70-461, 761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server with Transact-SQL

Unlock the Power of T-SQL: Master Microsoft SQL Server Querying

This comprehensive course, formerly seven individual tutorials, provides a complete foundation in T-SQL (Transact-SQL) – the language for managing and querying data in Microsoft SQL Server. Ideal for beginners, no prior SQL experience is needed! We'll even guide you through a free SQL Server installation.

What You'll Learn:

• SQL Server Fundamentals: Learn to install SQL Server and create/drop databases and tables.
• Data Types & Functions: A deep dive into data types and data functions, the building blocks of T-SQL queries.
• Querying with SELECT: Master the core SELECT statement, including FROM, WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING, and ORDER BY clauses.
• Data Manipulation: Learn to INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE data efficiently.
• Joining Tables: Combine data from multiple tables to uncover relationships and inconsistencies.
• Views & Triggers: Create views for simplified data access and triggers for automated database actions.
• Database Constraints: Implement UNIQUE, CHECK, PRIMARY KEY, and FOREIGN KEY constraints to ensure data integrity.
• Stored Procedures: Encapsulate code with procedures for reusable and parameterized commands. Implement robust error handling with TRY...CATCH...THROW.
• Advanced Data Operations: Utilize UNION, UNION ALL, INTERSECT, EXCEPT, CASE, ISNULL, COALESCE, and the powerful MERGE statement for data manipulation.
• Aggregate Queries: Master aggregate queries with ROW_NUMBER, RANK, DENSE_RANK, and NTILE ranking functions. Explore the latest analytic functions in SQL Server 2012 and beyond, including LAG, LEAD, FIRST_VALUE, and LAST_VALUE.
• Grouping & Totals: Explore alternative grouping techniques with ROLLUP, CUBE, GROUPING SETS, and GROUPING_ID.
• Spatial Data: Work with geometry and geography data types for location-based queries and analysis.
• Subqueries & CTEs: Write effective subqueries and utilize Common Table Expressions (CTEs) with the WITH statement.
• User-Defined Functions (UDFs): Create scalar functions, inline table functions, and multi-statement table functions.
• Synonyms, Dynamic SQL & GUIDs: Learn to use synonyms, dynamic SQL, and generate GUIDs.
• Sequences & XML/JSON: Utilize sequences and work with XML and, for SQL Server 2016+, JSON and Temporal Tables.
• Transactions & Indexing: Understand transactions, their impact on database performance, and the role of indexes in query optimization. Use Dynamic Management Views to analyze index usage.
• Cursors: Learn when and how to use cursors for row-based operations.
• Scalar UDFs: Understand the impact of using scalar UDFs.

This course is a solid foundation for:

• Preparing for the Microsoft 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and 70-761: Querying Data with Transact-SQL certifications (Note: these certifications are no longer offered by Microsoft, but the exam requirements are still relevant).
• Boosting your skills for current exams like DP-300 (Azure Database Administrator Associate) and DP-600 (Implementing Analytics Solutions Using Microsoft Fabric).

Key Features:

• Step-by-step instruction
• Practical examples
• Regular quizzes to reinforce learning
• Lifetime access to course materials