Understanding Relational Databases with Examples in SQL-92

By Fabian Pascal

Book Overview

Examines the fundamentals of relational concepts and then demonstrates the applications of these concepts. Provides numerous practical examples using Structured Query Language (SQL), the popular database language for the PC. Users learn how to evaluate, design and implement relational databases and applications by examining relational concepts, their structural, integrity and manipulation features as well as types of tables and relational fidelity. By studying SQL basics, evaluation and misconceptions, users learn how SQL succeeds-and fails-as a realization of the relational model. Other topics include client/server issues, distributed databases and the emergence of object-oriented database management systems.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471585386
• ISBN13: 9780471585381
• Release Date: August 1993
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.7" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Very Authoritative and In-depth

This book may be short in length; however, it is has enormous informational depth. Pascal certainly knows his stuff. In this book he writes about concepts and practices that are greatly lacking in the world of database management and development. He points out how, even, expert players of the database world fail to give the most fundamental and important aspects of database design/development proper emphasis. And he tells us why it is so important.Readers really should have a good understanding of SQL before reading this book. If the reader has solid understanding of set theory (collage level) they should follow this book easily. If the reader is not too sharp with math they will struggle with many of the advance concepts that Pascal covers. But the reader should still understand the underlying message, database integrity. This book explains why database integrity is vital to a successful database, as well as, how to implement good database integrity. Pascal does get a little too passionate, well actually, he rants. Some people might find it a little dark, but I thought it was a kind of funny.

Jumpstart your IT career-with 1 book!

This is the book that jumped my career orders of magnitude higher than it otherwise would have been. It does take some quiet time to read and understand this book. If you're looking for an MSAccess primer to read on the bus on the way in to your HTML scripting job, this isn't it, buy a "dummies" book. On the other hand, if you want to understand the guiding principles of ALL database design and modeling (which is the critical core task of all information application development), and then be better at it than 99% of your peers, I don't know of a better document you could possibly study. In terms of real world, on the job usefullness, this book surpasses ANYTHING else I've EVER read about Information Technology.

Authoritative exposition of relational theory

Terse and authoritative, but engaging. This book's style may not be for everyone but its content is well worth the effort of study and review. It's short for a book on relational theory, which derives from the author's economy of exposition rather than from a lack of depth or coverage. In reading it I was repeatedly struck with the sense that the author truly understands his subject (he's written over 100 articles on SQL and relational theory for publications like Byte, DBAdvisor, InfoWorld, Oracle Magazine, and SQL Forum). The book assumes that you have some coding or database experience. Understanding Relational Databases is an excellent choice if you want to fully grasp the issues.

Fundamentals that your college neglected to teach you

If you work with relational databases, and if you do not have a good grip on the relational model, then you will benefit beyond belief. This is a very serious book for serious study. If I could, I would buy this book for you, its that important.