Course Syllabus
Table of Contents
Introduction
Audience
At Course Completion
Prerequisites
Microsoft Certified Professional
Exams
Student Materials
Course Outline
Introduction
The course focuses on writing and tuning queries and programming in SQL Server 2005 and 2008. In this course you will learn the details and capabilities of T-SQL in the following areas: Logical Query Processing; Query Tuning; Subqueries, Ranking Functions, Joins and Set Operations; Aggregating and Pivoting Data; TOP and APPLY; Data Modification; Data Type Related Problems; Programmable Objects (Dynamic SQL, Views, User Defined Functions, Stored Procedures, Triggers, Transactions and Concurrency, Exception Handling); Graphs, Trees and Hierarchies.
Along the course you will learn how to use T-SQL to solve practical problems such as: Relational Division, Ranking, Missing and Existing Values (Islands and Gaps), Separating Elements, Tie Breakers, Running Aggregations, Pivoting and Unpivoting, Custom Aggregations, Histograms, Dynamic Analysis of Grouping Sets, TOP Problems, Paging, Median, Handling Sequences, and more.
You will learn how to tune your queries, how to develop efficient routines including user defined functions, stored procedures and triggers, work in multi-user environments with transactions and isolation levels, and use dynamic SQL securely and efficiently.
You will also learn how to maintain and query hierarchical data. You will learn what graphs, trees and hierarchies are, what the common requests against graphs are, and how to write T-SQL code to handle those requests. Several different solutions will be presented including: Enumerated Paths, Nested Sets, Nested Iterations using Recursive Queries, and using the HIERARCHYID datatype.
The course provides a dedicated module focusing on query tuning. The module covers internals and index tuning, index access methods, temporary tables, set vs. cursors, and query tuning using query revisions. Moreover, query tuning is in the heart of this course and is incorporated in the different modules throughout the course.
With each querying/programming problem the discussions will revolve around logical aspects, set-based vs. procedural programming and optimization of the solutions.
About the Author
This course was developed by Itzik Ben-Gan, a mentor and one of the founders of Solid Quality Mentors, author of several books about T-SQL, a columnist in SQL Server Magazine, and a regular speaker in SQL Server related events.
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Audience
- T-SQL Programmers, DBAs, Architects and Analysts.
- Those that need to write or review T-SQL code in SQL Server 2005 and 2008.
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At Course Completion
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand logical query processing
- Understand SQL Server�s internal data structures
- Be able to analyze and tune query performance
- Be able to analyze query execution plans
- Be able to solve complex querying and programming problems
- Think in terms of sets
- Be able to compare set based and cursor based solutions
- Know how to handle date and time data
- Understand compilations, recompilations and reuse of execution plans
- Understand transactions and concurrency aspects of database programming
- Know how to handle hierarchical data and write recursive queries
- Be familiar T-SQL enhancements in SQL Server 2005 and 2008
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Prerequisites
The course assumes at least one year of T-SQL querying and programming experience in SQL Server.
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Microsoft Certified Professional Exams
No MCP exam currently exists for this course.
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Student Materials
The student kit includes a comprehensive workbook and other necessary materials
for this class.
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Course Outline
Module 1: Logical Query Processing
Logical Query Processing Order
Logical Query Processing Example
Phase Details
Set Operations
Module 2: Query Tuning
Internals and Index Tuning
Temporary Tables
Sets vs. Cursors
Query Tuning with Query Revisions
Module 3: Subqueries, Ranking Functions, Joins and Set Operations
Subqueries
Analytical Ranking Functions
Joins
Set Operations
Lab
Module 4: Aggregating and Pivoting Data
The OVER Clause
Tie Breakers
Running Aggregations
Pivoting and Unpivoting Data
Custom Aggregations
Histograms
Grouping Sets
Lab
Module 5: TOP and APPLY
TOP
APPLY
Lab
Module 6: Data Modification
Inserting Data
Deleting Data
Updating Data
Merging Data
The OUTPUT Clause
Lab
Module 7: Datatype Related Problems
Date and Time Manipulation
Datatype Enhancements
Lab
Module 8: Programmable Objects
Dynamic SQL
Views
User Defined Functions
Stored Procedures
Triggers
Transactions and Concurrency
Exception Handling
Lab
Module 9: Graphs, Trees and Hierarchies
Graphs, Described
Common Requests against Graphs
Enumerated Paths Model
Nested Sets Model
Recursive Queries
The HIERARCHYID Datatype
Lab
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