A Guide to SQL |  | Authors: Philip J. Pratt, Mary Z. Last
Publisher: Course Technology
Category: Book
List Price: $70.95
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Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 33597
Media: Paperback
Edition: 8
Pages: 360
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 0324597681
Dewey Decimal Number: 005
EAN: 9780324597684
ASIN: 0324597681
Publication Date: October 2, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com 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.
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.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
 Excellent for beginners August 24, 2007
Daryl Close
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have used several editions of this book with nary a complaint from students. The book uses real, honest-to-goodness, standard SQL. SQL is a standardized language, but the 900 lb. gorillas in the market like Oracle and Microsoft refuse to follow the standard. If you use some flavor of Microsoft Jet SQL or Oracle, this book will be of use, but will not teach you all of the "extensions" that the big SQL players have made in their proprietary versions of SQL. Still, pretty much all of the code in this book will run, even from the bone-headed SQL prompt in Microsoft Access!
As other reviewers have noted, this is not a general DBMS book, although good design principles are followed. If you want a relatively short and comprehensive introduction to DBMS, I recommend Pratt and Adamski's _Concepts of Database Management_ 6th ed. There are many outstanding DBMS books out there, but Pratt and Adamski is the arguably the briefest. The chapters on normalization are very good--very practical with very little set theory. I regard database design as little more than applied set theory, and if your set theory is weak, Pratt and Adamski is the book for you.
My Favorite of 9 Books I Purchased to Learn SQL September 8, 2007
Sleepless in LA (Los Angeles, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a beginning student of databases, and bought several highly-rated SQL books on Amazon (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.
A very good introduction to Structured Query Language January 10, 2009
J. Guthrie (Memphis, TN USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
Good Book November 10, 2006
catsinshoes
Covers standard SQL commands and also includes equivalent commands for Access (and other common DBM systems). Information is presented clearly and there are many examples.
SQL January 19, 2009
Felicia Epperson
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The book had no markings. It was in great condition and arrived in good timing!!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
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