The Practical SQL Handbook: Using SQL Variants

This latest edition of the best-selling implementation guide to the Structured Query Language teaches SQL fundamentals while providing practical solutions for critical business applications. The Practical SQL Handbook, Fourth Edition now includes expanded platform SQL coverage and extensive real-world examples based on feedback from actual SQL users.

The Practical SQL Handbook begins with a step-by-step introduction to SQL basics and examines the issues involved in designing SQL-based database applications. It fully explores SQL's most popular implementations from industry leaders, Oracle, Microsoft, Sybase, and Informix.

Highlights include:

• Detailed coverage of SQL commands for creating databases, tables, and indexes, and for
• adding, changing, and deleting data
• Using the SELECT command to retrieve specific data
• Handling NULL values (missing information) in a relational database
• Joining tables, including self joins and outer joins (ANSI and WHERE-clause syntax)
• Working with nested queries (subqueries) to get data from multiple tables
• Creating views (virtual tables) to provide customized access to data
• Using SQL functions

A bonus CD-ROM contains a time-limited, full-feature version of the Sybase® Adaptive Server Anywhere™ software as well as the sample database, scripts, and examples included in the book.

The Practical SQL Handbook is the most complete reference available for day-to-day SQL implementations.

This guide to implementing Structured Query Language introduces basic concepts and offers practical suggestions for its application to business purposes. Instructions are included for the creation of databases, tables, and indexes, with particular attention to the retrieval of specific data, handling null values, and the use of nested queries and multiple tables. An accompanying CD-ROM contains sample databases, scripts, and examples from the book, in addition to a time-limited version of Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere software.

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Judith S. Bowman has been a database professional since the early 1980s. She is currently an independent consultant specializing in SQL and relational database issues and is the author of Practical SQL: The Sequel (Addison-Wesley, 2001). Sandra L. Emerson is an independent consultant and former Vice President of Publishing Programs for Sybase. Marcy Darnovsky, teaches at colleges throughout the San Francisco Bay area. She was formerly at Sybase.