The Fifth Edition of Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 21 Days

More than 48,000 sold!



In just one hour a day, you'll have all the skills you need to begin creating effective SQL queries, reports, and database applications. With this complete tutorial, you'll quickly master the basics and then move on to more advanced features and concepts:





Quickly apply essential SQL techniques in useful, real-world queries
Design trustworthy, high-performance databases
Manipulate your data with views and transactions
Leverage powerful features including stored procedures, triggers, and cursors
Work with new objects introduced with the latest SQL standards
Get practical, expert tips on implementing SQL in your business environment



Learn on your own time, at your own pace



No previous SQL or database experience required
Learn techniques that work with any current version of SQL
Discover how to write faster, more efficient queries
Secure your data using best practices from experienced database administrators
Build more powerful databases with features exclusive to Oracle SQL*Plus, Oracle PL/SQL, and Microsoft Transact-SQL
Write queries for the free, open source MySQL database
Embed your SQL code in other applications



Ryan Stephens and Ron Plew are President and VP of Perpetual Technologies, Inc. (PTI) in Indianapolis, IN, providing managed services and consulting for top database implementations running Oracle, SQL Server, and other leading technologies. They taught for 5+ years as adjunct professors at Indiana University-Purdue University. Their books include Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, First through Fourth Editions, Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 21 Days, Second through Fourth Editions, and Database Design.



Table of Contents



Introduction 1



PART I: Introducing SQL



LESSON 1: Getting Started with SQL 5

A Brief History of SQL 5

A Brief History of Databases 6

Today's Database Landscape 11

A Cross-Product Language 12

Early Implementations 12

SQL and Client/Server Application Development 13

An Overview of SQL 13

Popular SQL Implementations 14

MySQL 14

Oracle 14

Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase 15

IBM DB2 16

Open Database Connectivity