Introduzione

This 5-day instructor led course provides students with the technical skills required to write basic Transact-SQL queries for Microsoft SQL Server 2014. This course is the foundation for all SQL Server-related disciplines; namely, Database Administration, Database Development and Business Intelligence. The main purpose of the course is to prepare people for the exam "70-461: Writing Queries Using Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014 Transact-SQL." This exam will be the underlying exam for all SQL Server-related disciplines; namely, Database Administration, Database Development and Business Intelligence. As such, the primary target audience for this course is: Database Administrators, Database Developers and BI professionals..

Note: This course is designed for customers who are interested in learning SQL Server 2012 or SQL Server 2014. It covers the new features in SQL Server 2014, but also the important capabilities across the SQL Server data platform.

This course is intended for Database Administrators, Database Developers, and Business Intelligence professionals. The course will very likely be well attended by SQL power users who aren’t necessarily database-focused or plan on taking the exam; namely, report writers, business analysts and client application developers.

Obiettivi del corso

After completing this course, students will be able to:

Describe the basic architecture and concepts of Microsoft SQL Server 2014.

Understand the similarities and differences between Transact-SQL and other computer languages.

Write SELECT queries

Query multiple tables

Sort and filter data

Describe the use of data types in SQL Server

Modify data using Transact-SQL

Use built-in functions

Group and aggregate data

Use subqueries

Use table expressions

Use set operators

Use window ranking, offset and aggregate functions

Implement pivoting and grouping sets

Execute stored procedures

Program with T-SQL

Implement error handling

Implement transactions

 

Prerequisiti

Working knowledge of relational databases.
 Basic knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operating system and its core functionality

Struttura del Corso

MODULE 1: Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2014

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe the architecture and editions of SQL Server 2012

Work with SQL Server Management Studio

Lab : Working with SQL Server 2014 Tools

MODULE 2: Introduction to T-SQL Querying

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe the elements of T-SQL and their role in writing queries

Describe the use of sets in SQL Server

Describe the use of predicate logic in SQL Server

Describe the logical order of operations in SELECT statements

Lab : Introduction to Transact-SQL Querying

MODULE 3: Writing SELECT Queries

This module introduces the fundamentals of the SELECT statement, focusing on queries against a single table.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Write simple SELECT statements

Eliminate duplicates using the DISTINCT clause

Use column and Table Aliases

Write simple CASE expressions

Lab : Writing Basic SELECT Statements

MODULE 4: Querying Multiple Tables

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe how multiple tables may be queried in a SELECT statement using joins

Write queries that use inner joins

Write queries that use outer joins

Write queries that use self-joins and cross joins

Lab : Querying Multiple Tables

MODULE 5: Sorting and Filtering Data

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Filter data with predicates in the WHERE clause

Sort data using ORDER BY

Filter data in the SELECT clause with TOP

Filter data with OFFSET and FETCH

Working with Unknown Values

Lab : Sorting and Filtering Data

MODULE 6: Working with SQL Server 2014 Data Types

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe numeric data types, type precedence and type conversions

Write queries using character data types.

Write queries using date and time data types

Lab : Working with SQL Server 2014 Data Types

MODULE 7: Using DML to Modify Data

This module describes the use of Transact-SQL Data Manipulation Language to perform inserts, updates, and deletes to your data.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Insert new data into your tables

Update and Delete existing records in your tables

Lab : Using DML to Modify Data

MODULE 8: Using Built-In Functions

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Write queries with built-in scalar functions

Use conversion functions

Use logical functions

Use functions that work with NULL

Lab : Using Built-In Functions

MODULE 9: Grouping and Aggregating Data

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Write queries which summarize data using built-in aggregate functions

Use the GROUP BY clause to arrange rows into groups

Use the HAVING clause to filter out groups based on a search condition

Lab : Grouping and Aggregating Data

MODULE 10: Using Subqueries

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe the uses of queries which are nested within other queries

Write self-contained subqueries which return scalar or multi-valued results

Write correlated subqueries which return scalar or multi-valued results

Use the EXISTS predicate to efficiently check for the existence of rows in a subquery

Lab : Using Subqueries

MODULE 11: Using Table Expressions

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Write queries which use derived tables.

Write queries which use common table expressions.

Create simple views and write queries against them.

Create simple inline table-valued functions and write queries against them

Use Derived Tables

Use Common Table Expressions

Lab : Using Table Expressions

MODULE 12: Using Set Operators

This module introduces the set operators UNION, INTERSECT, and EXCEPT to compare rows between two input sets

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Write queries which combine data using the UNION operator

Write queries which compare sets using the INTERSECT and EXCEPT operators

Write queries which manipulate rows in a table by using APPLY with the results of a derived table or function

Lab : Using Set Operators

MODULE 13: Using Window Ranking, Offset, and Aggregate Functions

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe the benefits to using window functions

Restrict window functions to rows defined in an OVER clause, including partitions and frames

Write queries which use window functions to operate on a window of rows and return ranking, aggregation and offset comparison results

Lab : Using Window Ranking, Offset and Aggregate Functions

MODULE 14: Pivoting and Grouping Sets

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Write queries which Pivot and UNPIVOT result sets.

Write queries which specify multiple groupings with grouping sets

Lab : Pivoting and Grouping Sets

MODULE 15: Querying data with Stored Procedures

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Write Queries with PIVOT and UNPIVOT

Return results by executing stored procedures.

Pass parameters to Stored procedures.

Create simple stored procedures which encapsulate a SELECT statement.

Construct and execute dynamic SQL with EXEC and sp_executesql

Lab : Executing Stored Procedures

MODULE 16: Programming with T-SQL

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe the language elements of T-SQL used for simple programming tasks

Describe batches and how they are handled by SQL Server

Declare and assign variables and synonyms

Use IF and WHILE blocks to control program flow

Lab : Programming with T-SQL

MODULE 17: Implementing Error Handling

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe SQL Server's behavior when errors occur in T-SQL code.

Implement structured exception handling in T-SQL.

Return information about errors from system objects.

Raise user-defined errors and pass system errors in T-SQL code

Lab : Implementing Error Handling

MODULE 18: Implementing Transactions

This 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.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe transactions and the differences between batches and transactions

Describe batches and how they are handled by SQL Server

Create and manage transactions with transaction control language statements

Use SET XACT_ABORT to define SQL Server's handling of transactions outside TRY / CATCH blocks

Describe the effects of isolation levels on transactions

Lab : Implementing Transactions

MODULE 19: Appendix 1: Improving Query Performance

This module presents several key guidelines for writing well-performing queries, as well as ways to monitor the execution of your queries and their impact on Microsoft SQL Server

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe components of well-performing queries

Display and interpret basic query performance data

Lab : Improving Query Performance

MODULE 20: Appendix 2: Querying SQL Server Metadata

SQL Server provides access to structured metadata by using a variety of mechanisms, such as system catalog views, system functions, dynamic management objects, and system stored procedures. In this module, you will learn how to write queries to return system metadata using these mechanisms.

Lessons

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Write queries that retrieve system metadata using system views and functions

Execute system stored procedures to return system information

Write queries that retrieve system metadata and state information using system dynamic management views and functions

Lab : Querying SQL Server Metadata