SQL

[dabears32]

I am interested in learning SQL to further my career/ possibly open more doors. What is a good way to do this. I would like something other than just reading a book. Maybe actually applying it to something. I know there are some open source databases I could download. Any one have experience learning basic sql as a non programmer.

[NATEizKING]

If you find something good let me know I'm teaching myself Java right now but am interested in SQL. Learning Java from a book though.

[dabears32]

If you find something good let me know I'm teaching myself Java right now but am interested in SQL. Learning Java from a book though.

OK, I am not opposed to learning from a book. I would just like some way to apply it so it helps me learn, remember it.

[cyko42]

don't know about as a non programmer but the only way to truly learn sql is by doing, grabbing a class or a book helps, but as with any language ( programming or other) repetition and usage make the rules stick. If you want to do some simple stuff to try out grab mysql (its open source) and do a google for mysql tutorials they should come with a sample and some simple queries.

Really basic sql is pretty easy because the terms make sense.

so any tutorials will get you started.

[terryleebr]

You can download Microsoft SQL server express for free. Provides a pretty nice interface.

[cyko42]

don't know about as a non programmer but the only way to truly learn sql is by doing, grabbing a class or a book helps, but as with any language ( programming or other) repetition and usage make the rules stick. If you want to do some simple stuff to try out grab mysql (its open source) and do a google for mysql tutorials they should come with a sample and some simple queries.Really basic sql is pretty easy because the terms make sense.so any tutorials will get you started.

Oh i misread not a book, same principle applies. Best thing to do is install mysql, or ms sql express, tutorial then try a project. statistics are good places to build examples so maybe try a db for a sport you enjoy.

like lets say tracking cyclone commitments or something thats interesting to you but has different data that you can write queries for.

[dabears32]

Oh i misread not a book, same principle applies. Best thing to do is install mysql, or ms sql express, tutorial then try a project. statistics are good places to build examples so maybe try a db for a sport you enjoy.

like lets say tracking cyclone commitments or something thats interesting to you but has different data that you can write queries for.

Thanks. Was thinking about setting up a database of baseball stats. Any thoughts on setting it up? Do programs like MySQL have built in web queries? or is it easier to use excel web queries and then copy/paste?

[RyCy04]

When trying to get promoted at a previous employer I lied and said I knew SQL. Fairly simple to learn. Repetition is the most important thing. Also, diversify. Oracle, WinSQL, SQL Server, Access, etc. all have their slight tweeks.

[cyko42]

Oh i misread not a book, same principle applies. Best thing to do is install mysql, or ms sql express, tutorial then try a project. statistics are good places to build examples so maybe try a db for a sport you enjoy.like lets say tracking cyclone commitments or something thats interesting to you but has different data that you can write queries for.

Thanks. Was thinking about setting up a database of baseball stats. Any thoughts on setting it up? Do programs like MySQL have built in web queries? or is it easier to use excel web
queries and then copy/paste?

Never done anything with web queries (i despise excel, once you learn sql you might use it less) so not sure what options exist out there for doing that but alot of stats sites will provide data in different formats to import into a sql database. Lots of good sites on writing queries to bring in data into a table, from different file formats.

[cyko42]

Oh i misread not a book, same principle applies. Best thing to do is install mysql, or ms sql express, tutorial then try a project. statistics are good places to build examples so maybe try a db for a sport you enjoy.like lets say tracking cyclone commitments or something thats interesting to you but has different data that you can write queries for.

Thanks. Was thinking about setting up a database of baseball stats. Any thoughts on setting it up? Do programs like MySQL have built in web queries? or is it easier to use excel web queries and then copy/paste?

Never done anything with web queries (i despise excel, once you learn sql you might use it less) so not sure what options exist out there for doing that but alot of stats sites will provide data in different formats to import into a sql database. Lots of good sites on writing queries to bring in data into a table, from different file formats.

try this

Download Lahman’s Baseball Database « Sean Lahman Â*http://www.seanlahman.com/baseball-archive/statistics/

[brianhos]

Get a linux box running on any old machine you have, and grab mysql. Then use phpmyadmin to learn how to admin mysql, and start doing a project in it where you need to write lots of sql.

[Angie]

I mostly taught myself SQL, but I know a book helped a few buddies - something like Sam's SQL in Ten Days or something? I can't remember the name, but Amazon had it if you searh "learn SQL."

[dabears32]

try this

Download Lahman’s Baseball Database « Sean Lahman Â*Sean Lahman | Database Journalist

Thanks. This is probably a dumb question but what format do I need if I plan on using MySQL(or some other opensource DB). Is the SQL fromat acceptable or will I have to download the CSV format and then import it?

[GMan]

Get a linux box running on any old machine you have, and grab mysql. Then use phpmyadmin to learn how to admin mysql, and start doing a project in it where you need to write lots of sql.

This is probably more to bite off than the OP can chew since he identified himself as a non-programmer, but I have to second this recommendation. It will force you to learn and use SQL in the context of a larger project which is more valuable than trying to learn it by itself since SQL is always used in the context of a larger project.

[simply1]

You might follow something like this, not sure if you want to actually figure out how the tables should be created, etc, or just want a downloadable database to practice queries on. MySQL Sample Database