Elements of this syllabus are subject to change.
This 3-day instructor led course provides students with the technical skills required to write basic Transact-SQL queries for Microsoft SQL Server 2008.
TThis course is intended for SQL Server database administrators, implementers, system engineers, and developers who are responsible for writing queries.
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At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
- IDescribe the uses of and ways to execute the Transact-SQL language.
- Use querying tools.
- Write SELECT queries to retrieve data.
- Group and summarize data by using Transact-SQL.
- Join data from multiple tables.
- Write queries that retrieve and modify data by using subqueries.
- Modify data in tables.
- Query text fields with full-text search.
- Describe how to create programming objects.
- Use various techniques when working with complex queries.
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Before attending this course, students must have:
- Logical database design.
- Physical database design.
- How data is stored in tables (rows and columns).
- Data integrity concepts.
- Relationships between tables and columns (primary key and foreign key, one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many).
- Basic knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operating system and its core functionality. For example, how to use Windows Explorer, open and save files, and what a client/server application interaction means.
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Module 1: Getting Started with Databases and Transact-SQL in SQL Server 2008
The student will be introduced to how client/server architecture works, and examine the various database and business tasks that can be performed by using the components of SQL Server 2008. The student will also be introduced to SQL Server database concepts such as relational databases, normalization, and database objects. In addition, the student will learn how to use T-SQL to query databases and generate reports.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Overview of SQL Server 2008
Lesson 2: Overview of SQL Server Databases
Lesson 3: Overview of the SQL Language
Lesson 4: Syntax Elements of T-SQL
Lesson 5: Working with T-SQL Scripts
Lesson 6: Using T-SQL Querying Tools
Lab: Getting Started with Databases and Transact-SQL in SQL Server 2008
Exercise 1: (Level 200) Exploring SQL Server Management Studio
Exercise 2: (Level 200) Executing Queries in SQL Server Management Studio
Exercise 3: (Level 200) Examining a Database Diagram in SQL Server Management Studio
Exercise 4: (Level 200) Using Excel to Generate a Report from a SQL Server Database
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Describe the architecture and components of SQL Server 2008.
Describe the structure of a SQL Server database.
Explain the basics of the SQL language.
Describe the syntax elements of T-SQL.
Explain how to manage T-SQL scripts.
Use T-SQL querying tools to query SQL Server 2008 databases.
Module 2: Querying and Filtering Data
The students will be introduced to the basic Transact-SQL (T-SQL) statements that are used for writing queries, filtering data, and formatting result sets.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Using the SELECT Statement
Lesson 2: Filtering Data
Lesson 3: Working with NULL Values
Lesson 4: Formatting Result Sets
Lesson 5: Performance Considerations for Writing Queries
Lab: Querying and Filtering Data
Exercise 1 (Level 200): Retrieving Data by Using the SELECT Statement
Exercise 2 (Level 200): Filtering Data by Using Search Conditions
Exercise 3: (Level 200) Using Functions to Work with NULL Values
Exercise 4: (Level 200) Formatting Result Sets
Exercise 5: (Level 200) Rewriting Queries for Performance
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Retrieve data by using the SELECT statement.
Filter data by using different search conditions.
Explain how to work with NULL values.
Format result sets.
Describe the performance considerations that affect data retrieval.
Module 3: Grouping and Summarizing Data
The students will learn to group and summarize data when generating reports in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 by using aggregate functions and the COMPUTE clause.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Summarizing Data by Using Aggregate Functions
Lesson 2: Summarizing Grouped Data
Lesson 3: Ranking Grouped Data
Lesson 4: Creating Crosstab Queries
Lab: Grouping and Summarizing Data
Exercise 1: (Level 200) Summarizing Data by Using Aggregate Functions
Exercise 2: (Level 200) Summarizing Grouped Data
Exercise 3: (Level 200) Ranking Grouped Data
Exercise 4: (Level 200) Creating Crosstab Queries
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Summarize data by using aggregate functions.
Summarize grouped data by using the GROUP BY and COMPUTE clauses.
Rank grouped data.
Create cross-tabulation queries by using the PIVOT and UNPIVOT clauses.
Module 4: Joining Data from Multiple Tables
The students will learn to write joins to query multiple tables, as well as limiting and combining result sets.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Querying Multiple Tables by Using Joins
Lesson 2: Applying Joins for Typical Reporting Needs
Lesson 3: Combining and Limiting Result Set
Lab: Joining Data from Multiple Tables
Exercise 1: (Level 200) Querying Multiple Tables by Using Joins
Exercise 2: (Level 200) Applying Joins for Typical Reporting Needs
Exercise 3: (Level 200) Combining and Limiting Result Sets
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Query multiple tables by using joins.
