Reviews for SQL for Dummies

1. No use for beginners

   Rated 2 out of 5 stars, August 12th, 2005

   A book dealing with a technically complex subject like SQL needs to have good code examples that the reader can repeat and play around with, followed by questions which embed the knowledge and ensure the reader is understanding the material. If you want an entirely theoretical overview of SQL this book might be useful but if you want to sit down and start using it work with databases then look somewhere else.

2. Useless

   Rated 1 out of 5 stars, July 12nd, 2005

   I'm sorry, I didn't find this book at all helpfull. For dummies book are usually very good. I was very disapointed with this title.

3. No good

   Rated 1 out of 5 stars, February 12th, 2004

   Dummies shouldn't be messing with SQL. If you need to do SQL get a real book.

4. All that it claims to be

   Rated 3 out of 5 stars, October 12th, 2003

   I like to start off projects with simple concepts and a few examples to get off the ground. Well this book does just that. Unfortunately I would also like to have some example of input and output. I chose this book because it was not database specific, as I am converting files from an Informix database, through a filter, to a flat file, for later conversion to an Oracle database, with a different structure. Unfortunately this book (being universal) has no universal explanation as to how to get information from a flat file in or out of the database. First you have to find the term they use, not ASCII, not flat, not import, not export, not not not. The term is found in chapter 7 “foreign.” The explanation on how to do this is to “…turn to one of the professional data translation services.” Great, just what I wanted to know.

5. SQL IN A FLASH - Best source of fast facts

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, November 12th, 2002

   Having only skimmed the surface of databses in the past I was faced this week with a rather large challenge; learn SQL in a week to give a discussion to 150 people!
   On the face of it, it would seem that this was an impossible task for someone who had only dealt with HTML and XML before, but then Allen G Taylor came to my rescue!
   SQL for dummies takes you through all the stages of databases from what are relational databases, tables, SQL commands, data retreival and security issues in SQL. This book is a true masterpiece and anyone wishing to get to grips with SQL should not hesitate to but this invaluable source of facts.
   Allen gently guides you through all of the areas with hints, tips and reminders of commands and queries along the way.

   I can honestly say that of all the books I have read relating to computer technology, none has come close to the simple practical advice of this book.

   I look forward to Allen G Taylors next offering.