SQL Functions Programmer's Reference

Arie Jones is a senior database administrator for Perpetual Technologies, Inc. (www.perptech.com). He holds a master's degree in physics from Indiana State University and also works as the chief Web architect/DBA for the USPFO for Indiana. Arie's main specialty is in developing .NET-based database solutions for the government. He and his wife and family live outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. Ryan Stephens is the president and CEO of Perpetual Technologies, Inc. (www.perptech.com), an Indianapolis-based IT firm specializing in database technologies. Ryan has been working with SQL and databases for 15 years and has held the positions of project manager, database administrator, and programmer/analyst. Ryan has been teaching database courses for local universities since 1997 and has authored several internationally published books on topics such as database design, SQL, database architecture, database administration, and Oracle. Ryan enjoys discovering new ways to optimize the use of technology to streamline business operations, as well as empowering others to do the same. Ryan and his wife live in Indianapolis with their three children. Ronald R. Plew is vice president and CIO for Perpetual Technologies, Inc. (www.perptech.com) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ron is a Certified Oracle Professional. He has coauthored several internationally published books on SQL and database technology. Ron is also an adjunct professor for Vincennes University in Indiana, where he teaches SQL and various database courses. Ron holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration/management from Indiana Institute of Technology out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ron recently retired from the Indiana Army National Guard, where he served as a programmer/analyst. His hobbies include automobile racing, chess, golf, and collecting Indy 500 memorabilia. Ron resides in Indianapolis with his wife Linda. Bob Garrett is the software development manager at Perpetual Technologies, Inc. (www.perptech.com). Bob's languages of preference are Java, C++, and English. He has extensive experience integrating applications with relational databases. Bob has a degree in computer science and mathematics from Purdue University, and lives with his wife and daughter near Indianapolis. Alex Kriegel is a professional database systems analyst with a major manufacturing firm in Oregon. He has more than 10 years of database experience working with Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, Sybase, and PostgreSQL both as developer and DBA. Alex has a bachelor of science degree in solid-state physics from State Polytechnic Institute of Minsk, Belarus, and has earned the Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) accreditation. He is the author of SQL Bible. Alex wrote the first draft of approximately two-thirds of this book.

Acknowledgments. Introduction. Chapter 1: Exploring Popular SQL Implementations. Chapter 2: Functions: Concept and Architecture. Chapter 3: Comparison of Built-in SQL Functions by Vendor. Chapter 4: SQL Procedural Extensions and User-Defined Functions. Chapter 5: Common ANSI SQL Functions. Chapter 6: Oracle SQL Functions. Chapter 7: IBM DB2 Universal Database (UDB) SQL Functions. Chapter 8: Microsoft SQL Server Functions. Chapter 9: Sybase ASE SQL Built-In Functions. Chapter 10: MySQL Functions. Chapter 11: PostgreSQL Functions. Chapter 12: ANSI SQL User-Defined Functions. Chapter 13: Creating User-Defined Functions in Oracle. Chapter 14: Creating User-Defined Functions with IBM DB2 UDB. Chapter 15: Creating User-Defined Functions Using Microsoft SQL Server. Chapter 16: Creating User-Defined Functions in Sybase SQL. Chapter 17: Creating User-Defined Functions in MySQL. Chapter 18: Creating User-Defined Functions in PostgreSQL. Chapter 19: Reporting and Ad Hoc Queries. Chapter 20: Using Functions for Migrating Data. Chapter 21: Using Functions to Feed a Data Warehouse. Chapter 22: Embedded Functions and Advanced Uses. Chapter 23: Generating SQL with SQL and SQL Functions. Chapter 24: SQL Functions in an Application. Chapter 25: Empowering the Query with Functions and Views. Chapter 26: Understanding the Impact of SQL Functions on Query and Database Performance. Chapter 27: Useful Queries from the System Catalog. Appendix A: Built-in Function Cross-Reference Table. Appendix B: ANSI and Vendor Keywords. Appendix C: ANSI and Vendor Data Types. Appendix D: Database Permissions by Vendor. Appendix E: ODBC and Stored Procedures and Functions. Appendix F: JDBC and Stored Procedures/Functions. Glossary. Index.