Synopses & Reviews
SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standardized query language for requesting information from a database. Historically, SQL has been the choice for database management systems running on minicomputers and mainframes. Increasingly, however, SQL is being adapted to PC database systems because it supports distributed databases--databases that are spread out over several computer systems, so that several users on a local-area network can access the same database simultaneously. Although there are different dialects of SQL, it is the closest thing to a standard query language that currently exists.SQL in a Nutshell is a practical and useful command reference to the latest release of the Structured Query Language (SQL99), helping readers learn how their favorite database product supports any standard SQL command. This book presents each of the SQL commands and describes its use in both commercial (Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Oracle 8i) and open source (MySQL, PostgreSQL 7.0) implementations. Each command reference includes the command syntax (by vendor, if the syntax differs across implementations), a description, and informative examples that illustrate important concepts and uses.SQL in a Nutshell is more than a convenient reference guide for experienced SQL programmers, analysts, and database administrators. It's also a great learning resource for novice and auxiliary SQL users such as system administrators, users of packaged client/server products, and consultants who need to be familiar with the various SQL dialects across many platforms.
Synopsis
A practical and useful command reference to the latest release of the structured Query Language (SQL). For experienced SQL programmers, analysts, and database administrators, this book offers a handy key to each of the SQL commands, telling how to use it in both commercial (Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Oracle 8i), and how to open source implementations.
About the Author
Kevin Kline is the Technical Strategy Manager for SQL Server Solutions at Quest Software, a leading provider of award winning tools for database management and application monitoring tools. Kevin is also a founding board member and former President of the international Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) and frequently contributes to database technology magazines, web sites, and discussion forums. Kevin's most popular book is SQL in a Nutshell published by O'Reilly Media. Kevin is also the author of monthly magazine columns for SQL Server Magazine and Database Trends & Applications. Kevin is a top rated speaker, appearing at international conferences like Microsoft TechEd, DevTeach, PASS, Microsoft IT Forum, and SQL Connections.
Daniel Kline is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, where he specializes in medieval literature, literary and cultural theory, and computer-assisted pedagogy. He completed his Ph.D. at Indiana University, Bloomington, and in addition to numerous scholarly presentations, Dan recently has published academic essays in Literary and Linguistic Computing, Philological Quarterly, Chaucer Review, and Essays in Medieval Studies. When he's not spending time with his wife and two boys, Dan frets over his pet project, the Electronic Canterbury Tales. Dan can be reached at [email protected].
Table of Contents
Preface; How This Book Is Organized; Conventions Used in This Book; How to Contact Us; Resources; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1: SQL, Vendor Implementations, and Some History; 1.1 The Relational Database Model; 1.2 The Databases Described in This Book; 1.3 The SQL Standard; 1.4 Dialects of SQL; 1.5 Principles of Relational Databases; Chapter 2: Foundational Concepts; 2.1 Row Processing Versus Set Processing; 2.2 The Relational Model; 2.3 SQL99 and Vendor-Specific Datatypes; 2.4 Processing NULLS; 2.5 Categories of Syntax; 2.6 Using SQL; 2.7 Conclusion; Chapter 3: SQL Statements Command Reference; 3.1 Recommended Reading Approach; 3.2 Quick SQL Command Reference; 3.3 ALTER PROCEDURE; 3.4 ALTER TABLE; 3.5 ALTER TRIGGER; 3.6 ALTER VIEW; 3.7 CALL; 3.8 CASE; 3.9 CAST; 3.10 CLOSE CURSOR; 3.11 COMMIT TRANSACTION; 3.12 Concatenation Operators; 3.13 CONNECT; 3.14 CREATE DATABASE; 3.15 CREATE FUNCTION; 3.16 CREATE INDEX; 3.17 CREATE PROCEDURE; 3.18 CREATE ROLE; 3.19 CREATE SCHEMA; 3.20 CREATE TABLE; 3.21 CREATE TRIGGER; 3.22 CREATE VIEW; 3.23 DECLARE CURSOR; 3.24 DELETE; 3.25 DISCONNECT; 3.26 DROP Statements; 3.27 DROP DATABASE; 3.28 DROP FUNCTION; 3.29 DROP INDEX; 3.30 DROP PROCEDURE; 3.31 DROP ROLE; 3.32 DROP TABLE; 3.33 DROP TRIGGER; 3.34 DROP VIEW; 3.35 FETCH; 3.36 GRANT; 3.37 INSERT; 3.38 LIKE Operator; 3.39 OPEN; 3.40 Operators; 3.41 RETURN; 3.42 REVOKE; 3.43 ROLLBACK; 3.44 SAVEPOINT; 3.45 SELECT; 3.46 SET CONNECTION; 3.47 SET ROLE; 3.48 SET TIME ZONE; 3.49 SET TRANSACTION; 3.50 START TRANSACTION; 3.51 TRUNCATE TABLE; 3.52 UPDATE; 3.53 Conclusion; Chapter 4: SQL Functions; 4.1 Deterministic and Nondeterministic Functions; 4.2 Types of Functions; 4.3 Vendor Extensions; Chapter 5: Unimplemented SQL99 Commands; SQL99 and Vendor-Specific Keywords; Colophon;