|
Relational Database Principles | 
 enlarge | Author: C. Ritchie
Publisher: Thomson Learning
Category: Book
Buy New: £82.15
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 365499
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 296
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.8
ISBN: 0826457134
Dewey Decimal Number: 005
EAN: 9780826457134
ASIN: 0826457134
Publication Date: April 25, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Database miseducation June 20, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I must disagree with the other reviewers. I find the book a terrible book that is full of mistakes and misunderstood concepts.
The author confuses the 3-level architecture by writing when referring to the 3-level architecture (page 21) "On this basis, the relational model can be seen as a conceptual model". This is complete and utter rubbish, a good relational product will model all 3 levels of the 3-level architecture.
There are significant mistakes in just about every chapter. But probably the worst is chapter 5 - Normalisation. Most of the mistakes arise from a poor definition for first normal form. In the book we have the following
"The first normal form is concerned with multi-valued attributes of design (page 78)". I am not quite sure what this is supposed to mean, as it is far from clear. I would prefer something that is more precise like that given by database authorities such as Chris Date. That is, a relation is in first normal form if and only if all attributes are atomic (Single-valued). In other words, provided each attribute in any given row has a single value you have first normal form. In fact this is an essential property of any table - that is all tables are in 1NF by definition. The author attemps to normalize the data without using functional dependencies, which are barely mentioned. Instead he prefers to partition the tables by inspection, in some cases obtaining the wrong result. I have in the past used his exercises with some of my students, but have done it correctly using functional dependencies.
Not a book that I could possibly recommend. There are now many good books available for all types of student, so why waste money and time on this book. If you want a slim book that is easy to read, I would recommend:
1. The essence of databases. F.D. Rolland. Prentice Hall
Great book October 2, 2006
1 out of 6 found this review helpful
This was actually written by my University lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian, he is a good lecturer and of course he recommended his own book, so I went out and bought it, it really is something I will carry with me to every class it is laid out well and has everything you need, I also recommend the Sams learn SQL in ten minutes it is another handy reference book to any SQL albeit Oracle or Access etc.
 Very essential April 29, 2003
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
IF you are looking for a book that may help you to "think like a database" will, you should buy this book.
Good introduction to all aspects of databases December 5, 2001
7 out of 12 found this review helpful
This readable and slim book begins with describing how to construct tables effectively, using data modellong techniques. This section for me is the best part of the book. The latter half discusses how programs can interact with databases and recent developments in object oriented databases. The final chapter gives a solid grounding in SQL. This book IS just an introduction, anyone wanting specialist knowledge would need additional resources. My 2 major gripes are why not all answers are included in the appendix, and rather a lack of variety in the discussed examples. Nevertheless, before I bought this book I knew nothing of databases, and now at least I know in principle how to go about what I need to do.
A fantastic book for beginners October 12, 2001
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
The author writes in plain English and takes everything from first principles.
Not a huge book, but packed with info - which is a lot better than some of the huge tomes which end up putting you off the subject. If you are new to Relational Databases - this book is brilliant - buy it.
|
|
|
Site powered by Amazon.co.uk | |