Inside Relational Databases [Paperback]

Mark Whitehorn (Author), Bill Marklyn (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1852334010 | ISBN-13: 978-1852334017 | Publication Date: June 27, 2001 | Edition: 2nd

The second edition of this best-seller is revised and updated. It delivers a reader-friendly explanation of the relational model and its importance to database designers and builders. Clear explanations make use of examples rather than equations, and show how an understanding of the relational model can lead to making a database faster and flexible. Topics covered include: nulls, primary and foreign keys, joins, relationships, domains, indexing, and many others. The authors manage to shed light on this tricky subject with substance and style.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviews from the first edition of Inside Relational Databases: "Quite simply - superb. By making relational databases understandable, Mark Whitehorn and Bill Marklyn have achieved far more than most. Making the subject interesting and entertaining as well puts these two authors firmly in a class of their own." - Neil Fawcett, Group Technical Editor, VNU Business Publications "PCW and Amazon.co.uk contributor Mark Whitehorn is that rare combination - an expert in his field, databases, and a fine writer too, with a talent for honing a complex subject down to its essentials." - Tamsin Todd, Computer & Internet Editor, Amazon.co.uk "Inside Relational Databases is excellent. It is clearly and concisely written and full of humorous asides which ease the reader through an otherwise weighty topic. Probably the most engaging technical book I have read." - Paul McGowan

From the Back Cover

Inside Relational Databases was first published in 1997 and, rather to our surprise, rapidly reached the status of a classic work in the database field. Translated into three other languages and sold all over the world, it has helped thousands of people to understand the relational model that underpins all modern databases. Inside Relational Databases has never been about how to use a particular database engine (Access, SQL Server, MySQL, whatever). Instead, it’s about the underlying way in which relational databases work. However it is very convenient if the book illustrates the relational model using the reader’s favorite product – such as Access. So, for the new edition we produced several different versions of the same book, each version based on a different database engine. The version in your hand is based around Access (hence the title). There are other versions based around SQL Server and MySQL. You shouldn’t buy this book if you are looking for a book about how to use Access. You should buy this book if you have created databases but they don’t seem to work very well. Perhaps you: •can’t retrieve the information that you want. •have to type in the same information over and over again. •type in data and it appears to go missing. •ask questions and get answers that you know are wrong. •can use Access but you don’t know exactly what to do with it. •know that a relational database lets you create multiple tables in the database but you are uncertain why this is to your advantage. Or perhaps you hear words in connection with databases like: •normalization •functional dependency •inner join •union •redundant data •data dictionary •meta-data •ER modeling •transaction •concurrency •locking You haven’t got the faintest idea what they mean and there is no one you can ask. We have also taken the opportunity of the new edition to restructure the book significantly. I (Mark) continue to teach database design and practice, both to undergraduates and in the commercial world. Without doubt the most popular topic in the commercial world is how to make databases run faster (no great surprise there) so we have added an entire section of brand new material (more than 10% of the entire book) on that topic. The section on designing databases has been reorganized and expanded and we also re-read the entire book (several times) and brought it all up to date. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 357 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 2nd edition (June 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852334010
• ISBN-13: 978-1852334017
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,289,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What you MUST know about relational databases., August 29, 2000

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"cmjreview" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Relational Databases: with examples in Access (Paperback)

Inside Relational Databases will teach the newcomer to Access or relational databases in general, the theory needed to design and develop applications in the most efficient and professional manner.

All those theoretical questions you are asking yourself when programming in Access will suddenly be answered, and you find yourself more confident and inspired to develop the best application possible now that you passed this hurdle; at least I did.

The first 3 parts of the book will teach you the relational database model supported by examples on the enclosed CD-ROM. These examples are not to be used as "cut & paste" into your own application, but designed to turn theory into reality easy to grasp! The last part consists of standalone chapters covering essential subjects related to database theory and design, like: Normalization, SQL, Queries and Codd's Rules

You will not find another computer book on Access and relational database theory and design, or any other subject for that matter, which makes use of such clear language. I have read the book cover to cover several times, and I am still impressed. Which makes me ask if we, the readers and buyers of computer books, quietly and wrongly accept badly written books filled with errors and poor language?

If I were asked to make a list of suggested readings for Access and database developers, this would be No. 1.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book - Especially for Beginners!, August 27, 2001

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S. Nare "snare" (Lebanon, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Inside Relational Databases (Paperback)

I have had countless hours of training in several versions of Access. It was never the using of Access that I had a problem with. What always mystified me was the design of the actual database. I would sit and ponder whether I needed one table, multiple tables, what should be the primary key, which relationships to use, etc. As a result, I never really was comfortable with or deeply into using Access. All of this has changed with this book. This book is written in a simple straightforward manner that explains all of these details. They carefully and not too slowly show you how to properly design your databases. Their examples are primarily in Access (97 & 2000 formats). Access 2000 is used for all of the screenshots. You learn by reading their instruction and then opening Access to view the related sample database located on the accompanying CDROM. This book is only 345 pages long. It is NOT the gigantic volume of so many books. As a result it is something you can get thru in managable bites and not feel overwhelmed. This book was really written for beginners. I don't think it would hurt an intermediate person to read it, but I think advanced developers can probably skip it. Having said all this, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It is one of those rare books that had a (good) career-impacting effect on me. I hope it is as helpful for you!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegant, Funny - My Database Bible, November 17, 1998

By 

Bjeans - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Relational Databases: with examples in Access (Paperback)

After searching through dozens of books about databases, I found Mr. Whitehorn's elegant, witty and kind book. As a new database student, changing careers midlife, I was struggling for days to understand concepts that Mr. Whitehorn cleared up in a hour's enjoyable read. (He's the kind of writer who could write about paperclips for 200 pages and hold the reader's attention.) His PhD put firmly aside, he demystifies the relational database with humor (the book is peppered with occasional asides telling one how to bluff and impress database purists), clarity and common sense. Back in school for a midlife career change, this book kept me firmly planted in my program when I was teetering on the edge of dropping out. SELECT GreatBook FROM Amazon WHERE Whitehead = Author