Absolute Beginner's Guide to Databases [Paperback]

John Petersen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2002 | ISBN-10: 078972569X | ISBN-13: 978-0789725691 | Edition: 1

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Databases brings the elements of a database together using easy to understand language, perfect for the true beginner. It not only gives specific hands on practice, but also provides an overview of designing, maintaining and using a database. This book covers what databases are used for, why databases are important, why the design of the database is important, database normalization, keys to solid database design, differences in types of databases, and indexes--what they are, how we use them, and why they are important.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Databases brings the elements of a database together using easy to understand language, perfect for the true beginner. It not only gives specific hands on practice, but also provides an overview of designing, maintaining and using a database. This book covers what databases are used for, why databases are important, why the design of the database is important, database normalization, keys to solid database design, differences in types of databases, and indexeswhat they are, how we use them, and why they are important.

About the Author

John V. Petersen is president and founder of Main Line Software, Inc., a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based software application and database design firm. MLSI development platforms include Visual FoxPro, Visual Basic, Access, SQL Server, and Microsoft's newest development platform Visual Studio .NET.

John earned an MBA from the Haub School of Business at St. Joseph's University in 1993. John is currently a 2L at the Rutgers University School of Law. John has presented at many industry events including Microsoft Developer Days and Microsoft Tech-Ed. John's writing projects have included Visual FoxPro 6 Enterprise Development and Hands-On Visual Basic 6 Web Development from Prima Publishing, ADO Jumpstart MSDN Whitepaper, and numerous feature articles on application development and database design issues. John has been an annual recipient of Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional award since 1996.

Product Details

• Paperback: 313 pages
• Publisher: Que; 1 edition (March 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078972569X
• ISBN-13: 978-0789725691
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #624,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great intro book to databases!, July 16, 2003

By 

cindy_uf (DeBary, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Databases (Paperback)

I had no experience with databases before I read this book. I didn't even understand the basic concepts. This book includes basic definitions, detailed database design, SQL statements, how to use Microsoft Access (creating tables, relationships, queries, forms and reports). If you have little or no experience with databases, you will definitely take advantage of this book. It's very easy to read.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for absolute beginners, April 8, 2005

By 

J. Soper "Kratze" (Jax) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Databases (Paperback)

This won't necessarily be a book you look at much once you've digested its contents. What it does is outline basic database concepts using Access in its examples. You can use the book to get a basic Access database started, but don't rely on it if you're looking to create databases. Get an Access or database design book if that's your primary goal - IF, that is, IF you can make heads or tails out of most of what those books are talking about.

What I love about the book is its dedication to simplicity: I looked all over the place for a book that outlined basic database concepts in an easy to understand manner, and found book after book that promised to be 0-60, and spent about, oh, 2 pages on the 0-10. Where's the core basics, guys? Answer: in this book. It'll getcha up to 10 MPH, and then you can move on to bigger and better stuff.

After reading this book (and I had it bookmarked twelve ways come Sunday for about two months), I am finally ready to consider those more advanced books. I'm not a dummy, but sometimes a simple book is needed to bridge the gap between being a novice and being experienced. This was the book for me, and I highly recommend it to anybody who needs more than 2 pages of core database theory explanation. It's also easy to read and very user-friendly, by the way.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book lives up to the title!!!, May 3, 2003

By 

Daniel Lamb (Calgary, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Databases (Paperback)

Now here is a book that really DOES live up to its title! Even for those of us who have built databases before, it contains surprises and would hold a worthy place on your shelf for review purposes if nothing else. As another review said, the additional info on the use of Visio is a nice touch. I personally had a few problems using it, but I was using Visio 2002 and Access 2002, and not version 2000, as the book used. This could have been the source of my problems, (that or an inability for me to follow instructions!) Either way though, the book really does have good, usable information under its covers, and is a worthy read for neophytes as well as the more experienced database mechanics and architects.