SQL Server Books Online is flabby and bloated. The structure and style are inconsistent. You can't find what you want. I know. I use BOL too when I'm writing T-SQL or learning an unfamiliar feature.
We're fixing that
We're fixing that, at least in SQL Server "Denali." We're reducing BOL itself - that is, the "product documentation" - to the minimum that you need to use the product successfully. This core documentation will now include just 2 things:
- An introduction to each significant feature and its prerequisites.
- How To information that lets you use the product successfully, with only the minimum of required conceptual information.
How bad is it?
Take a look at this horrifying example from the Bad Old Days. This is the existing table of contents for SQL Server Full-Text Search. It's a jumble of concepts, how to's, and "grouping" topics that don't even contain any useful content. (Please scroll patiently - this post continues below.)
How are we going to make that better?
In the future, we just give you the how-to information that you need to use the feature successfully, along with a feature overview. Here's an example. These are the new topics for Statistical Semantic Search in SQL Server "Denali." Contrast this with what you saw above.
| What you get | Why it's better |
|
|
Distinct topic types, and only a few of them
Related tasks grouped together in comprehensive topics
- Install and configure
- Query or use
- Manage and monitor
|
What's inside?
Here's what one of those consolidated How To topics looks like inside.
| What you get | Why it's better |
|
|
Related tasks and required concepts all in one topic.
Tasks first, background information second if you need it.
Concise task descriptions! (And you're right, I still need to add a line of sample code there.)
|
When will we see these improvements in SQL Server Books Online?
In CTP3 for SQL Server "Denali" later this year.
This is a big deal
We're finally going to start writing a lightweight manual of customer tasks and solutions, and stop writing a verbose catalog of Microsoft product features. We hope you'll like it.
-Doug