Message from Dean - May 8th 2007

I am currently testing out a new version of the APF Bridge Component - If you notice any errors within this demo store please drop me a line.

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 004
EAN: 9780619216740
Edition: 7
ISBN: 0619216743
Label: Course Technology
Manufacturer: Course Technology
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 312
Publication Date: November 22, 2004
Publisher: Course Technology
Studio: Course Technology

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Alternate Versions: Click to Display

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Editorial Review:

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, Seventh Edition illustrates the basics of SQL programming using straightforward instruction and extensive hands-on exercises. Phil Pratt continues 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.




Rating: - A good introduction to SQL
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.

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Rating: - Good for SQL beginners
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.

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Rating: - My Favorite of 9 Books I Purchased to Learn SQL
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 ... Read More

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Rating: - Excellent for beginners
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 ... Read More

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Rating: - great service not so great book
The delivery service for this book was excellent..no doubt about that. The book itself was confusing to navigate through, and it lacks material

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