Can I Receive Help with SQL?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on seeking assistance with SQL and Python as the user prepares for potential employment in these fields. The forum confirms that it can provide support, especially for beginners, and mentions that SQL and Python are widely applicable across various platforms. The user expresses confusion about basic concepts and seeks recommendations for understanding the system better. Suggestions include using the H2 database, which is free and offers various operational modes, although it has limitations with certain SQL statements. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the availability of resources and community support for learning SQL and Python.
Martyn Arthur
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TL;DR Summary: Asking are you able to assist with problems relating to SQL coding and preparation

Hi;
I am looking to move into the fireld of Pyton and SQL working towards maybe employmnet in those fields (do people age 75n get jobs :-))
Anyway it looks daunting with ancillairy references to ODBC et al about which I know nothing but must learn.
I have the basic textbooks to get started; will this forum be available to assist (potentially with basic stuff to start)?
Thanks
Martyn
 
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Yes for sure, we have many SQL and Python threads. SQL and Python are platform-agnostic for the most part. ODBC appears to be related to SQL Server which is not required. There are thousands of platforms with SQL functionality. You may want to start with using Google BigQuery.
 
Great thanks; I ave worked out the workbook installation; and I guess when I an up and running writing the code will be a process to learn.

I am stuck wit the 'simple' basics of understanding the system; textbooks seem lean on this; any suggestions please?
Thanks
Martyn
 
What do you mean by system? SQL and Python can be used on nearly any OS and database.
 
My favorite is the h2database.com java based database engine. Its a single jar and has different modes of operation:
- embedded in an application for 6x faster speed
- as a tcpip service using JDBC to connect to it
- via the H2 console where SQL can be executed on the database
- via the web page console

I used it once in a work application where they didn't want the hassle of a MySQL license. It worked great.

Its free too:

https://www.h2database.com/html/main.html

and has an online SQL reference manual.

Some more complex SQL statements aren't supported, nor are vendor-specific or proprietary SQL Statements. H2 aims primarily for a few significant databases. It does not natively support many vendor-specific statements.

For example:

- MySQL “SHOW” statements (SHOW TABLES, SHOW CREATE TABLE, etc.)
H2 does not parse these directly. Instead, you generally use H2’s own metadata tables (e.g., INFORMATION_SCHEMA) or run custom queries to achieve similar results.

- Oracle “CONNECT BY” hierarchical queries
H2 does not natively support CONNECT BY syntax for hierarchical queries. However, you can use recursive common table expressions (CTEs) in more recent versions of H2 to emulate hierarchical functionality in a standards-based way.

-PostgreSQL-specific commands (e.g., CREATE TYPE … AS ENUM, CREATE EXTENSION, DO $$ … $$, etc.) These are not supported in H2.

- T-SQL (Microsoft SQL Server) commands
Statements like EXEC, GO, and other SQL Server–specific features are not recognized by H2.
 
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