Product Description

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standardized query language for requesting information from a database. Historically, SQL has been the choice for database management systems running on minicomputers and mainframes. Increasingly, however, SQL is being adapted to PC database systems because it supports distributed databases - databases that are spread out over several computer systems, so that several users on a local-area network can access the same database simultaneously. Although there are different dialects of SQL, it is the closest thing to a standard query language that currently exists. "SQL in a Nutshell" is a practical command reference to the Structured Query Language (SQL99), helping readers learn how their favourite database product supports any standard SQL command. This book presents each of the SQL commands and describes its use in both commercial (Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Oracle 8i) and open source (MySQL, PostgreSQL 7.0) implementations. Each command reference includes the command syntax (by vendor, if the syntax differs across implementations), a description, and informative examples that illustrate important concepts and uses. "SQL in a Nutshell" is more than a reference guide for experienced SQL programmers, analysts, and database administrators. It also aims to provide a learning resource for novice and auxiliary SQL users such as system administrators, users of packaged client/server products, and consultants who need to be familiar with the various SQL dialects across many platforms.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #575566 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
SQL in a Nutshell applies the classic O'Reilly Nutshell format to Structured Query Language (SQL), the elegant descriptive language that's used to create and manipulate stores of data. This book explains the purpose and proper syntax of hundreds of SQL statements as defined in four major SQL implementations, detailing each entry with explanatory text and illustrative examples. Perhaps best of all, authors Kevin and Daniel Kline feature MySQL in their coverage, giving it billing equal to that of Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and PostgreSQL. Their inclusion of open-source MySQL, which carries no license fee in most situations, is recognition of its growing popularity and suitability for serious database applications. It also improves this book's appeal to Unix and Linux developers.

The majority of this slender book comprises eminently useful syntax documentation (which is in the style of Unix man pages, with bracketed options and monospace arguments) and the other information that's specific to individual statements and functions. Additionally, it includes a relatively small amount of conceptual information, such as a section on the proper use of NULL values. The material that's not statement-specific also contrasts the four covered platforms' implementations of datatypes--readers learn that a PostgreSQL int2 value is known as a "smallint" in ANSI standard SQL, for example. This is a handy reference book, particularly if you use one of the emphasised SQL implementations. --David Wall

Topics covered: Structured Query Language (SQL) as it is implemented in Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL and PostgreSQL, as well as in ANSI standard SQL (SQL92 and SQL99). After an introduction to datatypes and relational database fundamentals (the latter is not emphasised), the authors document SQL statements and functions one by one, alphabetically. They take care to point out differences among the four implementations.

Major Keary, PC Update March 2002
An invaluable desktop reference for those who deal with SQL at a professional level. Compact and well designed.

From the Publisher
SQL in a Nutshell is a practical and useful command reference to the latest release of the Structured Query Language (SQL99). For experienced SQL programmers, analysts, and database administrators, it's a handy key to each of the SQL commands and its use in both commercial (Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Oracle 8i) and open source (MySQL, PostgreSQL 7.0) implementations. SQL in a Nutshell is also a great learning resource for novice and auxiliary SQL users.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing, but still a useful book
I had hoped that this would be a concise but complete reference on building SQL statements, but it lacks some of the most basic explanations (try looking up UNION queries in the index - it's not there!!!). Disappointing, considering the many other 'In A Nutshell' series books I have are indespensible. This one reads more like a 'white paper' than a user reference book. Expensive too, considering how thin it is.

Good SQL reference book.
It is definitely not a book to learn SQL, however I found it useful as a reference point to translate a particular flavour of SQL into another flavour of SQL.

Let's face it, just from the size of the book, we can quickly establish that it won't get into too much detail, but it is great for quickly looking up syntax if you can't quite pin point it in your mind.

Not ideal for beginners.

Too much detail on too few subjects
I was looking for a refernce book to tell me how to do things with SQL (in particular MySQL). Something I could turn to to find the right command or structure. Mostly it fails to help me with that. It seems to lack simple administration techniques, which is one thing I really wanted...

It's good to compare main features of the covered SQL languages - MS, MySQL, Oracle, Postgre - but for the intermedate user there's too much detail on too few subjects.