SQL For Dummies

By Allen G. Taylor

Book Overview

Become your own database guru and master the art and craft of SQL (structured query language) to access, manage, and manipulate data in a variety of relational database software programs. Get the inside tour of the major components of SQL with a copy of SQL For Dummies, 3rd Edition, by programming pro Allen Taylor. Whether you're seeking a friendly summary of basic SQL commands and statements -- or you're looking for advanced advice on database security, error handling, nested queries, ODBC, and dynamic SQL -- you'll find what you need in this book's easy-to-follow steps and examples, all written in clear, concise language. Invoke the power of SQL without headaches and hassles as you progress from relational database fundamentals to building your own databases, retrieving data, controlling operations, and transferring data across a company intranet or the worldwide Internet. SQL For Dummies, 3rd Edition, also includes a glossary of important terms and three appendixes that cover reserved words in SQL-92, multilevel SQL subsets, and SQL implementation in Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. And, of course, this handy SQL reference includes the popular Part of Tens, where you can get the high-end lowdown on what to do, and what not to do, in designing, building, and using a relational database.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764504150
• ISBN13: 9780764504150
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

All that it claims to be

I like to start projects with simple concepts and a few examples to get off the ground. Well, this book does just that. Unfortunately, I would also like to have some examples of input and output. I chose this book because it was not database-specific, as I am converting files from an Informix database, through a filter, to a flat file, for later conversion to an Oracle database, with a different structure. Unfortunately, this book (being universal) has no universal explanation as to how to get information from a flat-file in or out of the database. First, you have to find the term they use, not ASCII, not flat, not import, not export, not not not. The term is found in chapter 7, "foreign." The explanation on how to do this is to "...turn to one of the professional data translation services." Great, just what I wanted to know.

Would Rate This Book 6 stars out of 5

I bought SQL for Dummies when I was handed a web project that demanded a high traffic database. Previous to the purchase I had only worked with flat text files and had no SQL experience. This book can take you from basic database design all the way up to advanced SQL issues. Thanks to SQL for Dummies I never lost pace with the project. It explained terms and issues very plainly. It also had excellent example code. I still use the book today as an excellent reference tool.If you were stranded on Database Island, this would be the only book you would need...

This was an excellent SQL primer

I spent a lot of time looking for a book that actually covered ANSI 92 SQL, and even though I vowed a long time ago to never buy a 'Dummies' book, this one was an exception and worth every penny spent! My database du-jour (Oracle RDB) is not a particularly well known or used database and with the help of Mr. Taylor I was able to create some very complicated embedded SQL statements, allowing my client to make some pretty important multi-million dollar decisions. Thanks Mr. Taylor for a well written book.

A useful book for Borland C++ Builder database programmers.

I found myself in a Borland C++ Builder seminar full of database programmers who all new SQL. Fortunately, most of them didn't know C++. The seminar leader recommended this book to me and I found it useful as a primer. It has good examples which I've used repeatedly. It is especially nice for Borland C++ Builder users since that is the RAD tool which the author is using. It covers most of the features of SQL supported by the Borland Database Engine for Database creation and manipulation, although I found it somewhat lacking in the area of security. I've read several other books on the subject now and I think it compares favorably with most. I find the subject of normalization lacking in all of the books. If you are new to SQL my recommendation is to reduce the subject of normalization down to this: keep the long tables skinny and the fat tables short and minimize data redundancy. If your new to SQL it's a good starting place and worth the price. It's especially useful for BCB or Delphi Programmers.

A superb, clearly written book covering far more than SQL

This is a truly excellent book. I bought it knowing very little about databases, and to my pleasant surprise found that it covers far more than simply SQL - it also gives you a thorough and easy-to-understand grounding in what databases are, how they work, and why they work the way they do. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand databases from scratch, as well as anyone wanting to learn SQL.