SQL Functions Programmer's Reference

SQL Functions Programmer's Reference
| 2005-04-18 00:00:00 | | 790 | SQL


Gives programmers two-in-one coverage, with both a `how-to` on SQL functions and a complete SQL functions reference SQL is the standard language for database queries; this book's advanced coverage helps programmers write their own SQL functions Covers both the internationally standardized SQL 99 functions and the hundreds of additional functions introduced by vendors, including the subtle variations required to successfully migrate or interoperate between vendor products Covers the latest versions of the major relational database management system (RDMS) applications: Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, and MySQL

User review
Good Basic Book on SQL Functions
This was good enough. It covered more DBMS than just MS SQL Server so it comes with a lot more than you want or need if you specialize in one vendor's product. I got it for free. On the other hand, it would be valuable for that very same reason if you ever find yourself trying to locate a similar function in another DBMS.


I certainly would caution anyone to remember that this is a reference book. Do not try to read through this from cover to cover. You may skim through a lot of the sections to see what is available but I would not flip through it more than that. It is best used for getting what you need and getting out and back to the keyboard.

I suppose it could be a book for anyone from beginner to expert since it is just a function reference. If you are not able to easily access the internet to look up a function quickly or do not have the BOL installed for some reason then this is an adequate alternative.


Yes, they even explain the `proper` way to pronounce SQL (SEE-kwuhl). Only recruiters, COOs, and Jr developers say Es-Queue-El. The only thing more annoying than that is someone using a GUID as a primary key. ;)




User review
Test review
More a book for consultants as looks at functions across differnet platforms. Bur clear coding examples. Would re-purchase for the right price.

User review
for the most part it does deliver
Like with every Wrox book there are many voices in the book. Unfortunately they do not comprise a choir,,.You will find a useful info scattered throughout the book; do not try to get a coherent picture out of it. I liked the idea of the book, and for the most part it does deliver.

There were small annoyances here and there:

For example, I find it strange that authors thought it necessary to give their version of pronunciation `:(otherwise known as SQL and pronounced `SEE-kwul`) ` for what is clearly not a beginner book; and I pronounce it `ess-que-ell` as many of my colleagues do)


Same goes for the first few chapters where authors have chosen to show examples of a basic queries, connect to database syntax etc. UNIX shell function example (p.14) was rather a dubious choice - why not C? VB? Java? Perl? Most database application developers are not familiar with the shell scripts, and could not care less.


It really would help me if the book covered creation of the user defined functions with Java and .NET (available in Oracle, DB2 UDB, PostgreSQL (Java), MSSQL Server, IBM DB2 UDB (.Net/C#); the book only covers Sybase where function created in Java 1.1,,. Reporting issues (chapter 19) seem torn out of some other book, and badly fitted into SQL Functions,,.The subject of Regular Expressions was hardly paid any attention, save for the fact that such thing does exist; MSSQL Server, for instance, provides access to OLE interface of its scripting engine Regex implementation. On the other hand, I was delighted to see PostgreSQL included.