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Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes, Fourth Edition
New full-color code examples help you see how SQL statements are structured
Whether you're an application developer, database administrator, web application designer, mobile app developer, or Microsoft Office users, a good working knowledge of SQL is an important part of interacting with databases. And Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes offers the straightforward, practical answers you need to help you do your job.
Expert trainer and popular author Ben Forta teaches you just the parts of SQL you need to know–starting with simple data retrieval and quickly going on to more complex topics including the use of joins, subqueries, stored procedures, cursors, triggers, and table constraints.
You'll learn methodically, systematically, and simply–in 22 short, quick lessons that will each take only 10 minutes or less to complete.
With the Fourth Edition of this worldwide bestseller, the book has been thoroughly updated, expanded, and improved. Lessons now cover the latest versions of IBM DB2, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MariaDB, and Apache Open Office Base. And new full-color SQL code listings help the beginner clearly see the elements and structure of the language.
10 minutes is all you need to learn how to...
1 Understanding SQL
2 Retrieving Data
3 Sorting Retrieved Data
4 Filtering Data
5 Advanced Data Filtering
6 Using Wildcard Filtering
7 Creating Calculated Fields
8 Using Data Manipulation Functions
9 Summarizing Data
10 Grouping Data
11 Working with Subqueries
12 Joining Tables
13 Creating Advanced Joins
14 Combining Queries
15 Inserting Data
16 Updating and Deleting Data
17 Creating and Manipulating Tables
18 Using Views
19 Working with Stored Procedures
20 Managing Transaction Processing
21 Using Cursors
22 Understanding Advanced SQL Features
Appendix A: Sample Table Scripts
Appendix B: Working in Popular Applications
Appendix C : SQL Statement Syntax
Appendix D: Using SQL Datatypes
Appendix E: SQL Reserved Words
1 Understanding SQL
Database Basics
What Is SQL?
Try It Yourself
2 Retrieving Data
The SELECT Statement
Retrieving Individual Columns
Retrieving Multiple Columns
Retrieving All Columns
Retrieving Distinct Rows
Limiting Results
Using Comments
3 Sorting Retrieved Data
Sorting Data
Sorting by Multiple Columns
Sorting by Column Position
Specifying Sort Direction
4 Filtering Data
Using the WHERE Clause
The WHERE Clause Operators
5 Advanced Data Filtering
Combining WHERE Clauses
Using the IN Operator
Using the NOT Operator
6 Using Wildcard Filtering
Using the LIKE Operator
Tips for Using Wildcards
7 Creating Calculated Fields
Understanding Calculated Fields
Concatenating Fields
Performing Mathematical Calculations
8 Using Data Manipulation Functions
Understanding Functions
Using Functions
9 Summarizing Data
Using Aggregate Functions
Aggregates on Distinct Values
Combining Aggregate Functions
10 Grouping Data
Understanding Data Grouping
Creating Groups
Filtering Groups
Grouping and Sorting
SELECT Clause Ordering
11 Working with Subqueries
Understanding Subqueries
Filtering by Subquery
Using Subqueries as Calculated Fields
12 Joining Tables
Understanding Joins
Creating a Join
13 Creating Advanced Joins
Using Table Aliases
Using Different Join Types
Using Joins with Aggregate Functions
Using Joins and Join Conditions
14 Combining Queries
Understanding Combined Queries
Creating Combined Queries
15 Inserting Data
Understanding Data Insertion
Copying from One Table to Another
16 Updating and Deleting Data
Updating Data
Deleting Data
Guidelines for Updating and Deleting Data
17 Creating and Manipulating Tables
Creating Tables
Updating Tables
Deleting Tables
Renaming Tables
18 Using Views
Understanding Views
Creating Views
19 Working with Stored Procedures
Understanding Stored Procedures
Why to Use Stored Procedures
Executing Stored Procedures
Creating Stored Procedures
20 Managing Transaction Processing
Understanding Transaction Processing
Controlling Transactions
21 Using Cursors
Understanding Cursors
Working with Cursors
22 Understanding Advanced SQL Features
Understanding Constraints
Understanding Indexes
Understanding Triggers
Database Security
A Sample Table Scripts
Understanding the Sample Tables
Obtaining the Sample Tables
B Working in Popular Applications
Using Apache Open Office Base
Using Adobe ColdFusion
Using IBM DB2
Using MariaDB
Using Microsoft Access
Using Microsoft ASP
Using Microsoft ASP.NET
Using Microsoft Query
Using Microsoft SQL Server (including Microsoft SQL Server Express)
Using MySQL
Using Oracle
Using Oracle Express
Using PHP
Using PostgreSQL
Using SQLite
Configuring ODBC Data Sources
C SQL Statement Syntax
ALTER TABLE
COMMIT
CREATE INDEX
CREATE PROCEDURE
CREATE TABLE
CREATE VIEW
DELETE
DROP
INSERT
INSERT SELECT
ROLLBACK
SELECT
UPDATE
D Using SQL Datatypes
String Datatypes
Numeric Datatypes
Date and Time Datatypes
Binary Datatypes
E SQL Reserved Words
There are lots of SQL books out there. Some are actually very good. But they all have one thing in common: For most users they teach just too much information. Instead of teaching SQL itself, most books teach everything from database design and normalization to relational database theory and administrative concerns. Although those are all important topics, they are not of interest to most of us who just need to learn SQL.
