checkQ said:
I just got a new job. My boss imported accounting data from PeachTree
on my behalf (So that I did not have to do it) She asked me if I knew
SQL. I was stumped for words, I know that I would have to start using
SQL but I don't know where to start. Excel help feature does not say
much. Do I have to attend some kind of classes? I am an accountant
SQL stands for Structured Query Language, a standardized language (with
many variants) for querying and manipulating relational databases such
as Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and many
others. You can find simple tutorials on the web, and there are lots of
books out there. Be aware that, while the language has a formal
standard, most database engines support their own slightly different
variations.
It's also possible that your boss was specifically referring to
Microsoft SQL Server, a database server program. In that case, she'd be
expecting you to learn, not just the SQL language, but the ins and outs
of working with SQL Server. That's a lot to learn, and in a large
enterprise it's often a full-time job. Odds are that's not what she
meant, though.
If you're to be working with the data in Microsoft Access, you can do
most of your work in the visual design interface without having to
really understand SQL; however, it helps to know it. It helps *a lot*
to understand the principles of relational database design. Again,
you'll find online tutorials and books on the subject.
