Need advice on SQL - where to start? 7

[i1055]

I've been using Access for about a year and feel I have come to a standstill. From reading these tips and questions I notice many references to SQL.<br>
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Could you briefly explain SQL as it pertains to Access and also recommend some ways/resources that I could learn SQL?<br>
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Any help would be greatly appreciated.<br>

 

[dblake]

Like your short & neat question!<br>
We had to make the switch to SQL since Access('95) couldn't handle the volume of users and records, although it is a excellent and user-friendly program. Nowadays they are optimizing the Access-SQL interfaces so that keeping Access as frontend (retaining your forms, and some macros/modules) and SQL Server as backend containing all tables and relationships, permissions, data-procedures etc.) works very well. From what I've seen, Access '97 and especially 2000 have some neat interfacing features.<br>
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SQL Server ver 7.0 is a market leader. It's also much more user-friendly than earlier versions, yet more complicated/involved than Access. The best way to learn I have found is to get hold of someone that can show you the basics of setting-up a database - let him use TSQL to do it all, and then save the TSQL script used, so that you can go home and use it as reference.<br>
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TSQL - Transact SQL - its like SQL but far more powerful. It's more like a decent programming language with if,then,else, loops, etc. - really an excellent tool, and not too difficult! (but get someone to teach/show you!)<br>
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You can get a good book, but they're HARD to find, and could cost you days to sift out the necessary details.<br>
Hope that helps.

 

[bitbrain]

To build on dblake's comments...<br>
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SQL - Structured Query Language - is the common "language" for working with relational databases. SQL is (supposed to be) vendor independent meaning that SQL with Oracle is no different than SQL with Access. In reality there ARE differences but the similarities far outweigh the differences. SQL is registered with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).<br>
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Vendors incorporate "SQL" into their product names, which can be confusing. SQL is a generic language, "SQL Server" is Microsoft's relational database management (RDBMS) product.<br>
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SQL is both a Data Definition Language (DDL) and a Data Manipulation Language (DML). DDL's are used to define and maintain the data structures (tables etc.). DML's are used to retrieve/update/delete the data.<br>
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The Access query builder is a GUI tool that generates SQL. Try building a query in Access then click the SQL button - you will see the generated code. This is a GREAT way of learning SQL. Let Access generate it for you, then decipher it.<br>
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I strongly believe that you should understand the underlying concepts of a product before you get to wrapped-up in vendor specific stuff. To that end, the "LAN Times Guide to SQL" is an excellent book on SQL concepts - it is vendor independent.<br>
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You should also gain an understanding of relational theory & data modeling. With this knowledge, you can make Access do some pretty incredible things. Access is a light-weight/desktop application development tool with a relational database engine. Access does not support 100% of relational/SQL features but it is amazingly good for a desktop product (opinion )<br>
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[databarn]

Folk,<br>
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A few links to SQL resource on the net.<br>
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http://www.aphis.usda.gov/its/cs/oracle/sql_tut/<br>

http://www.katravax.com/sql/<br>

http://pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/1571691529/ch03/ch03.htm

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http://pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/0789707438/ch8.htm

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The first link is Oracle-specific, but it is ab. 90% ANSI-92 compliant - it'll do for the basics.<br>
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The second link is SQL Server-specific - same caveat.<br>
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The third and fourth links are from the Macmillan Publishing ebooks website. Three is VB6 specific and Four is from a book on Netscape/LiveWire.<br>
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While each of these is product-specific, the general structure follows ANSI standards. Its only in the more esoteric areas that there are significant departures from the standard, usually when the standard does not cover a point that paricular vendor wants to use.<br>
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If you have not run across it, the Macmillan site<br>

http://www.mcp.com/<br>

has better than 200 ebooks on line for free perusal. After a free sign-up, you can 'check out' up to five different ebooks into your personal library space. This arrangement allows you to return to the place you last were in any given book (so long as you are not allergic to cookies). If you don't mind on-screen study, there's a lot of good information here that would run $30US and up at even the least expensive book store.<br>
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[elizabeth]

I found it easiest to start to learn SQL by looking at the SQL Access generated from queries I was already familiar with. I would go into design view of my query then click on menu or toolbar) View, SQL View.

 

[codehead]

SQL For Dummies is an exellent place to start. It explains everything in detail and has lots of examples that you can duplicate on your own. As you progress, you might want to get The SQL Programmmers Reference by Wayne S. Freeze (if it is still in print). It comes with a CD that you can search if you come across a command that you want to know more about or need help with the syntax.

 

[vsands]

So boiling it down...SQL is to Access as, say, HTML is to Dreamweaver -- in that Access simply &quot;interprets&quot; SQL in a more user friendly way?