That is where this book comes in. Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes will teach you SQL, starting with simple data retrieval and working on to more complex topics including the use of joins, subqueries, and table constraints. You'll learn what you need to know methodically, systematically, and simply-in lessons that will each take 10 minutes or less to complete.
So turn to Lesson 1, and get to work. You'll be writing world-class SQL in no time at all.
Who is the Teach Yourself SQL book for?
This book is for you if:
Conventions Used in This Book
This book uses different typefaces to differentiate between code and regular English, and also to help you identify important concepts.
Text that you type and text that should appear on your screen is presented in monospace type.
It willlook like this to mimic the way text looks on your screen.
Placeholders for variables and expressions appear in monospace italic font You should replace the placeholder with the specific value it represents.
This arrow at the beginning of a line of code means that a single line of code is too long to fit on the printed page. Continue typing all characters after the as though they were part of the preceding line.
New Term icons provide clear definitions of new, essential terms. The term appears in italic.
The Input icon identifies code that you can type in yourself. It usually appears next to a listing.
The Output icon highlights the output produced by running a program. It usually appears after a listing.
The Analysis icon alerts you to the author's line-by-line analysis of a program.
MochaMan
Posted Sat Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2009
I found this book to be a reference for beginners when utilizing SQL. It's good to have by the desk side to use as a quick reference tool and is organized in a logical format
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2008
This is a great introduction to SQL. It starts slow and gives you the essential details to do a practical 'work unit.' To use this book as intended, it is helpful if you have some programming background and/or even just a little exposure to databases.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Good book for beginners. For anyone looking specifically to learn proprietary syntax, look to those books. I've read a lot of reviews about how this book isn't good to learn SQL server, but this book isn't about SQL server; it's about basic SQL fundamentals. There are free tutorials out on the web with interactive learning that outdoes this book. However, it's still a good touch and feel reference tool for those who prefer a hard copy.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2002
Great for beginners who just want to get started with what they need.
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Posted Thu May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2002
Sure, the book is good, but let's not downplay the importance of understanding the full spectrum of SQL Server. Enormous catostraphic damage can occur from giving people the false sense of security that they can learn SQL in 10 minutes.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu May 09 00:00:00 EDT 2002
This book is more of a quick reference on basic SQL. As a web application developer who doesn't use SQL query on a daily basis. This book is helpful on reminding me some SQL syntax that I know but cannot recall right away from my head.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2001
I was very impressed having never worked with SQL before. I was writing queries within the first few pages. Being a light VB programmer, adapting was easy as pie. Highly recommended if you will be writing a front end in any programming language, or if you just want to interact with SQL from Word or Excel. Very well written
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Posted Sun Mar 04 00:00:00 EST 2001
This book is simply amazing as the other books by Ben Forta. Very few typos. Very concise. Anyone serious about SQL should read this book.
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Posted Thu Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2000
An excellent primer. Read it in one nite. You can start turning out good queries, immediately.
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Posted Sun Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2009
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Overview
Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes, Fourth Edition
New full-color code examples help you see how SQL statements are structured
Whether you're an application developer, database administrator, web application designer, mobile app developer, or Microsoft Office users, a good working knowledge of SQL is an important part of interacting with databases. And Sams Teach ...