Absolute Beginner's Guide to Databases brings the elements of a database together using easy to understand language, perfect for the true beginner. It not only gives specific hands on practice, but also provides an overview of designing, maintaining and using a database. This book covers what databases are used for, why databases are important, why the design of the database is important, database normalization, keys to solid database design, differences in types of databases, and indexes--what they are, how we use them, and why they are important.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. I. DATABASE BASICS. 1. An Introduction to Databases. What Is a Database? How Databases Are Used. Typical Database Management Systems Used Today. Key Database Terminology. The Relational Database Model: An Overview. Database-Related Careers. What You Have Learned. 2. The Anatomy of a Real Database. An Introduction to Microsoft Access. The Sample Northwind Traders Database. What You Have Learned. II. DESIGNING AND BUILDING YOUR FIRST DATABASE. 3. An Introduction to Database Design. Your Project: A Time Entry and Billing Database. Determine the Requirements of the Database. Introduction to Database Modeling. Model the Time Entry and Billing Database. What You Have Learned. 4. Database Design Continued: An Introduction to Normalization. What Does It Mean to Normalize a Database? Steps to Normalize Your Data Model. Denormalize Data-When Does It Make Sense to Break the Rules? Normalization Applied-Review the TEB Database and Refine the Design. What You Have Learned. 5. Using Access to Build the Time Entry and Billing Database. Automatically Generate the Database from the TEB Model. A Brief Review of the Access Database Designer. Use the Design to Create the Time Entry and Billing Database. What You Have Learned. III. MAINTAINING YOUR DATABASE-AN INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE INTEGRITY. 6. Maintaining Integrity Through Data Validation Rules. An Overview of How Validation Rules Work in Databases. Implement Field-Level Rules. Implement Row-Level Rules. What You Have Learned. 7. The Basics of Referential Integrity. What Is Referential Integrity? Why Maintaining Referential Integrity Is Important. How Referential Integrity Works. What You Have Learned. IV. USING YOUR DATABASE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION-AN INTRODUCTION TO SQL. 8. SQL Basics. SQL Overview. Select Statement. Filter Results I: Use the Where Clause. Organize Output I: Use the Order By Clause. Combine Multiple Tables: Use the Join Statement. Combine Multiple Resultsets: Use the Union Clause. What You Have Learned. 9. SQL-Going Beyond the Basics. Organize Output II: Use the Group By Clause. Use Aggregate Functions. Filter Results II: Use the Having Clause. Filter Results III: Create Parameterized SQL Statements. Modify Data with the Insert, Update, and Delete Statements. What You Have Learned. 10. Making SQL Queries a Part of Your Database. An Overview of the Access Query Designer. Create Advanced Queries. What You Have Learned. V. PUTTING YOUR DATABASE TO WORK-BUILDING A SIMPLE ACCESS DATABASE APPLICATION. 11. Building the User Interface Components. Overview of the Access Form Designer. Create Forms for the TEB Application. Create a Main Menu Form. What You Have Learned. 12. Providing Useful Output: An Introduction to Creating and Designing Reports. Overview of the Access Report Designer. Create Reports for the TEB Application. Add Report Items to the Main Menu Form. What You Have Learned. Appendix A. The Structure of the TEB Database. Appendix B. TEB Referential Integrity Rules. Appendix C. Glossary. Appendix D. Database-Oriented Periodicals. Appendix E. Web-Based Resources. Index.