SQL for Microsoft Access, 2nd Edition

Chapter 17Concluding Thoughts

Introduction

In this chapter we will be adding those thoughts that do not fit in anywhere else in the book. We will also be adding a few concluding remarks on what we consider to be the big picture regarding SQL.

Common Rules

One of the most important rules to follow when designing any query or table is to consider how the information will be used. While we have shown that there is a lot of power in SQL, we have glossed over the important aspects of table and query optimization. The most important thing about SQL is that its only purpose is to access data. It is a tool, not the end result. If a query runs slowly because of poor design or because table linkages are not thought out, the user will become frustrated with ...