Demystify database management systems with this fun and friendly guide to SQL

The secret is SQL, and once you get the hang of that, you can build relational databases and get valuable information into and out of them with ease. Here's how to structure a database management system with SQL, implement the design, protect your data, access and work with it, maintain your database, and much more, using the newest version of SQL.

• Down to data basics - learn what a relational database is and what goes into designing a good one

• SQL secrets revealed - get an overview of SQL fundamentals and actually build a database

• Data in, data out - find out how to add, retrieve, display, delete, or change data in your database

• What's your query? - discover how to find what you need using different queries

• Guarding your stuff - protect your data from theft, accidental or malicious corruption, and loss due to equipment failure

• Getting SQL to play nice - use Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC) to solve the problems of combining SQL with other languages

• XML is your friend - communicate with other applications using XML with SQL

• Eliminating errors - understand what SQL is trying to tell you when something goes wrong

Open the book and find:

• Essential database design considerations

• How a database management system differs from a database

• What SQL is and isn't

• Different types of data

• Ten common database blunders

• How to use values, value expressions, and relational operators

• Tips on using XML data with SQL

• Common threats to your data

Learn to:

• Create relational databases with powerful data retrieval capacity

• Use SQL with XML and Access® 2010

• Structure a database management system and implement database design

• Work with all the core SQL features