SQL: Visual QuickStart Guide (Visual QuickStart Guides) (Visual Quickpro Guide)

I am working my way through the Quick Start series. Enough said. Oh and yes I am dyslexic. Cool yeah?

The introduction to SQL in this book could be a real turn-off for anyone new to databases. The worst part is the explanation of normalisation; it would be far better to explain them as applied to an example set of data - first in 1NF, then 2NF and finally 3NF - in order for the meaning and relevance of these levels of normalisation to be more readily understood. Perhaps it would've been better to leave this to a book solely concerned with database design? Furthermore, the explanation of terms generally seems very unyielding and pedantic, almost as though the author expects us to stand to attention and shout "Sir! Yes sir!". If you call SQL "sequel" or if you call it "S", "Q", "L", that's just fine because everyone will know what you're talking about.The chapters on SQL itself, though, are far more useful and are packed full of information about SQL. And not just ANSI SQL, as there is a liberal sprinkling of notes for the variations in implementation of SQL by other DBMS software companies. The coverage of each topic is very thorough, with numerous examples being used to show the use of SQL statements with their various options.If you're a beginner, and you want something that's less intense and easier to read, I recommend SQL In 10 Minutes by Sams. For those who want to get as much as they can from SQL, you'd be hard pressed to find anything better at the price than SQL: Visual Quickstart Guide.

This is the second dedicated SQL book I have read. A great number of examples with variations on how to solve various tasks. Abundant sidebar comments on SQL dialects of MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL and Microsoft Access and how these variations are interrelated - excellent if you are to understand the cross database landscape of SQL.Only flaw of this book: doesn't mention the ISO/IEC approved optional use of "delimited identifiers" (as opposed to "regular identifiers") to reference field names identical to SQL keywords as e.g. DATE or containing spaces or other "odd" characters liberally accepted by e.g. Paradox and Access, except brieftly in the Tips (p.46) advicing single quotes where ANSI/ISO/IEC SQL advices doubble quotes for identifiers as opposed to single quotes for string values.However, still truely the best intro and overview book I have read on SQL.

I can't tell you the number of times this book has saved me hours of scanning every line of code, in my current line of work it is not more than three feet away from me! For someone looking to learn SQL this book is a must, it gives detailed information on SQL statements and functions across Access, SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL. A quick and easy reference for anyone writing database applications.I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have and do.