Practical SQL Handbook, The: Using SQL Variants, Fourth Edition

Using SQL on the Job

When you get right down to it, whatever you know about SQL is useful only to the degree that it helps you get your work done. SQL is a business tool.

Earlier chapters focused on teaching SQL's capabilities; now it's time to look at how people really use SQL on the job. Most of the material in this chapter was collected from discussions (sometimes heated!) on the Internet: Puzzled SQL users submitted SQL questions to the world of network subscribers, often including code samples and background descriptions with their appeals for help. Readers volunteered solutions, added to or vigorously disagreed with previous answers, and occasionally “flamed” the inquirer for poorly analyzed materials.

Out of all this give-and-take, some ...