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Hey Goodreads community. First time SQL user! Very confused by the set up instructions. For the life of me I cannot set this up. I have downloaded the oracle express DBMS, have downloaded and read the steps from the appendix section of the Ben Forta website, but have no idea how to upload/import the template files needed to follow the exercises in this book? Would really appreciate if anyone could help!

Keysh Jose That is a great point that you make, that there is a distinction between "writing SQL" and setting up your SQL Environment (and possibly a few other a…moreThat is a great point that you make, that there is a distinction between "writing SQL" and setting up your SQL Environment (and possibly a few other areas of SQL depending on how you want to chop it up. This book is great for "writing SQL" and learning the language.
However, this assumes you have an environment setup already and its not good for that process nor for administering that environment and other "DBA" type things. Even for "writing SQL" this is great to learn at the beginning, but once you have mastered it, it is not that deep.
For a "deeper" book on writing SQL, it does depend on your Database (MySQL vs MS SQL vs Oracle vs PostGre, etc), and what you want to do. There is some great BI and Data Analysis books in general. I personally like anything by Murarch ( https://www.murach.com/shop-books/dat... ), the "SQL Bible" is very comprehensive ( https://www.amazon.com/SQL-Bible-Alex... ), and the next level of Sams Teach Yourself with "Sams Teach Yourself SQL in One Hour a Day" ( https://www.amazon.com/Sams-Teach-You... ) are all really good. I have all of these and read all of them (no review yet), and probably enjoy and use the Sam's the most, followed by the Murarch book (depending on which DB). I would also recommend anything by Joe Celko for a deeper more advanced book ( https://www.amazon.com/Joe-Celkos-SQL... ).
As far as getting things setup, like I said, this is does depend on the Database (Oracle vs MS SQL vs etc), and the computer you are setting it up on ( Apple, Linux, Windows 7, 8 , 10, etc.) and a few other things including preferences. I don't think there is any 1 good book on "how to setup your DB". Often the documentation from the company is fairly comprehensive and will go through several scenarios and there is often a few similar tech blogs that will have a post going through the steps, sometimes better than the company.
Oracle DOES have a printing company called Oracle Press, and they have some good books that will cover just about anything. I think they have one called "Oracle Database Install, Configure and Maintain Like a Pro" (https://www.amazon.com/Database-Insta... ). At a previous place we had a book shelf filled with the different "Oracle" books from Oracle Press over the past 20+ ish years. Everyone at that place said they like the books, but they stopped buying them about 7 years ago so they have no idea how they are now, but liked them back in the day. I don't think its a good comparison, but the "Dummies" series of books I heard had some good books on setting up Databases as well and cover many different variations.
I would try to stick with either the Oracle Press books, or a "for Dummies" book, OR do a web search and see if there is a tech blog that has what you are looking for and use that. Typically, for this purpose, I use the blog approach mostly because its a "one and done" situation and I personally know many of the details, so I don't need a book to explain in 500 pages what I can see 1 or 2 web pages.(less)

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