Product Description

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard programming language for generating, manipulating, and retrieving information from a relational database. If you're working with a relational database - whether you're writing applications, performing administrative tasks, or generating reports - you need to know how to interact with your data. Even if you are using a tool that generates SQL for you, such as a reporting tool, there may still be cases where you need to bypass the automatic generation feature and write your own SQL statements. To help you attain this fundamental SQL knowledge, look to "Learning SQL", an introductory guide to SQL, designed primarily for developers just cutting their teeth on the language. "Learning SQL" moves you quickly through the basics and then on to some of the more commonly used advanced features. Among the topics discussed are: the history of the computerized database; SQL Data Statements - those used to create, manipulate, and retrieve data stored in your database; example statements include select, update, insert, and delete; SQL Schema Statements - those used to create database objects, such as tables, indexes, and constraints; how data sets can interact with queries; the importance of subqueries; data conversion and manipulation via SQL's built-in functions; and how conditional logic can be used in Data Statements. Best of all, "Learning SQL" talks to you in a real-world manner, discussing various platform differences that you're likely to encounter and offering a series of chapter exercises that walk you through the learning process. Whenever possible, the book sticks to the features included in the ANSI SQL standards. This means you'll be able to apply what you learn to any of several different databases; the book covers MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle Database, but the features and syntax should apply just as well (perhaps with some tweaking) to IBM DB2, Sybase Adaptive Server, and PostgreSQL. Put the power and flexibility of SQL to work. With "Learning SQL" you can master this important skill and know that the SQL statements you write are indeed correct.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #208261 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 289 pages

Review
"If you have been avoiding coming to grips with SQL, or if you feel that you are only just coping with putting together queries and designing tables, then this is the book you need to understand what is going on." - Mike James, VSJ, July/August 2006

From the Publisher
This introductory guide gets you up and running on SQL in short order. A series of helpful chapter exercises teaches you how to generate, manipulate, and retrieve the data stored in your organization's database. Ideal for anyone writing applications, performing administrative tasks, or generating reports.

About the Author
Alan Beaulieu has been designing, building, and implementing custom database applications for over 13 years. He currently runs his own consulting company that specializes in designing Oracle databases and supporting services in the fields of Financial Services and Telecommunications. In building large databases for both OLTP and OLAP environments, Alan utilizes such Oracle features as Parallel Query, Partitioning, and Parallel Server. Alan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research from the Cornell University School of Engineering. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two daughters and can be reached at albeau_mosql@yahoo.com.

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Book
After wanting to get a better grasp on SQL and its Syntax I bought this book along with it other companion "SQL Cookbook".

It has a nicely written and easy to understand flow with exercises at the end of each chapter. I find this a great help as when you have read the chapter, you can try and solve the exercises and hopefully it will have sunk in more.
The hardest section is on subqueries as it seem that you can put them everywhere(ugggh).

It also explains the nuances with SQL Server and Oracle, as the syntax changes for little things like altering tables and transaction.
So in all a very good book that will prove a useful reference and tool for improving ones knowledge of SQL.

Fantastic book for begginers
I'm not a programmer and I bought this book having no idea of SQL, and I can say I learned a lot from it. It's easy to understand and it's well structured. Maybe it doesn't cover every aspect of SQL, but it's the place to start to write your first queries. Give it a try, you won't regret!