Mastering Oracle SQL and SQL*Plus (Paperback)

by Lex de Haan (Author)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
<p>This exceptional book explains fundamentals in detail, supported by realistic examples, while most other books on the market do not properly cover such basics. If you work with relational databases you need to understand the SQL language. And you will gain full competence to define, access, and manipulate data in an Oracle database, if you do so following this book's guidance. </p>

<p>This book is fully compliant with the latest version of the ANSI SQL standard, and fully updated for the Oracle 10<i>g</i> database. Furthermore, this book is based on a popular Netherlands college textbook (currently in its third edition). And author Lex de Haan is vastly experienced with the Oracle database, and has twenty-five years of teaching experience. de Haan is also a member of the ANSI/ISO SQL standardization national body. </p>

About the Author
Lex de Haan worked for Oracle Corporation fourteen years, including four years as the senior curriculum manager for the education division, among the product development groups. In March, 2004, de Haan decided to "go independent" again, with "hisNatural Join B.V." consultancy. de Haan specializes in education and consulting in the areas of relational data modeling, SQL tuning, physical database design, database administration, and database internals. He presents training seminars on these topics all over the world. Since 1999, de Haan has been a member of the Dutch national body of the ANSI/ISO standardization committee for the SQL Language, working on the SQL:1999 and SQL:2003 standards. de Haan is a founding members of the Oaktable network.

Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (December 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590594487
• ISBN-13: 978-1590594483
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #551,943 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #23 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Databases > Oracle > SQL
  #50 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Databases > Oracle > PL & SQL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very useful CD with 10g, March 13, 2005

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The book presupposes no prior knowledge of Oracle SQL, or indeed of any SQL. de Haan writes for someone willing to study alone from this text, without benefit of the classroom.

Ah, but before I go further, I should add that there is one very attractive feature. The book has a CD with Oracle 10g for Microsoft Windows, and an associated Developer's License. You will need to install it to handle the many exercises he poses. (Another plus of the book.) But one can easily imagine an experienced developer getting the book for the CD alone.

Now if you do need to learn Oracle SQL, de Haan proceeds at a careful pace. He gives you the syntax in understandable chunks; not too much to overwhelm. SQL syntax diagrams can be formidable in their full glory. But piece by piece, you should be able to assimilate the content.

de Haan has also tried to keep to standard SQL syntax, as much as possible. At the level of an expected reader of the book, this is probably best. Oracle specific variants (just like other vendors' variants) tend to arise in more advanced contexts.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and Comprehensive, February 12, 2005

By	Michael H. Thomas (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The main reason I love this book is because I can use it to teach someone, at any level, Oracle SQL or SQL*Plus by just pointing to sections and pages as examples. There are comprehensive query examples with Oracle and ANSI/ISO (SQL:2003) syntax, including specific Oracle limitations.

The details on SQL*Plus are excellent and even experts can learn quite a few essential tips. At many points reading the book I was provoked into testing further details on my own, because the approach is clear and helpful and it motivated me to think. A complete and accurate book including theory, syntax, examples, references and gotchas (caution and notes). It also includes 10g Oracle query features.

Great book. My copy gets used at work a lot. :-)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who really need SQL, February 10, 2005

By	G. J. Hofstede "Gert Jan Hofstede" (Ede Netherlands) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book gets you started as a beginner and takes you all the way to becoming an intermediate SQL expert. Even those who think they know SQL can learn a lot from the book. Lex de Haan is a rare bird: he is both a very good teacher AND a consummate SQL savvy seasoned by industry practice. Lex knows what errors people make and he sets all the traps, to pick you out after you've fallen into them.
And it's up to date with the latest Oracle stuff, without drowning in hype.
The smart exercises and answers make this book ideal for teachers. I've had loads of university students work with the Dutch version, and I've been sorry for the lack of an English equivalent. But here it is at last!