems with the DBConnectionBroker, you should maybe try go get a JDBC 2.0 compliant JDBC driver, which provides an implementation of the ConnectionPoolDataSource interface. Once such driver for My SQL, JDataConnect, is available from http://www.j-netdirect.com, at least with a 30-day trial. As I'm not much of a My SQL enthusiast, there might well be other, better drivers available (some of the other cowboys around might give you tips on this).
Let me know if you need more information on this.
Regards,
------------------
Bjarki Holm
Author of Professional Java Data
[This message has been edited by Bjarki Holm (edited June 13, 2001).]