Ben-Gan has been a Microsoft MVP for SQL Server since 1999; he teaches and consults internationally on T-SQL (Transact-SQL) querying, programming and query tuning. He presents a practical text for T-SQL programmers, DBAs, architects, analysts, and SQL Server power users who have just started working with SQL Server and need to write queries and develop code using Transact-SQL. The text takes users through the first steps in T-SQL, the Microsoft SQL Server dialect of the standard ANSI-SQL language, and teaches readers the theory behind T-SQL querying and programming, and how to develop T-SQL code to query and modify data; also included is an overview of programmable objects. The text covers language elements that were introduced in recent versions of SQL Server, including SQL Server 2008; where other language elements are discussed, Ben-Gan specifies the version in which they were added. The text is supplemented with a companion website. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)