Writing Queries Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Transact-SQL

Starting and Using SQLCMD

Generating a Report from a SQL Server Database Using Microsoft Office Excel

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.

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.

Using the SELECT Statement

Filtering Data

Working with NULL Values

Formatting Result Sets

Performance Considerations for Writing Queries

Retrieving Data by Using the SELECT Statement

Filtering Data by Using Different Search Conditions

Using Functions to Work with NULL Values

Formatting Result Sets

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.

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.

Summarizing Data by Using Aggregate Functions

Summarizing Grouped Data

Ranking Grouped Data

Creating Crosstab Queries

Summarizing Data by Using Aggregate Functions

Summarizing Grouped Data

Ranking Grouped Data

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.

The students will learn to write joins to query multiple tables, as well as limiting and combining result sets.

Querying Multiple Tables by Using Joins

Applying Joins for Typical Reporting Needs

Combining and Limiting Result Set

Querying Multiple Tables by Using Joins

Applying Joins for Typical Reporting Needs

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.

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.

Writing Basic Subqueries

Writing Correlated Subqueries

Comparing Subqueries with Joins and Temporary Tables

Using Common Table Expressions

Writing Basic Subqueries

Writing Correlated Subqueries

Comparing Subqueries with Joins and Temporary Tables

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.

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.

Inserting Data into Tables

Deleting Data from Tables

Updating Data in Tables

Overview of Transactions

Inserting Data into Tables

Deleting Data from Tables

Updating Data in Tables

Working with Transactions

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Insert data into tables.

Delete data from tables.

Update data in tables.

Describe transactions.

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.

Querying Metadata

Overview of XML

Querying XML Data

Overview of Full-Text Indexes

Querying Full-Text Indexes

Querying Metadata

Querying XML Data

Creating and Querying Full-Text Indexes

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Query metadata.

Describe the functionality of XML.

Query XML data.

Describe the functionality of full-text indexes.

Query full-text indexes.

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.

Overview of Views

Overview of User-Defined Functions

Overview of Stored Procedures

Overview of Triggers

Writing Distributed Queries

Creating Views

Creating User-Defined Functions

Creating Stored Procedures

Writing Distributed Queries

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Encapsulate queries by using views.

Encapsulate expressions by using user-defined functions.

Explain how stored procedures encapsulate T-SQL logic.

Define triggers, types of triggers, create a trigger.

Write distributed queries.

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.

Considerations for Querying Data

Working with Data Types

Cursors and Set-Based Queries

Dynamic SQL

Maintaining Query Files

Using Execution Plans

Converting Data Types

Implementing a Hierarchy

Using Cursors and Set-Based 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.