SQL textbook

Jan Mura wrote:

Hello,

I would like to ask for a hint for a good SQL textbook. I don't want just a
reference manual but real textbook with a theoretical background so I could
to design my databases following the general rules as normal forms and so
on.

Try "An Introduction to Database Systems" by C.J. Date - that'll give
you a good background. Anything will do for SQL.

I mean something on the net of course.

I don't know that there is anything on the net that covers background
information well.

--
Richard Huxton
Archonet Ltd

Jan,
There are a lot of resources available. Each database program has a different dialect of SQL, and I find the PostgreSQL on-line manual has an excellent introduction of SQL and even some theoretical issues. I would start there (its free and directly applicable to using PostgreSQL).

Searching on the web will yield some tutorials but these tend to be pretty brief. There is a discussion group at DbForums that has some information. There are also occasional subject specific articles, such as on data modeling.

Many books are available for download. Joe Celko is a well respected author and just about anything with his name on it is good. Here are some specific suggestions.

An introduction to database vocabulary and terms:
Date, C.J. (2006). The relational database dictionary. Sebastopol, CA: O"Reilly

Database design and concepts:
Hernandez, M.J. (2003). Database design for mere mortals (2nd ed.). New York: Addison-Wesley.

Bagui, S. & Earp, R. (2003). Database design using entity-relationship diagrams. New York: Auerbach Publications.

Celko, J. (1999). Joe Celko's data and databases: concepts in practice. San Francisco: Morgan Kaufman.

SQL
Celko, J. (2005). Joe Celko's SQL programming style. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Gulutzan, P., & Peltzer, T. (2002). SQL performance tuning. New York: Addison Wesley.

Faroult, S., & Robson, P. (2006). The are ot SQL. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly.

Tow, D. (2003). SQL tuning. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jan Mura<mailto:jan.mura@volny.cz>
To: pgsql-general@postgresql.org<mailto:pgsql-general@postgresql.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 9:43 PM
Subject: [GENERAL] SQL textbook

Hello,

I would like to ask for a hint for a good SQL textbook. I don't want just a
reference manual but real textbook with a theoretical background so I could
to design my databases following the general rules as normal forms and so
on.
I mean something on the net of course.

Thank you

Jan Mura

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----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Schmidt
To: Jan Mura ; pgsql-general@postgresql.org
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] SQL textbook

Many books are available for download. Joe Celko is a well respected
author and just about anything with his name on it is good. Here are some
specific suggestions.

Do you have any URLs for the books that are available for download?

Cheers

Ted

On Thu, 8 Feb 2007, Michael Schmidt wrote:

There are a lot of resources available. Each database program has a
different dialect of SQL, and I find the PostgreSQL on-line manual has an
excellent introduction of SQL and even some theoretical issues. I would
start there (its free and directly applicable to using PostgreSQL).

I would like to ask for a hint for a good SQL textbook. I don't want just
a reference manual but real textbook with a theoretical background so I
could to design my databases following the general rules as normal forms
and so on. I mean something on the net of course.

I think Jan is confusing two separate concepts: database design
(particularly how to normalize the tables) and the SQL language used to work
with whatever design one's created.

For the language itself, I concur that anything written by Joe Celko is
worth reading. I believe he wrote a monthly column for Database Advisor in
the 1980s that was always worth reading.

For database design, I suggest a visit to a library, technical bookstore,
or a Google search to find something written to answer the questions Jan
has. Seems like every author has a different definition of 'database
design,' and some confuse design tools with design concepts. Only Jan can
decide what references are pertinent to his needs. Again, Google is your
friend.

Rich

--
Richard B. Shepard, Ph.D. | The Environmental Permitting
Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc. | Accelerator(TM)
<http://www.appl-ecosys.com&gt; Voice: 503-667-4517 Fax: 503-667-8863

On Thu, 8 Feb 2007, Ted Byers wrote:

Do you have any URLs for the books that are available for download?

Google is your friend.

Rich

--
Richard B. Shepard, Ph.D. | The Environmental Permitting
Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc. | Accelerator(TM)
<http://www.appl-ecosys.com&gt; Voice: 503-667-4517 Fax: 503-667-8863

Ted,
Google the publisher's name to get to its site.
mike
----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Byers<mailto:r.ted.byers@rogers.com>
To: Michael Schmidt<mailto:michaelmschmidt@msn.com> ; pgsql-general@postgresql.org<mailto:pgsql-general@postgresql.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 11:05 AM
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] SQL textbook

----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Schmidt
To: Jan Mura ; pgsql-general@postgresql.org<mailto:pgsql-general@postgresql.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] SQL textbook

Many books are available for download. Joe Celko is a well respected
author and just about anything with his name on it is good. Here are some
specific suggestions.

Do you have any URLs for the books that are available for download?

Cheers

Ted