>I have a lot of studying to do to get ready for this. Do you have any books that you'd recommend for studying SQL Server? I need to send off for their time delimited version of SQL Server so I can get some hands-on time with the product. A fellow at our VFP users group in Kansas City said he was able to pass the SQL Server test (but just barely) after a measure of "book larnin" without ever having developed anything with it. I'd rather get into it a little deeper than that. Have you built anything using an SQL Server back end?

Gregg,
I haven't built a thing yet, I'm one of those types who likes to do 'book larnin' first then tackle the hands-on head first. Plus too I'm not formally studying for an exam, but rather I have a long projet coming up later this year where I'll be working with strictly a SQL Server backend... so I've been told to start hitting the books awhile and following is the material I'm working through that was recommended to me by JVP & Mike L.:

Teach Yourself Transact-SQL in 21 days by McEwan & Solomon (ISBN 0672310457)
Teach Yourself SQL Server 7.0 in 21 Days by Richard Waymire & Sawtell (ISBN 0672312905)
MSDN resources - motherload of good learning info at http://msdn.microsoft.com/sqlserver/ under libraries & knowledgebase.
Inside SQL Server 7.0 by M$ Press (ISBN 0735605173 )

Now that last book is one everybody fluent with SQL Server considers to be the ultimate reference, but personally I was told I wouldnt get much out of it until I was comfortable with SQL Server... so I haven't bought that one, yet :) The first two I also personally recommend. the T-SQL book I absorbed in about week thanks to my VFP experience, and Waymire's book seems to be another I would easily absorb if I had more of a personal interest in this area (I'd much rather do front-end & mid tier stuff, so this whole Adventure in SQL Server is something I'm only doing out of discipline... I sit and scowl at my stack of reading for atleast 20 minutes every night before digging in)

HTH & Good Luck Gregg, I might just end up picking up a SQL Server exam at the end of the year if dont use my beta exam vouchers for Visual Studio realted stuff. So I'd be interested to hear how you make out.