Review

Murach's SQL for SQL Server is the ideal book for those who want to learn SQL for Microsoft SQL Server. However, since SQL is a standard language, almost all the code examples in this book will work with any database management system.

In section one you will learn the concepts and terms you will need for working with any database. In section two you will learn how to retrieve, add, update, and delete data from a database. Section three will teach you how to design a database using either the SQL Data Definition Language (DDL) statements or visually using the Enterprise Manager tool included with SQL Server. The fourth and final section presents the features that give a database management system much of its power. These include views, stored procedures, functions, triggers, cursors, and transactions.

The book is filled with hundreds of real world examples which allow you to better understand all of the concepts being presented. As with all Murach books, all information is presented in a paired pages format, with explanations of the left page and the syntax and diagrams on the right. This feature makes the book easier to follow and provides an ideal reference format.

If you're a programmer and want to learn how to work with Microsoft SQL Server, Murach's SQL for SQL Server will provide you with all the information you will need to design, implement, and maintain any SQL Server database. It is also ideal for anyone who's simply looking for a book that will teach them the SQL language.

You may read other reviews for this book at Amazon.com.

Table of Contents

SECTION 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO SQL

Chapter 1: An introduction to relational databases and SQL
Chapter 2: How to work with a SQL Server database

SECTION 2 THE ESSENTIAL SQL SKILLS

Chapter 3: How to retrieve data from a single table
Chapter 4: How to retrieve data from two or more tables
Chapter 5: How to code summary queries
Chapter 6: How to code subqueries
Chapter 7: How to insert, update, and delete data
Chapter 8: How to work with data types and functions

SECTION 3 DATABASE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

Chapter 9: How to design a database
Chapter 10: How to create and maintain databases and tables
Chapter 11: How to use the Enterprise Manager

SECTION 4 ADVANCED SQL SKILLS

Chapter 12: How to work with views
Chapter 13: How to code scripts
Chapter 14: How to code stored procedures, functions, and triggers
Chapter 15: How to work with cursors
Chapter 16: How to manage transactions and locking
Chapter 17: How to manage database security

APPENDIXES

Appendix A How to install and use the software and files for this book
Appendix B Coding and syntax conventions