Sebastopol, CA--Databases lie at the heart of many, if not most business applications. Chances are very good that anyone involved in software development is using SQL to some degree. And anyone using SQL should own a solid reference to the language--one like the newly improved, thoroughly updated, and highly focused SQL in a Nutshell, Second Edition (O'Reilly, US $44.95) by Kevin E. Kline, with Daniel Kline and Brand Hunt.
Structured Query Language (SQL) is the elegant but complex descriptive language that is used to create and maintain database objects, query data, modify data, and delete data that is no longer needed. While SQL is a standardized language, actual implementations of SQL are anything but standard. Vendor variation abounds, and that's where this book comes into play.
"This book distills the experiences of professional database administrators and developers who have used SQL variants day in and day out to support complex enterprise applications," according to the authors. "Readers get the benefit of their experience in a compact and easily usable format."
SQL in a Nutshell, Second Edition is a practical, well-organized, comprehensive command reference for SQL2003, the latest release of the SQL language. The book presents each of the SQL2003 statements and describes their usage and syntax, not only from the point of view of the standard itself, but also as implemented by each of the five major database platforms: DB2, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. Each statement reference includes the command syntax by vendor, a clear description, and practical examples that illustrate important concepts and uses.
But SQL is not just about statements. Also important are datatypes and the vast library of built-in SQL functions that are so necessary to getting real work done. This book documents those datatypes and functions, both as described in the standard and as implemented by the various vendors. This edition also includes detailed information about the newer window function syntax that is supported in DB2 and Oracle.
SQL in a Nutshell, Second Edition is a concise and easy-to-use SQL reference tool for all programmers, a great guide for developers who need to migrate from one SQL dialect to another, and an ideal resource for database administrators who need to both execute a myriad of SQL statements to keep their enterprise databases up and running and create and manage objects such as tables, indexes, and views. It's a convenient guide for new and seasoned SQL programmers, analysts, and database administrators, but it's also an unbeatable resource for consultants and others who need to be familiar with the various SQL dialects across many platforms.
Those who want to be productive immediately need quick, accurate, detailed, and up-to-date SQL information. They'll find it all--and find it fast--in SQL in a Nutshell, Second Edition.
Praise for the first edition:
"Every DBA should have a good book on SQL...Kline's book is a great reference book for SQL syntax and covers SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and PostreSQL."
--Craig S. Mullins, "Database Trends and Applications," September 2003"An invaluable desktop reference for those who deal with SQL at a professional level. Compact and well designed."
--Major Keary, PC Update, March 2002"Everyone involved with creating, maintaining, or querying databases will value this book and wonder how they even managed without it!"
--Elizabeth Zinkann, Sys Admin, April 2001
Additional Resources:
- Chapter 4,"SQL Functions"
- More information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bios, and samples
- A cover graphic in JPEG format
SQL in a Nutshell, Second Edition
Kevin E. Kline with Daniel Kline and Brand Hunt
ISBN 0-596-00481-8, 691 pages, $44.95 US, $65.95 CA
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
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