SQL Clearly Explained, Second Edition (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems)

This book explains SQL very clearly indeed, as the title implies. I knew a bit of SQL before I started reading this book, so the first 50-odd pages didn't teach me much, but they still made me understand a few things here and there more thoroughly. I got my copy yesterday, and I'm at around page 100 now. For a technical book, it's quite easy to go through, in my opinion, even though it's rich in quality content. The book is extremely well organised, and the chapters flow from one to the next smoothly. There are lots of examples which always clearly back up the explanations. Also, the example database in this book is consitently used, i.e. you do not have completely different examples everywhere which would only make things confusing. There are a few minor typos here and there, but even so, I still rate this book 5/5. Although the core of the SQL language remains relatively unchanged, the most recent release of the SQL standard (SQL:2008) includes two sets of extensions: 1) support for object-relational databases and 2) support for XML. The second edition of this book included some material about the object-relational extensions. However, that set of commands has been greatly extended and the new edition takes that into account. The XML extensions are entirely new to the third edition. A chapter on basic relational concepts will be also added to broaden the audience and make the book more complete in its own right. All of the chapters will be revised to be sure they are up to date. Chapter 10 ("Views, Temporary Tables, and Indexes") from the second edition will be expanded to include common table expression (CTEs). The material in the existing Chapter 14 ("Unimplemented SQL-92 Features 251") will be disbursed through the chapters where the particular type of operation is discussed. While the content throughout will be updated where necessary, the existing organizational structure through chapter 14 will remain largely intact because this coverage represents the stable portion of the SQL language. There will be two NEW chapters at the beginning of the book. Chapter 1 ("The Relational Data Model") covers the relational data model conceptual material; Chapter 2 ("Manipulating Relations with Relational Algebra") covers the relational algebra material that will be pulled from the retrieval chapters. Part 5 ("Non-relational SQL Extensions") will now include the non-relational SQL extensions in three chapters. Chapter 17 (NEW) will cover XML. Chapter 18 will contain the object-relational conceptual material from the original chapter 15 and chapter 19 (NEW) will cover SQL object-relational support. (Some of chapter 19 will come from the second edition, however, a great deal of object-relational support has been added to the current standard and therefore needs to be added.) The other NEW chapter is Chapter 14, which covers triggers and stored procedures. This material was missing from previous editions. Many readers should find it a useful addition. Demonstrates how to formulate SQL queries and how queries are processed to maximize performance of the database management system Explains use of SQL to enter, modify or delete data to maintain database structural elements Covers in great detail new SQL application for XML to meet the growing XML usage in development of online content This is the second edition of the popular practitioner's guide to SQL, the industry-standard database query language. Like most computer languages, SQL can be overwhelming when you first see it, but for years readers have relied on this book to clear the confusion and explain how SQL works and how to use it effectively. Packed with tips, tricks, and good information, SQL Clearly Explained, Second Edition teaches database users and programmers everything they need to know to get their job done including
· formulating SQL queries,
· understanding how queries are processed by the DBMS,
· maximizing performance,
· using SQL to enter, modify, or delete data,
· creating and maintaining database structural elements, and
· embedding SQL in applications.


Features
· Updated and expanded to include changes in the SQL standard (SQL:1999) as well as recently implemented aspects of SQL-92.
· Includes CD with examples from the book as well as MySQL, a popular open-source DBMS, on which the examples are based.
· Web enhanced with extra features available online at www.mkp.com.

* Second edition of classic SQL handbook
* Updated to cover changes in the SQL language standard (SQL:1999)
* Includes CD with MySQL software This is the second edition of the popular practitioner's guide to SQL, the industry-standard database query language. Like most computer languages, SQL can be overwhelming when you first see it, but for years readers have relied on this book to clear the confusion and explain how SQL works and how to use it effectively. Packed with tips, tricks, and good information, SQL Clearly Explained, Second Edition teaches database users and programmers everything they need to know to get their job done including .formulating SQL queries, .understanding how queries are processed by the DBMS, .maximizing performance, .using SQL to enter, modify, or delete data, .creating and maintaining database structural elements, and .embedding SQL in applications. Features .Updated and expanded to include changes in the SQL standard (SQL:1999) as well as recently implemented aspects of SQL-92. .Includes CD with examples from the book as well as MySQL, a popular open-source DBMS, on which the examples are based. .Web enhanced with extra features available online at (http://www.mkp.com) www.mkp.com . * Second edition of classic SQL handbook * Updated to cover changes in the SQL language standard (SQL:1999) * Includes CD with MySQL software SQL Clearly Explained, 3rd Edition details the release of the SQL standard (SQL:2008), including two sets of extensions to support object-relational databases and XML. NEW chapters include coverage of the relational data model, relational algebra, SQL object-relational support, triggers and stored procedures, as well as XML. This expanded edition is packed with tips, tricks and other vital information for working with SQL. Demonstrates how to formulate SQL queries and how queries are processed to maximize performance of the database management system Exp The second edition of this practitioner's guide to SQL has been revised to enhance practical usage. It includes two new chapters on unimplemented SQL2 features and SQL3, in order to inform readers of future developments. Also included with the book is a CD-ROM with MySQL freeware MySQL is a open-source database management system (DBMS) that runs under Windows and many versions of UNIX.