I still don't know if there is a better group to post general
questions about SQL and the background. So I hope nobody minds ;-)
My question is: Why do you have to state the GROUP BY explicitly in
SQL? Why isn't it enough to write "select a_field, sum(b_field) from

Consider a requirement to record electronic circuits in a relational
database. Circuits are abstract mathematical objects (i.e. "values")
independent of physical layout. There is no requirement to label
individual components (e.g. all 1 ohm resistors are

I have the following situation.
I get an csv file from an other application daily and put it in an
mysql DB, what is not a problem.
the csv has the following fields f.e. (it has many more and other, but

A quote from Experts Exchange...I let you judge for yourself...
<<
Just to clarify, the fact that I have duplicates isn't a problem --
the problem arises when I'm trying to SUM the value of one of the

I'm doing a little research into database metadata for various
products like DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL. I want
to learn about where information on tables and views are stored.
What is the difference between the system catalog and

A brilliant man (Erik Naggum) recently passed away far too young.
During a nostalgic reading of some of his posts and works related
to him, I have run by this wonderful comment of this that I just
know many in cdt will appreciate ;-)

This is an extract from a board forum where I regularly participate to
try to help other fellows about SQL.  I have to admit that by the end
of this thread the nature of the questions asked did make me feel like
crying.  In this thread the questionner is called al4629740 and the

I'm confused about some recent trends in database design.
When I learned databases, about a quarter of a century ago,  the preferred
practice was to use natural keys to refer to individual table rows, unless
there's some real good reason to go with an artificial key.  I've run ...

 i saw an explanation of junction table here:-
http://megocode3.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/understanding-a-sql-junction-table/
how correct is this explanation ?
but SELECT StudentName, RoomNumber

I was analyzing the problem of logic in connection with ranges like a
price for a certain article which is valid from a certain date till a
certain date. Especially in cases where there is not only one from-to-
dimension but several I found some results quite interesting to me. I