SQL concepts for REAL dummies.

He has: 688 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

Can somebody recommend a website tutorial that gives a REALLY broad, basic, overview of mySQL, SQL's, or relational databases in general? I'm talking an introduction below the "for dummies" level. I've found a few that are really low-level intros but I want even lower.

I've already created one mySQL database with one simple table, and various web interfaces to add, update, and query it - but that basically mimicked a simple flatfile in structure. I'm looking for something that doesn't talk code much. I just the basic concepts of how tables can link together and why. Heck, even pictures would help Wink

Thanks.

They have: 101 posts

Joined: Apr 2003

http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/99/21/index2a.html

it looked easy, i just got stuck on a simple part

They have: 461 posts

Joined: Jul 2003

http://wwww.mysql.com

the manual is on there.

i'm not really sure what you are looking for, but that's a good start

They have: 101 posts

Joined: Apr 2003

you should learn to read carefully
"SQL concepts for REAL dummies."

They have: 461 posts

Joined: Jul 2003

define "real"

somepeople just need a starting point. the manual put out by the company that made it is normally the best starting point.

when you need things more basic to get going well, it's often a good idea to find a course.

online tutorials are always generealized, and often miss a little things

POSIX. because a stable os that doesn't have memory leaks and isn't buggy is always good.

Mark Hensler's picture

He has: 4,048 posts

Joined: Aug 2000

Quote: Originally posted by m3rajk
the manual put out by the company that made it is normally the best starting point.

Why am I having the hardest time to get you to use it then?

Mark Hensler
If there is no answer on Google, then there is no question.

Suzanne's picture

She has: 5,507 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

Okay, all you M-named people, go dive into a cool pool of water. Wink

All these hot heads these days, what, you're all trying to be me?

Ironic that the initial post was by Mike! Ack!

Okay, I'm breaking the thread of snark right here:

Sams books on MySQL are quite good. Sometimes the online manual (though much better than previous incarnations when it was ONE FILE -- they told me to just ctrl-f for things. Sure, after it loaded for half an hour on dialup!) can be very helpful, but not so helpful when you don't know what you're doing.

Kevin Yank's book on PHP covers some MySQL basics and really gets you going in a sensible way. Once you do a few things, you can use the manual because you have a starting point.

I'd *highly* recommend using PHPMyAdmin to start with, not right in MySQL itself. PHPMyAdmin will help you with context, errors, and it will generate some PHP coding for you for various simple queries, which can really be illustrative in a way the manual cannot.

They have: 101 posts

Joined: Apr 2003

yeah i know, i just need to learn the functions/commands in phpMyadmin it cant get any easier than that.

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