Publisher Description

"The book...has enough depth for even a seasoned professional to pick up enough tips to pay back the price of the book many times over." –Dr. Paul Dorsey, President, Dulcian, Inc., Oracle Magazine PL/SQL Developer of the Year 2007, and President Emeritus, New York Oracle Users Group    "This is a fascinating guide into the world of Oracle SQL with an abundance of well-collected examples. Without a doubt, this book is helpful to beginners and experts alike who seek alternative ways to resolve advanced scenarios."–Oleg Voskoboynikov, Ph.D., Database Architect   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 11 g, 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 11 g'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!

Back Cover

"The book...has enough depth for even a seasoned professional to pick up enough tips to pay back the price of the book many times over." -Dr. Paul Dorsey, President, Dulcian, Inc., Oracle Magazine PL/SQL Developer of the Year 2007, and President Emeritus, New York Oracle Users Group "This is a fascinating guide into the world of Oracle SQL with an abundance of well-collected examples. Without a doubt, this book is helpful to beginners and experts alike who seek alternative ways to resolve advanced scenarios."-Oleg Voskoboynikov, Ph.D., Database Architect The World's #1 Hands-On Oracle SQL Workbook-Fully Updated for Oracle 11 g 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 11 g , 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 11 g' 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!

Table of Contents

Foreword     xxxi Preface     xxxiv Chapter 1: SQL and Data     1 Chapter 2: SQL: The Basics     49 Chapter 3: The WHERE and ORDER BY Clauses     101 Chapter 4: Character, Number, and Miscellaneous Functions     133 Chapter 5: Date and Conversion Functions     189 Chapter 6: Aggregate Functions, GROUP BY, and HAVING Clauses     263 Chapter 7: Equijoins     285 Chapter 8: Subqueries     323 Chapter 9: Set Operators     377 Chapter 10: Complex Joins     399 Chapter 11: Insert, Update, and Delete     429 Chapter 12: Create, Alter, and Drop Tables     503 Chapter 13: Indexes, Sequences, and Views     571 Chapter 14: The Data Dictionary, Scripting, and Reporting     615 Chapter 15: Security     661 Chapter 16: Regular Expressions and Hierarchical Queries     695 Chapter 17: Exploring Data Warehousing Features     741 Chapter 18: SQL Optimization     803 Appendix A: Answers to Quiz Questions     839 Appendix B: SQL Formatting Guide     855 Appendix C: SQL*Plus Command Reference     859 Appendix D: STUDENT Database Schema     873 Appendix E: Table and Column Descriptions     875 Appendix F: Additional Example Tables     881 Appendix G: Navigating the Oracle Documentation     887 Appendix H: Resources     893 Appendix I: Oracle Data Types     897 Index     899  

Long Description

"The book...has enough depth for even a seasoned professional to pick up enough tips to pay back the price of the book many times over." -Dr. Paul Dorsey, President, Dulcian, Inc., Oracle Magazine PL/SQL Developer of the Year 2007, and President Emeritus, New York Oracle Users Group "This is a fascinating guide into the world of Oracle SQL with an abundance of well-collected examples. Without a doubt, this book is helpful to beginners and experts alike who seek alternative ways to resolve advanced scenarios."-Oleg Voskoboynikov, Ph.D., Database Architect The World's #1 Hands-On Oracle SQL Workbook-Fully Updated for Oracle 11 g 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 11 g , 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 11 g' 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!

Feature

The best hands-on guide to Oracle SQL - now updated for Oracle 11g and reorganized for even faster learning Classroom-tested worldwide! Teaches Oracle SQL through hundreds of practical lab exercises crafted by one of the world's leading database instructors 100% focused on Oracle SQL for Oracle 11g, today's #1 database platform -- not "generic" SQL Reflects key Oracle 11g innovations, including new data warehousing features Supported by a thorough, highly-useful web site

New Feature

--This edition will be completely updated to include the latest Oracle 11g features. --The book will have expanded coverage on relational database theory. --The chapter on SQL*Plus will contain additional explanations to help inexperienced readers get comfortable with the tool more quickly. --There will be additional discussions on alternate tools to execute SQL queries. --The data warehousing chapter will have more examples on the newly introduced features. --Joins will have additional coverage with more tips and tricks, particularly with regard to multi-table joins and their optimization techniques. --The overall layout of the book will be altered. The labs will be de-emphasized because many of the relevant teaching points were revealed only after the exercise has been completed. This will be reorganized to provide more upfront knowledge. The many exercises that follow will continue to reinforce the learned material. --The Website will be reorganized to facilitate the downloading of the end-of-chapter solutions and the sample data. Readers had previously complained about not finding information. --The author's web site is / and has all of the instructor materials available there.

