Discovering SQL: A Hands–On Guide for Beginners

Discover best practices for turning data into information you can use Structured Query Language, more popularly known as SQL, is a standard database language used to create, access and manipulate data, and store and maintain information in relational databases such as Access®, SQL Server®, Oracle®, and MySQL®. If that′s all you know about SQL, then you′re already ahead of the curve! Assuming no prior knowledge of SQL or relational databases, author Alex Kriegel takes you on a voyage of discovery as you learn SQL basics and learn to work with data stored in a relational database. Written in a beginner–friendly tone, this guide walks you through the creation of a sample database that incorporates all the SQL concepts taught throughout the book and also introduces data modeling, query tuning, and optimization. Discovering SQL: Covers the most important SQL dialects along with the current release of SQL Standard Highlights the differences between particular implementations as well as the power and limitations of SQL Demonstrates how SQL deals with all types of data: structured, unstructured and everything in between Looks at dynamic SQL, procedural extensions and latest developments in the field Shares best practices for optimizing query performance Walks you through the basics of database design and introduces the tools for working with normalized data wrox.com Programmer Forums Join our Programmer to Programmer forums to ask and answer programming questions about this book, join discussions on the hottest topics in the industry, and connect with fellow programmers from around the world. Code Downloads Take advantage of free code samples from this book, as well as code samples from hundreds of other books, all ready to use. Read More Find articles, ebooks, sample chapters and tables of contents for hundreds of books, and more reference resources on programming topics that matter to you.

INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER 1: DROWNING IN DATA, DYING OF THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE. CHAPTER 2: BREAKING AND ENTERING: STRUCTURED INFORMATION. CHAPTER 3: A THING YOU CAN RELATE TO — DESIGNING A RELATIONAL DATABASE. CHAPTER 4: OVERCOMING THE LIMITATIONS OF SQL. CHAPTER 5: GROUPING AND AGGREGATION. CHAPTER 6: WHEN ONE IS NOT ENOUGH: A QUERY WITHIN A QUERY. CHAPTER 7: YOU BROKE IT; YOU FIX IT: COMBINING DATA SETS. CHAPTER 8: WHAT ELSE IS THERE, AND WHY? CHAPTER 9: OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE. CHAPTER 10: MULTIUSER ENVIRONMENT. CHAPTER 11: WORKING WITH UNSTRUCTURED AND SEMISTRUCTURED DATA. CHAPTER 12: NOT BY SQL ALONE. APPENDIX A: INSTALLING RDBMSS RDBMS SOFTWARE. APPENDIX B: ACCESSING RDBMSS. APPENDIX C: ACCESSING RDBMSS WITH THE SQUIRREL UNIVERSAL SQL CLIENT. APPENDIX D: INSTALLING THE LIBRARY DATABASE. INDEX.

Alex Kriegel is an enterprise systems architect for the Oregon Health Authority, State of Oregon. He has more than 20 years of professional database and software development experience and holds numerous certifications, including MCTS, PMP from Project Management Institute, TOGAF 8 Certified Practitioner from The Open Architecture Group, and Certified Scrum Master from Scrum Alliance. Wrox Beginning guides are crafted to make learning programming languages and technologies easier than you think, providing a structured, tutorial format that will guide you through all the techniques involved.