This is the Safari online edition of the printed book.

The World’s #1 Hands-On Oracle SQL Workbook–Fully Updated for Oracle 11g

Crafted for hands-on learning and tested in classrooms worldwide, this book illuminates in-depth every Oracle SQL technique you’ll need. From the simplest query fundamentals to regular expressions and with newly added coverage of Oracle’s powerful new SQL Developer tool, you will focus on the tasks that matter most. Hundreds of step-by-step, guided lab exercises will systematically strengthen your expertise in writing effective, high-performance SQL. Along the way, you’ll acquire a powerful arsenal of useful skills–and an extraordinary library of solutions for your real-world challenges with Oracle SQL.

Coverage includes

• 100% focused on Oracle SQL for Oracle 11g, today’s #1 database platform–not “generic” SQL!

• Master all core SQL techniques including every type of join such as equijoins, self joins, and outer joins

• Understand Oracle functions in depth, especially character, number, date, timestamp, interval, conversion, aggregate, regular expressions, analytical, and more

• Practice all types of subqueries, such as correlated and scalar subqueries, and learn about set operators and hierarchical queries

• Build effective queries and learn fundamental Oracle SQL Developer and SQL*Plus skills

• Make the most of the Data Dictionary and create tables, views, indexes, and sequences

• Secure databases using Oracle privileges, roles, and synonyms

• Explore Oracle 11g’s advanced data warehousing features

• Learn many practical tips about performance optimization, security, and architectural solutions

• Avoid common pitfalls and understand and solve common mistakes

• For every database developer, administrator, designer, or architect, regardless of experience!

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 7 Ratings

The best and most under rated SQL book - 2009-09-15
Reviewer Rating:
I use SQL daily and I'm still not very good at it.
I don't pick up languages easily or memorize syntax
or vocabulary be it French, Spanish or SQL.
So, several times a day I pick up this book
to reference how to do something with SQL that I need
to know NOW before moving on to my next 20
emergency du jures.
.
This is a great book........ the best that I have found.
.

Very Good Resource for SQL and Oracle. - 2006-11-04
Reviewer Rating:
You will like this book! I knew absolutely nothing about SQL, but this book will put your mind at ease. The author is easygoing and writes what could be a very tough topic in a non-intimating way. Believe me, this book will quickly become your best friend when it comes to learning SQL/Oracle. This book is so detailed that it covers every conceivable aspect of SQL/Oracle. Personally, I just wanted to learn SQL and really don't know what database I want to use at this point, but this book is an excellent way to learn SQL -- especially for those that like to learn at their own pace like I do. So, if you are a "learn-it-yourselfer" like I am, you will love it. It even has end of chapter review questions to reinforce in the learning. Plus, it's a terrific resource after you complete the chapters.

Now the downside: I would say the only confusing part is uploading the tutorial database (which you have to do from the author's website. It will take a little brainpower and a few aspirin because the directions on the author's website assume some previous knowledge. But trust me; you will eventually get it to work. I should tell you that it would be helpful, not necessary, but helpful to know a little bit about relational databases (like MS Access) before you tackle Oracle. Anther thing to know is that the author tells you that you need the Standard or Professional full editions, which would be very expensive and only necessary if you own a Fortune 500 company! But, thankfully, you do not need the full versions. All you need is the Express Edition to practice on and the book tutorials are well suited to it. The Express Edition is free software downloadable from Oracle's website, and really, it's all the casual hobbyist needs anyway and it's plenty powerful. Now, for those who are not familiar with Oracle, it has a completely different look and feel from ...like MS Access, for example. Oracle looks like DOS and initially feels just as clunky. But, it will grow on you. You also can apply the SQL concepts to Microsoft SQL Server if you want to learn another DB.

So if you are really serious and dedicated about learning databases, and don't mind a difficult initial set up, buy this book.

Learning By Examples - 2008-04-24
Reviewer Rating:
I had picked up a copy of O'Reilly's "Oracle SQL*Plus" text. Read through the first few pages, got discouraged, and the book sat on the shelf for five years.
Since then, I have become a strong believer of "Learning by doing". Last year, I had bought this book with the same philosophy in mind. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. As the other reviewers have pointed out, the author starts with simple examples and builds on the material. Every concept is followed by at least one example.

The questions at the end of each chapter reinforce the concepts covered in the chapter. The answers (to the questions) introduce more concepts followed by more examples, and the learning process goes on and on ...

All in all, an excellent resource to learn Oracle's sqlplus.

Having said that, what this book is not is a certification guide. For those aspiring to write the Oracle certification exams will have to go an extra mile of investing time & money in another text that is specifically geared towards certifications. And this is where I am heading next.

Depth on a long and winding road - 2006-11-13
Reviewer Rating:
This is an good book to explore the mechanics of Oracle's implementation of SQL. It has average organization, but you'll have a bumpy read.

The exercises are sometimes the only place concepts are addressed. Some information on Oracle is incorrect, like the default date format. The book uses the value prior to Y2K. The 3rd Edition is a patch work of changes and a complete or major overhaul would be helpful. It is not for a beginner in Oracle technology.

The book vaguely mentions normalization, the examples are poorly thought out and too shallow to be of any value. If you're studying for the certification exam, this isn't the book you should buy.

Review on Oracle SQL by Example (3rd Edition) - 2008-03-07
Reviewer Rating:
This a good book for anyone that is interested in learning Oracle SQL. If you have a basic understanding of SQL commands, you should have no problem picking this up quickly. If you don't have any experience, the reading is easy; you shouldn't have trouble either.

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