The Basics

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard programming language for creating and retrieving information that is stored in a relational database. The user interface or front-end (what you see online) is called phpPgAdmin. The following pages are meant as a basic introduction to SQL, phpPgAdmin, and query writing. Please see BaBase documentation for specifics about the database. There are many resources online for more detailed information about SQL. There are links to SQL tutorials and documentation through the Babase Wiki Case sensitivity

SQL language is case insensitive but user-defined identifiers (table names, column names, and table entries) are case sensitive. For example, the SQL SELECT statement could be written and SELECT, SeLect, or select but the table biograph is case sensitive and must be written as is. Conventions in SQL syntax

In this document I have followed some SQL syntax conventions when writing query statements.

UPPERCASE Uppercase indicates SQL language or commands

lowercase Lowercase indicates user defined items such as tables and columns specific to BaBase.

Quotation marks

All quotation marks in SQL are straight quotes (such as ' and "), not curly quotes (such as ‘ and “). Curly quotes will not work in the SQL window. Be careful when cutting and pasting from text editors. Sometimes the default is curly quotes and you will receive an error message when you run the query. You can delete the

Wiki content based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. 0323553 and 0323596. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the wiki contributor(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.