Introduction or Preface

Extreme Programming Installed Preface SQL is the de facto standard language for relational databases, and Oracle''s database server is the leading relational database on the market today. Oracle SQL by Example, 4th edition, presents an introduction to the Oracle SQL language in a unique and highly effective format. Rather than being a reference book, it guides you through basic skills until you reach a mastery of the language. The book challenges you to work through hands-on guided tasks rather than read through descriptions of functionality. You will be able to retain the material more easily, and the additional exercise and quiz questions reinforce and further enhance the learning experience. Who This Book Is For This book is intended for anyone requiring a background in Oracle''s implementation of the SQL language. In particular, application developers, system designers, and database administrators will find many practical and representative real-world examples. Students new to Oracle will gain the necessary experience and confidence to apply their knowledge in solving typical problems they face in work situations. Individuals already familiar with Oracle SQL but wanting a firmer foundation or those interested in the new Oracle 11g features will discover many useful tips and tricks, as well as a wealth of information. The initial audience for the book was the students of the Oracle SQL class at Columbia University''s Computer Technology and Applications program. The student body typically encompassed a wide-ranging level of technology experience. Their questions, learning approaches, and feedback provided the framework for this book. Many students cited the hands-on exercises as critical to their understanding of database technology and SQL and continuously asked for more examples and additional challenging topics. This book shares much of the material presented in the classroom and looks at the various angles of many solutions to a particular issue. The book begins with the basic concepts of relational databases, the SQL Developer and SQL*Plus tools, and SQL; it then gradually deepens the knowledge. Whether you already have some fundamental understanding of SQL or not, you will benefit from reading this book as it allows you to gain insight into writing alternative SQL statements. After performing the exercises in this book, you will harness the power of SQL and utilize much of Oracle''s SQL functionality. What Makes This Book Different This book encourages you to learn by doing, to actively participate by performing the exercises, quizzes, and Workshop exercises. Ultimately, the reward is a thorough understanding of SQL and a high level of comfort dealing with real-world Oracle SQL topics. Performing the exercises aids in retention of the material, and the quizzes and Workshop sections further test your understanding and offer additional challenges. The companion Web site, located at , provides solutions to the Workshop exercises and includes additional exercises and answers. The book''s focus is on providing examples of how the SQL language is commonly used, with many exercises supporting the learning experience. Unlike other SQL books, this book discusses Oracle''s specific implementation of the language. Learning the language alone is not enough. The book also teaches you how to adopt good habits and educates you about many Oracle-specific technology features that are essential to successful systems development. The examples are based on from a sample database that takes you through the typical tasks you will encounter when working with an Oracle database. This book is not a reference book; rather, it teaches SQL by illustrating its use through many examples. Take advantage of the index to look up concepts and refer to certain topics. The best way to learn the SQL language is to perform the exercises and compare your answers with the sample answers and accompanying explanations. Additional teaching points are part of the answers; the idea is that after you have performed an exercise, you are ready for additional, more advanced material. This book does not cover the entire Oracle SQL syntax but emphasizes the essentials of the most frequently used features, with many examples to reinforce your learning. Some of Oracle''s syntax options are too numerous, and many are very infrequently used; including them all would make the book swell by several hundred additional pages. Instead, I have concentrated on those that you will use most. After performing the exercises, you will also have gained sufficient knowledge to read up and understand the Oracle documentation, if needed. I hope that you will enjoy this learning experience and come away with the knowledge you hoped to gain. How This Book Is Organized Each chapter of this book is divided into labs covering particular topics. The objective of each lab is defined at its beginning, with brief examples that introduce you to the covered concepts. Following the lab''s introductory examples are exercises, which are the heart of the lab. They reinforce and expand your knowledge of the subject. Each exercise consists of a series of steps to follow to perform specific tasks or particular questions that are designed to help you discover the important aspects of SQL. The answers to these questions are given at the end of the exercises, along with more in-depth discussion of the concepts explored. After you perform the exercises and compare the answers with the sample queries, answers, and explanations, you can move on to the multiple-choice quiz questions. These are meant to test your understanding of the material covered in the lab. The answers to these questions appear in Appendix A, "Answers to Quiz Questions." There are additional quiz questions at the book''s companion Web site, located at At the end of each chapter, the Workshop section reinforces and combines all the topics learned in labs and helps you solidify your skills. The answers to these questions are provided on the companion Web site for this book . Each chapter is laid out as follows: Chapter introduction Lab Exercises Exercise Answers (with detailed discussion) Quiz Lab ... Workshop The chapters should be completed in sequence because concepts covered in earlier chapters are required for the completion of exercises in later chapters. About the Companion Web Site The companion Web site, located at , provides the following: Installation files you need to download before you begin reading the book. Answers to the Workshop questions. Additional Quiz questions. Additional resources, such as links, tips, and errata. Installation Files All the exercises and quiz questions are based on a sample schema called STUDENT. You can download the required files to install the STUDENT schema and the installation instructions from the companion Web site. Workshop The answers to the Workshop sections are provided at the companion Web site. Additional Quiz Questions The Web site provides many other features, such as additional quiz questions and periodically updated information about the book. Tip - Visit the companion Web site and download the required files before starting the labs and exercises. What You Need To complete the exercises, you need the following: The Oracle database software Oracle''s SQL Developer or SQL*Plus software Access to the Internet Oracle 11g Oracle 11g is Oracle''s latest version of the relational database software and its flagship product. To follow along with this book, you can use either the Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition. The Enterprise Edition of Oracle version 11.1.0.6.0 was used to create the exercises for this book. If you have a previous version of the Oracle database, you will be able to complete a large majority of the exercises; however, some syntax options and features are available only in Oracle 11g. If you do not have the latest release of the Oracle software available, you can obtain a trial copy from Oracle''s Web site, at You have the option of either downloading the Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition or purchasing a CD media pack from the Oracle store for a nominal fee. Oracle SQL Developer and SQL*Plus You can perform most of the exercises in this book with Oracle''s SQL Developer or SQL*Plus software. Both software tools are included with the Oracle database and are part of the default installation. SQL Developer is easier to use and offers a superior display of results. Because SQL Developer is a relatively new product and independent of the Oracle database release, you may find later versions of the software on Oracle''s Web site, as a separate product download. The book''s screenshots and described functionality are based on SQL Developer 1.5.3. Although there may be significant changes in future versions, it would be a grave omission not to cover SQL Developer. This tool sets the future product direction and has many useful features to improve your productivity and enhance your SQL knowledge and skill set.

Details