Abstract

SQL is a solid guide and reference to the key elements of SQL and how to use it effectively. Developed by authors who needed a good resource for students in their database class, this is an ideal supplement for database courses — no matter what main text you use or what flavor of SQL is required.

It features a short and inexpensive introduction to SQL for students who have some programming experience and need to learn the main features of SQL; and suggested shortcuts for learning and practice, depending on the experience of the user.

This book is recommended for novice developers, programmers, and database administrators as well as students in database courses, business courses, and IT-related courses.

• Provides tutorial-based instruction for the main features of SQL for programmers and other technical professionals in need of a brief but really good introduction to SQL.
• The approach is vendor-neutral—so very adaptable and flexible
• The focus is on teaching concepts by walking through concrete examples and explanations, and self-review exercises are included at the end of each chapter.
• Coverage is on the key features of the language that are required to understand SQL and begin using it effectively.
• SQL 2003-compliant.

“This book is not just another SQL text. The author’s use of simple yet clear examples to illustrate difficult concepts throughout the text makes this a perfect book for use in an introductory database systems class as a supplement or as an introductory reference for the novice practitioner.”
— Paul Fortier, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
“The book lives up to its title: it is a very practical guide. The authors clearly know their SQL and manage to write about the language in a step-by-step style that progresses smoothly from the simple to the more difficult aspects of the language.”
— Jim Melton, Oracle Corporation
“This book’s authors recognize the vast majority of work done with a database is data retrieval (rather than storage) and have focused on this area.”
— Australian Personal Computer, March 2006