Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Course details

About this Course This instructor led course provides students with the technical skills required to write basic Transact-SQL queries for Microsoft SQL Server. This course is the foundation for all SQL Server-related disciplines; namely, Database Administration, Database Development and Business Intelligence. This course helps people prepare for exam 70-461. All the labs for this course can be performed using the provided virtual machines. However, if you have a Microsoft Windows Azure account and the classroom virtual machines connect to the internet you may be able to connect to your Windows Azure server and database from the classroom. Many of the labs in this course are enabled for you to perform the lab while connected to your own Windows Azure database in the cloud. Your instructor should be able to provide a current list of Windows Azure enabled labs. To acquire a trial Windows Azure account

Objectives

At Course Completion

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Write SELECT queries
• Query multiple tables
• Use built-in functions
• Use subqueries
• Execute stored procedures
• Use set operators
• Implement error handling
• Implement transactions
• Use table expressions
• Sort and filter data
• Use window ranking, offset and aggregate functions
• Query SQL Server metadata
• Program with T-SQL
• Improve query performance

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of virtualization technology (Classroom labs utilize virtual machines) 

• Book: T-SQL Fundamentals for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and SQL Azure
• MCTS Self Paced Training Kit 70-461

Module

• Module 1: Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2012This module introduces the SQL Server platform and major tools. It discusses editions, versions, tools used to query, documentation sources, and the logical structure of databases.
• Module 2: Getting Started with SQL Azure
• Module 3: Introduction to T-SQL QueryingThis module introduces Transact SQL as the primary querying language of SQL Server. It discusses the basic structure of T-SQL queries, the logical flow of a SELECT statement, and introduces concepts such as predicates and set-based operations.
• Module 4: Writing SELECT QueriesThis module introduces the fundamentals of the SELECT statement, focusing on queries against a single table.
• Module 5: Querying Multiple TablesThis module explains how to write queries which combine data from multiple sources in SQL Server. The module introduces the use of JOINs in T-SQL queries as a mechanism for retrieving data from multiple tables.
• Module 6: Sorting and Filtering DataThis module explains how to enhance queries to limit the rows they return, and to control the order in which the rows are displayed. The module also discusses how to resolve missing and unknown results.
• Module 7: Working with SQL Server 2012 Data TypesThis module explains the data types SQL Server uses to store data. It introduces the many types of numeric and special-use data types. It also explains conversions between data types, and the importance of type precedence.
• Module 8: Using Built-In FunctionsThis module introduces the use of functions that are built in to SQL Server Denali, and will discuss some common usages including data type conversion, testing for logical results and nullability.
• Module 9: Grouping and Aggregating DataThis module introduces methods for grouping data within a query, aggregating the grouped data and filtering groups with HAVING. The module is designed to help the student grasp why a SELECT clause has restrictions placed upon column naming in the GROUP BY clause as well as which columns may be listed in the SELECT clause.
• Module 10: Using SubqueriesThis module will introduce the use of subqueries in various parts of a SELECT statement. It will include the use of scalar and multi-result subqueries, and the use of the IN and EXISTS operators.
• Module 11: Using Table ExpressionsThis module introduces T-SQL expressions which return a valid relational table, typically for further use in the query. The module discusses views, derived tables, common table expressions and inline table-valued functions.
• Module 12: Using Set OperatorsThis module introduces operations involving multiple sets of data. It will cover the use of the UNION, UNION ALL, APPLY, CROSS APPLY, OUTER APPLY operators as well as the EXCEPT and INTERSECTS operators.
• Module 13: Using Window Ranking, Offset and Aggregate FunctionsThis module introduces window functions including ranking, aggregate and offset functions. Much of this functionality is new to SQL Server 2012. It will cover the use of T-SQL functions such as ROW_NUMBER, RANK, DENSE_RANK, NTILE, LAG, LEAD, FIRST_VALUE and LAST_VALUE to perform calculations against a set, or window, of rows.
• Module 14: Pivoting and Grouping SetsThis module discusses techniques for pivoting data in T-SQL as well to introduce the fundamentals of the GROUPING SETS clause. It will also cover the use of GROUP BY ROLLUP and GROUP BY CUBE syntax in SQL Server 2012.
• Module 15: Querying SQL Server MetadataThis module introduces the use of SQL Server system objects in T-SQL queries. It will cover the use of system catalog views, system stored procedures, system functions, and dynamic management objects.
• Module 16: Executing Stored ProceduresThis module introduces the use of existing stored procedures in a T-SQL querying environment. It discusses the use of EXECUTE, how to pass input and output parameters to a procedure, and how to invoke system stored procedures.
• Module 17: Programming with T-SQLThis module provides a basic introduction to T-SQL programming concepts and objects. It discusses batches, variables, control of flow elements such as loops and conditionals, how to create and execute dynamic SQL statements, and how to use synonyms.
• Module 18: Implementing Error HandlingThis module introduces the use of error handlers in T-SQL code. It will introduce the difference between compile errors and run-time errors, and will cover how errors affect batches. The module will also cover how to control error handling using TRY/CATCH blocks, the use of the ERROR class of functions, and the use of the new THROW statement.
• Module 19: Implementing TransactionsThis module introduces the concepts of transaction management in SQL Server. It will provide a high-level overview of transaction properties, cover the basics of marking transactions with BEGIN, COMMIT and ROLLBACK.
• Module 20: Improving Query PerformanceThis module introduces the concepts of system resource usage and the performance impact of querying SQL Server 2012. It will cover, at a high level, the use of indexes in SQL Server, the use of execution plans in SQL Server Management Studio, and the use of SET options to view system resource usage when executing queries. It will also compare set-based operations with cursor-based operations.