Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Introduction to Querying

Course:   SSQE
Duration:   2 Days
Level:   I
On our website at:   http://www.verhoef-training.com/courses/SSQE.html
 
Course Summary

This 2 day course is intended for students who are completely new to querying with Microsoft SQL Server products and who need a gentle but concise introduction to the subject. This would be an ideal course for anyone wishing to learn SQL with the aim of implementing the language in a reporting environment. You will find that this is a comprehensive course for this level, with plenty of illustrated examples and augmented with practical hands-on exercises. The Appendix module(s) detailed in the outline are included in the course material but are not delivered as part of the training due to time constraints. However, as this course is fully modularised, an Appendix module could be swapped out with any one, or more, of the main modules of comparable size and duration if so desired. It is worth noting that this course could also be delivered in its entirety on a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 platform.

Topics Covered In This Course

Introduction to SQL Server Databases

  • Objects in a SQL Server Database
  • Database Diagrams
  • Components of a SQL Server Database Table
  • Native SQL Server Data Types
  • Categories of SQL Statements
  • Adding Comments to SQL Code

Using the SELECT Statement to Retrieve Data

  • Examine the Basic Syntax of the SELECT Statement
  • Retrieving Columns of Data from a Table
  • Using Aliases for Column Names
  • Using Aliases for Table Names

Retrieving Specific Rows of Data Using the WHERE Clause

  • How to Use the WHERE Clause
  • Overview of Operators
  • Filter Data by Using Comparison Operators
  • Filter Data by Using String Comparisons
  • Filter Data by Using Logical Operators
  • Filter Data Using a Range of Values
  • Filter Data Using a List of Values
  • Working with NULL Values
  • Introducing Native SQL Server Functions
  • Functions Relating to NULL Values

Formatting and Sorting Result Sets

  • Sorting Data Using the ORDER BY Clause
  • Eliminating Duplicate Rows
  • Using String Literals
  • Using Expressions

Querying Data from Multiple Tables by Using Joins

  • Introduction to Joins
  • Using Inner Joins
  • Using Outer Joins
  • Using Cross Joins
  • Joining More than Two Tables
  • Joining a Table to Itself

Summarizing Data Using Aggregate Functions

  • Using Aggregate Functions Native to SQL Server
  • Using Aggregate Functions with NULL Values
  • Grouping Summarized Data with GROUP BY
  • Filtering Grouped Data Using the HAVING Clause

Combining and Limiting Result Sets

  • Combining Result Sets Using the UNION Operator
  • Limiting Result Sets Using the TOP Operator

Working with Subqueries

  • Introduction to Subqueries
  • Using Subqueries as Expressions and Derived Tables
  • Scalar versus Tabular Subqueries
  • Using Correlated Subqueries
  • Using the EXISTS Clause with Correlated Subqueries

Inserting Data into Tables

  • Inserting a Single Row into a Table
  • Inserting Multiple Rows into a Table
  • Differentiating Various INSERT Statements

Deleting Data from Tables

  • Deleting Rows from a Table
  • Truncating a Table
  • Deleting Rows Based on Data in Other Tables

Updating Data in Tables

  • Updating Rows in a Table
  • Updating Rows Based on Data in Other Tables

Appendix 1. Ranking Grouped Data

  • Ranking Data Using Ranking Functions
  • Using ROW_NUMBER
  • Using RANK
  • Using DENSE_RANK
  • Using NTILE
  • Summary of Ranking Functions Based on Their
  • Functionality

Appendix 2. Working with SQL Server Date and Time Data

  • Data Type Precedence
  • Implicit Data Type Conversions
  • Querying and Modifying Date and Time Data
  • Using the New SQL Server 2008 Date and Time Data Types
What You Can Expect

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Recommended Prerequisites

Students should ideally be familiar with basic programming concepts, and understand the fundamental design of relational databases and the concept of data normalization.

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SSPRG
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MSSAPT
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