A Visual Introductionto SQL - by J. Harvey Trimble Jr. and David Chappell

Oct 25, 2026

A visual, step-by-step introduction to SQL that teaches core database concepts and query construction through progressively more advanced examples. Covers relational concepts, tables, rows, columns, keys, and an example database, then builds queries using SELECT, WHERE filtering, logical predicates, and pattern and set operators. Extends to aggregates, grouping with HAVING, joins across multiple tables, subqueries including correlated forms, and schema changes such as creating/dropping tables, adding/modifying/deleting records, and defining views. Concludes with privilege management and advanced topics like indexes, unions, and self-joins.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Introducing SQL

Elements of the Language

Ways to Use SQL

Versions of SQL

Defining the Language

Data Types

The Structure of SQL Statements

Retrieving Data From a Table: The SELECT Statement

More On SELECT

Retrieving Data From Several Tables: Joins

Queries Within Queries: Subqueries

Creating and Destroying Tables

Adding, Modifying, and Deleting Records

Views

Granting and Revoking Privileges

Advanced Topics

Appendix: The Example Database

# A Visual Introductionto SQL ### J.Harvey Trimble,Jr.David Chappell Technische Hochschule DarmstadtFACHBEREICH NFOBMATIK BI BL IOTH EK ##### Inventar-Nr:…9226…………………Sachgebiete:….H2.3… …Standort:…585………… ……… John Wiley &Sons— 1 2 3 Contents Introducing SQL Kinds of Database Systems …………………………………………………………………………………1 Relational Concepts…………………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Tables, Rows, and Columns ........!………………………………………………2 Keys………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3 An Example Table………………………………………………………………………………………4 The Visual Approach …………………………………………………………………………………………5 The Plan of This Book ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………6 Elements of the Language Ways to Use SQL……………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 Versions of SQL…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 Defining the Language……………………………………………………………………………………………8 Data Types ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 The Structure of SQLStatements …………………………………………………………10 Keywords ……………………………………………………………………………………………………11 An Example Database………………………………………………………………………………………11 Organization of the Examples………………………………………………………………………14 Retrieving Data From a Table: The SELECT Statement Selecting Specific Columns in a Table………………………………………………………16 Selecting All Columns in a Table …………………………………………………………………19 Selecting Only Some of a Table's Records: The WHERE Clause ………22 Comparisons in a WHERE Clause …………………………………………………………………………22 Combining Predicates in a WHERE Clause………………………………………………………27 Using AND……………………………………………………………………………………………………………27 Using OR………………………………………………………………………………………………………………30 Using NOT………………………………………………………………………………………………33 vi Contents Other Uses of WHERE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………35 BETWEEN and NOT BETWEEN…………………………………………………………………35 LIKE and NOT LIKE …………………………………………………………………………………38 IN and NOT IN ………………………………………………………………………………………………43 IS NULL and IS NOT NULL……………………………………………………………………46 4 More On SELECT Ordering Selected Data………………………………………………………………………………………………49 Doing Arithmetic With Selected Information…………………………………………56 Using Aggregates ……………………………………………………………………………………………59 Finding Maximum and Minimum Values ………………………………………59 Totalling Columns……………………………………………………………………………………………63 Finding Averages ………………………………………………………………………………………66 Counting Records …………………………………………………………………………………………68 Using DISTINCT……………………………………………………………………………………………71 Grouping Selected Data …………………………………………………………………………………74 More on Grouping:the HAVING Clause ……………………………………………………82 5 Retrieving Data From Several Tables:Joins f Qualified Names……………………………………………………………………………………………………………86 What is a Join?………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………87 Restricting the Results of a Join……………………………………………………………………………91 Query Diagrams for Joins ………………………………………………………………………………93 Manipulating the Results of a Join …………………………………………………………………98 Aliases…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………102 Joins With Three Tables ……………………………………………………………………………………………105 The Visual Approach With More Than Two Tables ………………105 Joins With More Than Three Tables…………………………………………………………………114 Retrieving the Same Information in Different Ways…………………114 Using GROUP BY in a Join…………………………………………………………………………………120 6 Queries Within Queries: Subqueries What is a Subquery? …………………………………………………………………………………………………124 Using Comparison Operators With Subqueries………………………………………127 Using ANY and ALL……………………………………………………………………………………………………131 Existence Tests………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………138 Correlated Subqueries …………………………………………………………………………………138 Using HAVING With Correlated Subqueries………………………………140 7 Creating and Destroying Tables Creating a Table……………………………………………………………………………………………………………148 Disallowing NULL Values …………………………………………………………………149 Requiring Unique Values in a Column ………………………………………150 Destroying(D

FAQs

What database concepts and SQL fundamentals are covered first?

The book starts with introducing SQL and database system kinds, then covers relational concepts, tables, rows, columns, keys, and an example table and database. It also outlines the visual approach and the plan of the book.

How does the book teach filtering and logic in SELECT queries?

It explains selecting specific columns, selecting all columns, and then retrieving only certain records using the WHERE clause. It covers comparisons and combining predicates, including AND, OR, and NOT, plus operators like BETWEEN, LIKE, IN, and IS NULL.

What advanced SQL topics are included after basic querying?

The later chapters include grouping with HAVING, joining multiple tables (including multi-table joins and GROUP BY in joins), subqueries (ANY/ALL, existence tests, correlated subqueries), and schema and data operations. It further includes views, GRANT/REVOKE privileges, and advanced topics such as indexes, unions, and self-joins.

Oct 25, 2026

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