SQL for Dummies

by Allen G. Taylor

SQL For Dummies, 2nd Edition, is your personal tutor for SQL, the industry-standard language for "talking" to databases and getting the information you need. Get an insider's tour of databases and client-server systems so you can understand the local customs. Then work your way up to sophisticated commands and statements, and check out the coverage of SQL-related products, such as Microsoft SQL server. You'll be able to communicate with your database like a native speaker in no time! Inside, find helpful advice on how to Get a complete overview of SQL components, such as Data Definition Language, Data Manipulation Language, and Data Control Language Use SQL to transfer and retrieve information on the Internet and intranets Uncover fundamental SQL commands and data types Extract data from many different data sources by using ODBC Master the basics of creating tables, views, schemas, and indexes for easy data access Manage databases by using SQL server Access a database over the Internet Get tips for making advanced queries

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Programming, Technical, Technology, Computer Science, Computers

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[KP · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction for someone who has never used SQL before. Don't use this book for instructions on how to do complicated queries, but do read it if you want to know what sql does, and basic commands and how to use them. this is the first technical text which i felt able to read from cover to cover, rather than giving up at chapter 2.

[Dragomir Draganov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Информативна книга, въвеждаща в тайните на SQL. Подходяща е за съвсем начинаещи, които за първи път се сблъскват с езика и работата с релационни бази данни. Дава добра рамка за по-нататъшни търсения.

[Xapphirea · Rating 2 out of 5]

+ Nice to learn new stuff
+ Funny at times
+ A good, cheap alternative to an expensive course
-It isn't really fit for learning for there are no practices
- It skips handy details to zoom in on stuff I barely need
- No dragons

[Charlie Lee]

It's a 500 page book on SQL.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Chloe Thonus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine as a reference guide or for understanding specific commands/syntax, but doesn't really allow you to practice. It's good for a surface level of knowledge but won't exactly turn you into an SQL developer, better to take a class or learn from someone who already knows. Has some good information on databases and how they work though.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use SQL every day, so I am fairly well-versed in it.

Even at that, I still enjoyed this book.

I didn't learn too much new, but found a few cool shortcuts and ideas.

Would recommend if learning SQL

[Yesi Days · Rating 4 out of 5]

Está bien para iniciarse en SQL, habla de las sentencias generales y presenta ejemplos claros. En lo personal agregaría queries más complejas.

[Niklas Angmyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

SQL for not so dumb people.

[Ben Stenhaug · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems fine but not the best out there

[Morning Glory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very instructive and in conjunction with Khan Academy videos I got a basic understanding. This’ll be really helpful for work.

[Philip Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got me up to speed

[Deep · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is rather a okay-okay but funny book. Yeah, funny! And I actually admire Allen's friendly conduct throughout the book. Yet, I wouldn't say it is a great book 'cause often enough, whenever I felt like that the topic needs further explanation and examples, Allen just jumps to the next topic and often enough he would delve needlessly into something very clear. He would literally go by the name of the book. Like, " If the expression evaluates to True, the predicate returns TRUE; (well of course it would) otherwise, it returns FALSE. " (oh, Really!). This line appears near the end of the book and it is sandwiched between similar statements. And there are other examples when you would say, okay, move on, I get it!

Another thing that disappointed me is the lack of cross-reference among the topics, and most often when it is somewhat vital (not that your life depends upon it). Like suddenly the keyword FETCH with its important functionality appears without being introduced before and is introduced a few pages later.

Throughout the book topics are scattered and not arranged properly so that the reader could be at much ease. I think that editors should have done something about that.

But then, yea, it isn't that you don't learn a thing here. Yes, you pretty much get what you were looking for with pretty much fun, like Can you imagine what your life would have been like in the caveman times of 1992, when you’d have to repeatedly swap between SQL and its procedural host language just to do your work?

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually read a newer version than this, but the 6th edition was not shown here. It is fine for a teaching/reference guide, but like with a lot of coding or problem-solving situations, there was not much in the way of hands-on work suggested here. Best thing to have done was to have included some way to have put a creatable database into the lesson, and given some sort of chapter-by-chapter guide to add onto that database/learn the ins and outs of SQL.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to 'Drop' into when you need that bit of clarification - or it's been a while since you've had to do something away from the norm.

I'd recommend this to any techie who either is an SQL jockie or has the occasional requirement for using SQL 'In Anger'.

[J.S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished my exploratory read of this book. It reminded me of my IUN days and data structures class. Although this book is a bit out dated, it was a good reintroduction to SQL. I'm not sure if I will continue with my SQL adventures, but if I had too, I would.
JS

[Jonathan]

None

[Mark Balson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a beginners book. I could not get through it.

[Davy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be improved tremendously if the examples could be used to build an actual db. As it is now, it'll see use as a reference work.

[Fausto Betances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for what I needed. Scant practices.