sql

Authentication Method

While the basic functionality of this book requires no additional setup, if you want this book to remember you settings, you will need to set up a way for us to know who you are. There are three option, each with different benefits.

First, indicate if the computer you are using is used by other people. This will determine how long the data we save for you remains on this computer.

I'm the only user of this computer.

People other than me use this computer.

Second, choose one of the four authentication methods below. Please be sure to choose the method that is right for you. Your choice will affect how much data we remember for you between sessions and whether your work will be accessible from computers other than the one you are currently using.

check_box_outline_blankNo Authentication: This option provides free access to the book's basic features. This is the simplest way to use the book, requiring no login at all. You can run queries using SQLite, data.world, or the "book only" option below. If you are using a shared computer, we won't remember anything for you, so if you choose data.world, you'll need to supply read/write token each time you start a new session.

Becuase other people use this computer, we will not store any information about your work on this computer. When you start a new session, you'll be starting from scratch

check_box_outline_blankLogin to this Computer: This option provides free access to the book's basic features. You'll choose a username and a password that will be used to authenticate you locally. You can run queries using SQLite, data.world, or the "book only" option below. We'll remember things like your student credentials, database tokens, and answers you've written for query-writing challenges you are working on. You should hesitate to use this option on a computer that other people use, as we will only remember information of one user, so if someone else logs in after you, all your data will be lost. Also, with this option, there is no way to recover a lost password.

We'll try to remember your information on this computer between sessions, and protect it with your password, so you'll need to login each time you start a new session. This is the only computer your where your information is saved, so if you use this book on a different computer, you'll be starting from scratch. Be warned, if someone other than you uses this textbook on this computer between your sessions, all of your saved information will be lost.

check_box_outline_blankYour Own Authentication Server: This option provides free access to any of the available database engines for your datasets and queries. Setting this up will take a bit of effort, but if you are technically mineded, it won't be too bad. You will need to copy a Google sheet, open the Google Apps Script editor and deploy the included code as a web app. The whole process should take less than eight (8) minutes. Because Google has not reviewed the code, you'll see several warnings that your actions may not be safe. If this makes you queasy, you may prefer one of the less-powerfull, free options above, or one of the paid options below. Here's a link to a video that will walk you through the process.

Because you are using an authentication server, we'll keep a copy of all your settings and saved work in the cloud. We will also keep a copy on this computer so you have fast access to it. However, because other people use this computer, when you end our session or log out, we'll delete the local copy for your privacy.

class="material-symbols-outlined button inline-icon"
onclick="choose_login_method(event)">check_box_outline_blankThis Book's
Authentication Server:This option provides access to any of the available database engines for your datasets
and queries and unlocks several of the advanced features.

Database Engine Configuration

The data sets used in this book and the queries you write can be processed by several different ennvironments. Some require additional information or setup to enable.

check_box_outline_blankBook Only: This is the most basic configuration. The book's content is static; examples will be presented using the SQL standard syntax and cannot be modified. Although you will be able to run the examples displayed and see results, they are not being executed by a relational database management system—it's just a simulation.

check_box_outline_blankSQLite: The book's examples and queries will be executed using SQLite, a lightweight relational database management system. This is the default mode and requires no additional setup. All queries are run locally and any tables created or data entered are lost when you end your session.

check_box_outline_blankdata.world: The book's examples and queries will be executed using data.world, a popular data-sharing site. This mode requires that you have a data.world account and supply your read/write token to be able to execute queries. Becuase data.world noes not allow you to modify data, the book's interactive features will be restricted to data extraction and analytics. So, you will not be able to run SQL statements that insert, update or delete data.

check_box_outline_blankOracle Autonomous Database: The book's examples and queries will be executed using your Oracle Autonomous Database, a free, powerful, relational database you configure in the Oracle cloud. This mode provides the complete database experience. You can execute queries that read and modify data that will persist between sessions.

AI Configuration

Artificial Intellegence has become an indespensible tool in some fields. Many Large-language model, generative AI tools, such as Chat GPT, are excellent resources for writing Structured Query Language statements. This book can be configured to teach you how to work with generative AI to produce statements to accomplish specific tasks or it can be configured to help you learn to write your staments from scratch, without assistance from AI.

check_box_outline_blankShow AI Support: This book will show examples of how to work with a generative AI system, such as Chat GPT, as you create your SQL statements.

check_box_outline_blankHide AI Support: This book will not reference any generative AI systes; it will focus on teaching you to create your SQL statements from scratch.

User Information

If you are using this book in conjunction with a coruse, You'll want to enter some information so you can get credit for your work. Some of the values below will be provided by your instructor and he or she may let you know that some of these are not needed for your class.

Student Data

First Name		help
Last Name		help
Student ID		help
Email Address		help

Course Data

Course Code

help

Information Import/Export

If you are using the "No Authentication" or the "Login to this Computer" authentication methods, you may want to copy the information you have entered here to a different computer. If so, just click the "Export" button here and save the file to a flash drive or email it to yourself. Then you can use the "Import" button on a different computer to load all your settings. If you enter a password when you export, you'll need to enter that same password when you import. If you forget the password, there is no way to recover it.

This will export as much of your configuration information as possible, including keys that give access to your data.world account or your Oracle account (if you have configured access to those database systems). So don't leave the file laying around after you export it, unless you used a password.

Import or Export (File)

Password		help