Apply joins for typical reporting needs.
Combine and limit result sets.
Module 5: Working with Subqueries
The students will be introduced to basic and correlated subqueries and how these compare with joins and temporary tables. The students will also be introduced to using common table expressions in queries.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Writing Basic Subqueries
Lesson 2: Writing Correlated Subqueries
Lesson 3: Comparing Subqueries with Joins and Temporary Tables
Lesson 4: Using Common Table Expressions
Lab: Working with Subqueries
Exercise 1: (Level 200) Writing Basic Subqueries
Exercise 2: (Level 200) Writing Correlated Subqueries
Exercise 3: (Level 200) Comparing Subqueries with Joins and Temporary Tables
Exercise 4: (Level 200) Using Common Table Expressions
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Write basic subqueries.
Write correlated subqueries.
Compare subqueries with joins and temporary tables.
Use common table expressions in queries.
Module 6: Modifying Data in Tables
The students will be able to modify the data in tables by using the INSERT, DELETE, and UPDATE statements. In addition, students will examine how transactions work in a database, the importance of transaction isolation levels, and how to manage transactions.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Overview of Transactions
Lesson 2: Inserting Data into Tables
Lesson 3: Deleting Data from Tables
Lesson 4: Updating Data in Tables
Lab: Modifying Data in Tables
Exercise 1: (Level 200) Inserting Data into Tables
Exercise 2: (Level 200) Deleting Data from Tables
Exercise 3: (Level 200) Updating Data in Tables
Exercise 4: (Level 200) Working with Transactions
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Describe transactions.
Insert data into tables.
Delete data from tables.
Update data in tables.
Module 7: Querying Metadata, XML, and Full-Text Indexes
The students will learn to query semi-structured and unstructured data. The students will also learn how SQL Server 2008 handles XML data and will query XML data. The students will also be introduced to full-text indexing in SQL Server 2008.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Querying Metadata
Lesson 2: Overview of XML
Lesson 3: Querying XML Data
Lesson 4: Overview of Full-Text Indexes
Lesson 5: Querying Full-Text Indexes
Lab: Querying Metadata, XML, and Full-Text Indexes
Exercise 1: (Level 200) Querying Metadata
Exercise 2: (Level 200) Querying XML Data
Exercise 3: (Level 200) Creating and Querying Full-Text Indexes
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Module 8: Using Programming Objects for Data Retrieval
The students will be introduced to user-defined functions and executing various kinds of queries by using user-defined functions. The students will be introduced to SQL Server views that encapsulate data and present users with limited and relevant information. In addition, the students will be introduced to SQL Server stored procedures and the functionalities of the various programming objects. The students will learn how to perform distributed queries and how SQL Server works with heterogeneous data such as databases, spreadsheets, and other servers.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Encapsulating Expressions by Using User-Defined Functions
Lesson 2: Encapsulating Queries by Using Views
Lesson 3: Overview of Stored Procedures
Lesson 4: Writing Distributed Queries
Lab: Using Programming Objects for Data Retrieval
Exercise 1: (Level 300) Creating User-Defined Functions
Exercise 2: (Level 200) Creating Views
Exercise 3: (Level 300) Writing Distributed Queries
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Encapsulate expressions by using user-defined functions.
Encapsulate queries by using views.
Explain how stored procedures encapsulate T-SQL logic.
Write distributed queries.
Module 9: Using Advanced Querying Techniques
The students will be introduced to best practices for querying complex data. The students will also examine how to query complex table structures such as data stored in hierarchies and self-referencing tables. The students will analyze the recommended guidelines for executing queries and how to optimize query performance.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Considerations for Querying Complex Data
Lesson 2: Querying Complex Table Structures
Lesson 3: Writing Efficient Queries
Lesson 4: Using Different Techniques for Complex Queries
Lesson 5: Maintaining Query Files
Lab: Using Advanced Querying Techniques
Exercise 1: (Level 300) Breaking up a Complex Business Reporting Requirement
Exercise 2: (Level 300) Writing Complex Queries
Exercise 3: (Level 300) Rewriting Complex Queries
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain the recommendations for querying complex data.
Query complex table structures.
Write efficient queries.
Use various techniques when working with complex queries.
Maintain query files.
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