Customer Reviews

Learning SQL: A Step-by-Step Guide Using Access

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The pace is very slow for the really basic stuff while more sophisticated techniques, such as correlated sub-queries, are not explained well enough.

There are numerous errors in the book which suggest the authors don't really know Microsoft Access. Clearly, some of the worked problems were only tried on paper and not through Access itself. Significant errors appear in the discussion of data types (pp. 58 - 81), joins (p. 105), calculations with dates (p. 145), null constraints (p. 282) and referential integrity (p. 288). The downloadable example database does not comply with modern database design protocols.

For a much better book, try "SQL Queries for Mere Mortals" by Hernandez & Viescas.

I know the pickings are slim for finding a book to learn SQL using Access, but PLEASE can't someone who knows how to teach and cares about getting their information correct write one? First off, this book has many errors including some statements that work OPPOSITE to the statements. Ex: On page 105 the description for "Nested LEFT and RIGHT OUTER JOINs" reads "In Access, A LEFT JOIN or a RIGHT JOIN can be nested inside an INNER JOIN, but an INNER JOIN cannot be nested inside a LEFT JOIN or a RIGHT JOIN." NO. NO. NO. It works in the opposite way.

The tables to be used in the book tutorials often bear no relationship at all to the fields or to the data and some of the naming produces run errors-- creating a frustrating experience for a student. This was obviously no labor of love for the authors, but a slapdash method to pump out a book. It is a crime that there was no quality assurance on this book. That alone would have caught the worst of it. For shame to all associated with its publication.

I generously gave it two stars just because it is probably better than nothing, but not much better. Again, here's a call to all of you SQL trainers out there: your market is wide open.

This is an excellent book to use to teach students SQL in a very inexpensive way -- using Access. Although the book may not be in-depth enough for professionals, the authors do a great job of presenting the material in a very user friendly and systematic way for beginner students.