Knowing Just Enough about Relational Databases
Building a system in Oracle or some other relational database product does not automatically make it a relational database. Similarly, you can design a perfectly good relational database and implement [more…]
Setting Up an Oracle Environment
If you want to set up a typical PL/SQL environment, you need the following components: [more…]
The Scoop on SQL and PL/SQL
As a database application developer, you interact with the Oracle DBMS by using the programming languages Structured Query Language (SQL, pronounced sequel [more…]
Where Does SQL Server Express 2005 Work Best?
SQL Server 2005 Express brings a lot to the table, but when does it make sense to choose it as your data storage platform? Some insight follows. . . . [more…]
More SQL Server 2005 Express Troubleshooting Tips
Predicaments are possible with SQL Server 2005. Here's a smattering of those that you're likely to encounter. [more…]
A Few SQL Server 2005 Express Troubleshooting Tips
As an entry-level database server that is built on the same platform as the entire SQL Server product family, SQL Server 2005 Express combines simplicity with great power and a massive set of features. [more…]
What Is PL/SQL Good For?
PL/SQL is the language to use when writing code that resides in the database. In the following article, you'll see different situations in which you'll find PL/SQL useful. [more…]
Working with Code after Installing an Oracle PL/SQL Database
After you have the database installed, the next question is, "Where will you run all these PL/SQL programs?" The answer isn't as simple as you might think. The ultimate goal is productivity, and you can [more…]
Getting Down to Business with SQL Server 2005 Express
If you're wondering how you can get started using the product, that's what this article is all about. [more…]
Phases of SQL System Development
In developing any system, you start at the beginning and go through to the end, and it’s no different with SQL. The following list shows you what to consider at each phase of the SQL development lifecycle [more…]
SQL Criteria for Normal Forms
In SQL, normal forms are defining characteristics of relational databases. SQL forms get classified according to the types of modification anomalies they’re subject to. First, second, and third normal [more…]
SQL Value Functions
You use SQL value expressions to combine two or more values. Several kinds of SQL value expressions exist, corresponding to the different data types; the following table lists string, numeric and datetime [more…]
SQL Set Functions
Sometimes, the information that you want to extract from an SQL table doesn’t relate to individual rows but rather to sets of rows. SQL provides five set [more…]
How to Filter SQL Tables with WHERE Clauses
The WHERE clause is a filter that passes rows that meet the search condition and rejects rows that don’t meet the condition. By including WHERE clauses in SELECT statements, you can restrict the rows that [more…]
SQL Data Types
Depending on their histories, different SQL implementations support a variety of data types. The SQL specification recognizes six predefined general types, shown in this table. [more…]
SQL All-in-One Cheat Sheet
SQL is a popular and useful programming language. You can make SQL even more useful if you know the phases of SQL development, normal forms, the data types, how to filter tables with WHERE clauses, and [more…]
