Practical SQL Handbook, The: Using SQL Variants, Fourth Edition

Formatting

SQL is a free-form language; that is, there are no rules about how many words you can put on a line or where you need to break a line. However, for readability, all examples and syntax statements in this book are formatted so that each clause of a statement begins on a new line. Clauses that have more than one part extend to additional lines, which are indented.

SELECT column_name
FROM table_name
WHERE search_conditions

In syntax statements in this book, keywords (commands) are in uppercase letters, and identifiers and user-supplied words are in lowercase letters. Type the keywords just as you see them, disregarding case. (Keywords with some uppercase and some lowercase letters mean you can use either the full word or abbreviate ...