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A Guide to SQL
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$ 100.95
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| Item Number |
2432445 |
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Item Description...
Product Description
A GUIDE TO SQL, 8E, illustrates the basics of SQL programming using straightforward instruction and extensive hands-on exercises. Phil Pratt and Mary Last continue to present basic SQL commands in a business context using Oracle. A new running case, for a total of three, presents lessons in a real-world context for managing orders, parts, customers, and sales reps. The text provides hands-on projects at the end of each chapter, including review questions, running cases, and extensive exercises, providing students with the opportunity to solve problems and apply skills from each chapter.
Outline Review
The author uses an interesting didactic innovation that every textbook writer should consider imitating: Instead of illustrating ideas with microprograms, which are good for almost nothing except illustrating the idea, Pratt develops two examples throughout the entire book. By the time you complete this thin but comprehensive volume, you will have completed two real databases. The book also contains embedded questions so you can check whether or not you've grasped specific concepts before proceeding to the next section. Pratt's extended case studies show how SQL programs can be layered on one another other to slowly build up functionality. As such, it serves both as an SQL language manual as well as an example of how to create relatively large SQL codes. This book does not make specific reference to any particular SQL implementation, so it can be used with any standard SQL engine.
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Item Specifications...
Pages 309
Dimensions: Length: 0.5" Width: 7.5" Height: 9.25"
Weight: 1.15 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date Oct 2, 2008
ISBN 0324597681
EAN 9780324597684
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Availability 5 units.
Availability accurate as of May 30, 2012 05:59.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Reno, NV.
Orders shipping to an address other than a confirmed Credit Card / Paypal Billing address may incur and additional processing delay.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | SQL Jan 19, 2009 |
| The book had no markings. It was in great condition and arrived in good timing!! | | | | A very good introduction to Structured Query Language Jan 10, 2009 |
My comments are about the 6th and 7th editions of the book. It was the required text for a college course about Structured Query Language. The school offered other courses about database theory and design. The book only covers SQL. It is not about database theory or database design. The book assumes the reader either understands database theory or is taking a database concepts course and is required to also learn SQL.
In the first chapter it presents 2 (6th) or 3 (7th) databases that are used throughout the book to teach SQL. The chapters are relatively short but are packed with material and have summaries, lists of key terms, review questions and plenty of exercises (for each database). We were required to work through all the end-of-chapter sections.
I believe you can best learn sql by using it and the chapter exercises allow you to do that. The database we used was MS Access and the sample databases were already set up for us. The book comments on differences in SQL syntax between various popular databases.
I was surprised to read some of the negative comments made by other posters although some of them were about earlier editions. Don't buy this book expecting to learn database theory or design; it has a narrow focus, as the title suggests: SQL.
I still refer back to this book, among others, when I have a question about SQL syntax. | | |  | A good introduction to SQL Nov 12, 2008 |
| I bought this as the textbook for a 1 credit class on SQL at the local community college. I knew a little about SQL, but this book is a decent reference source without a lot of filler. It is certainly not a COMPLETE reference - anyone looking for a no-holds-barred SQL reference should not buy this book. I think it is a great intro for a beginner, though. | | |  | Good for SQL beginners Sep 9, 2008 |
| Good resource for getting started with SQL language. However, I didn't like that it tries to make Oracle, MySQL and MS-Access to look alike when talking about SQL language. It should have mention SQL Server instead. Also the exercises at the end of the chapters have too long answers, specially if you have to deliver them as part of a course. The sample database have to many rows to answer the questions. It should be minimized to 2 or 3 rows max for each answer, and forget about too many SELECT * FROM whatever with no WHERE at all or WHERE everybody meets the criteria. | | | | My Favorite of 9 Books I Purchased to Learn SQL Sep 8, 2007 |
I am a beginning student of databases, and bought several highly-rated SQL books on this site (SQL Server Unleashed, MS SQL Server Database Essentials, Welling's MYSQL Tutorial, SQL Queries for Mere Mortals, Learning SQL, the SAMS 21 Day book, etc.) This one has been the most helpful for purposes of learning query language. The "databases" topic is really several different topics: database design, database administration, how to make your particular software work, querying, and more. Many books try to cover it all and get very thick and confusing in the process. This is a great book for learning and more importantly PRACTICING query language. SQL is best learned by DOING, so the practice exercises at the end of each chapter, which start easy and build to the more difficult, are just great. Early in the book you create 5 simple tables that the author uses for the examples and exercises throughout the book (there are also two additional simple databases that have chapter-end exercises throughout the book). You're not constantly familiarizing yourself with new data, which frees you to focus on learning new skills. I recommend using this book in conjunction with a database design textbook (the author has written one that I haven't seen but is probably good; I happened to purchase the Rob/Coronel book which is good) and an installation/configuration/administration type book that will help you navigate your software (for example, MS SQL Server Database Essentials -- choose a book that matches the software you will be working with).
This is a skill-building book rather than a reference book -- if you really work through it, you won't need it as a reference ever again because it is possible to absorb and retain everything it offers. Query language is deceptively simple, so even though this is a beginner book, it will take you to an intermediate skill level. | | | Write your own review about A Guide to SQL
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