COURSE DESCRIPTION

Chapter 1: Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server

This Chapter introduces SQL Server, the versions of SQL Server, including cloud versions, and how to connect to SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio.

Lessons

• The Basic Architecture of SQL Server
• SQL Server Editions and Versions
• Getting Started with SQL Server Management Studio

Lab: Working with SQL Server Tools

• Working with SQL Server Management Studio
• Creating and Organizing T-SQL Scripts

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to:

• Describe relational databases and Transact-SQL queries.
• Describe the on-premises and cloud-based editions and versions of SQL Server.
• Describe how to use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
• Connect to an instance of SQL Server, explore the databases contained in instance and work with script files that contain T-SQL queries.

Chapter 2: Introduction to T-SQL Querying

This Chapter describes 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.

Lessons

• Introducing T-SQL
• Understanding Sets
• Understanding Predicate Logic
• Understanding the Logical Order of Operations in SELECT statements

Lab: Introduction to T-SQL Querying

• Executing Basic SELECT Statements
• Executing Queries that Filter Data using Predicates
• Executing Queries That Sort Data Using ORDER BY

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to:

• Describe the role of T-SQL in writing SELECT statements.
• Describe the elements of the T-SQL language and which elements will be useful in writing queries.
• Describe the concepts of the set theory, one of the mathematical underpinnings of relational databases and apply to how you think about querying SQL Server
• Describe predicate logic and examine its application to querying SQL Server.
• Explain the elements o f a SELECT statement, delineate the order in which the elements are evaluated, and then apply this understanding to a practical approach to writing queries.

Chapter 3: Writing SELECT Queries

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

Lessons

• Writing Simple SELECT Statements
• Eliminating Duplicates with DISTINCT
• Using Column and Table Aliases

Lab: Writing Basic SELECT Statements

• Writing Simple SELECT Statements
• Eliminating Duplicates Using DISTINCT
• Using Column and Table Aliases

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to:

• Describe the structure and format of the SELECT statement, as well as enhancements that will add functionality and readability to your queries
• Describe how to eliminate duplicates using the DISTINCT clause
• Describe the use of column and table aliases

Chapter 4: Sorting and Filtering Data

This Chapter describes how to implement sorting and filtering.

Lessons

• Sorting Data
• Filtering Data with Predicates
• Filtering Data with TOP and OFFSET-FETCH
• Working with Unknown Values

Lab: Sorting and Filtering Data

• Writing Queries that Filter Data using a WHERE Clause
• Writing Queries that Sort Data Using an ORDER BY Clause
• Writing Queries that Filter Data Using the TOP Option
• Write Queries that filter data using the OFFSET-FETCH clause

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to:

• Explain how to add an ORDER BY clause to your queries to control the order of rows displayed in your query's output
• Explain how to construct WHERE clauses to filter out rows that do not match the predicate.
• Explain how to limit ranges of rows in the SELECT clause using a TOP option.
• Explain how to limit ranges of rows using the OFFSET-FETCH option of an ORDER BY clause.
• Explain how three-valued logic accounts for unknown and missing values, how SQL Server uses NULL to mark missing values, and how to test for NULL in your queries.

Chapter 5: Working with SQL Server Data Types

This Chapter introduces the data types SQL Server uses to store data.

Lessons

• Introducing SQL Server Data Types
• Working with Character Data
• Working with Date and Time Data

Lab: Working with SQL Server Data Types

• Writing Queries that Return Date and Time Data
• Writing Queries that use Date and Time Functions
• Writing Queries That Return Character Data
• Writing Queries That Return Character Functions

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to:

• Explore many of the data types SQL Server uses to store data and how data types are converted between types
• Explain the SQL Server character-based data types, how character comparisons work, and some common functions you may find useful in your queries
• Describe data types that are used to store temporal data, how to enter dates and times so they will be properly parsed by SQL Server, and how to manipulate dates and times with built-in functions.

Chapter 6: Using DML to Modify Data

This Chapter describes how to create DML queries, and why you would want to.

Lessons

• Adding Data to Tables
• Modifying and Removing Data
• Generating automatic column values

Lab: Using DML to Modify Data

• Inserting Records with DML
• Updating and Deleting Records Using DML

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to:

• Use INSERT and SELECT INTO statements
• Use UPDATE, MERGE, DELETE, and TRUNCATE.

Chapter 7: Using Built-In Functions

This Chapter introduces some of the many built in functions in SQL Server.

Lessons

• Writing Queries with Built-In Functions
• Using Conversion Functions
• Using Logical Functions
• Using Functions to Work with NULL

Lab : Using Built-In Functions

• Writing Queries That Use Conversion Functions
• Writing Queries that use Logical Functions
• Writing Queries that Test for Nullability

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to:

• Describe the types of functions provided by SQL Server, and then focus on working with scalar functions
• Explain how to explicitly convert data between types using several SQL Server functions
• Describe how to use logical functions that evaluate an expression and return a scalar result.
• Describe additional functions for working with NULL

Chapter 8: Grouping and Aggregating Data

This Chapter describes how to use aggregate functions.

Lessons

• Using Aggregate Functions
• Using the GROUP BY Clause
• Filtering Groups with HAVING

Lab : Grouping and Aggregating Data

• Writing Queries That Use the GROUP BY Clause
• Writing Queries that Use Aggregate Functions
• Writing Queries that Use Distinct Aggregate Functions
• Writing Queries that Filter Groups with the HAVING Clause

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to:

• Describe the built-in aggregate function in SQL Server and write queries using it.
• Write queries that separate rows using the GROUP BY clause.
• Write queries that use the HAVING clause to filter groups.

Chapter 9: Querying Multiple Tables

This Chapter describes how to write queries that combine data from multiple sources in Microsoft SQL Server.

Lessons

• Understanding Joins
• Querying with Inner Joins
• Querying with Left Joins
• Querying with Right Joins
• Querying with Full Outer Joins