Pre-requisites:

Before attending this course, students must have:

• Basic knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operating system and its core functionality.
  
• Working knowledge of Transact-SQL.
• Working knowledge of relational databases.
• Some experience with database design.

Module Outline:

Module 1: Creating Databases and Database Files

The students will learn one of the most fundamental tasks that a database developer must perform, the creation of a database and its major components, such as creating databases, setting database options, creating filegroups, schemas, and database snapshots.

Lessons

• Creating Databases
• Creating Filegroups
• Creating Schemas
• Creating Database Snapshots

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create databases
• Create filegroups
• Create schemas
• Create database snapshots

Module 2: Creating Data Types and Tables

The students will learn about the system-supplied data types in SQL Server 2008. They will learn how to define custom Transact-SQL data types and how to create tables and how to use partitioned tables to organize data into multiple partitions.

Lessons

• Creating Data Types
• Creating Tables
• Creating Partitioned Tables

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create new data types.
• Create new tables.
• Create partitioned tables.

Module 3: Creating and Tuning Indexes

The students will learn how to plan, create, and optimize indexes to attain optimal performance benefits.

Lessons

• Planning Indexes
• Creating Indexes
• Optimizing Indexes

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Plan indexes.
• Create indexes.
• Optimize indexes.

Module 4: Implementing Data Integrity by Using Constraints and Triggers

The students will learn about implementing data integrity in SQL Server 2008 by using constraints. They will also implement data integrity by using triggers.

Lessons

• Data Integrity Overview
• Implementing Constraints
• Implementing Triggers

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the options for enforcing data integrity in SQL Server 2008.
• Implement data integrity in SQL Server 2008 databases by using constraints.
• Implement data integrity in SQL Server 2008 databases by using triggers.

Module 5: Using XML

The students will learn how to work with XML, including use of the FOR XML clause, the OPENXML function, XQuery expressions, and the xml native data type. They will learn the considerations to be taken into account when creating XML indexes and the syntax used to create the XML indexes. They will also learn what XML schemas and XML schema collections are as well as how to use them to implement typed XML data.

Lessons

• Using the XML Data Type
• Retrieving XML by Using FOR XML
• Shredding XML by Using OPENXML
• Introducing XQuery
• Creating XML Indexes
• Implementing XML Schemas

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Use the xml data type.
• Retrieve XML by using the FOR XML clause.
• Shred XML by using the OPENXML function.
• Use XQuery expressions.
• Create XML indexes.
• Implement data integrity in SQL Server 2008 databases by using XML schemas.

Module 6: Implementing Views

The students will be introduced to the different types of views available in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 which provide a convenient way to access data through a predefined query.

Lessons

• Introduction to Views
• Creating and Managing Views
• Optimizing Performance by Using Views

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the purpose of views.
• Create and manage views.
• Explain how to optimize query performance by using views.

Module 7: Implementing Stored Procedures

The students will learn the design and implementation of stored procedures to enforce business rules or data consistency, or to modify and maintain existing stored procedures written by other developers.

Lessons

• Implementing Stored Procedures
• Creating Parameterized Stored Procedures
• Working With Execution Plans
• Handling Errors

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Implement stored procedures.
• Create parameterized stored procedures.
• Work with execution plans.
• Handle errors in stored procedures.

Module 8: Implementing Functions

The students will learn the design and implementation of user-defined functions that enforce business rules or data consistency, or to modify and maintain existing functions written by other developers.

Lessons

• Creating and Using Functions
• Working with Functions
• Controlling Execution Context

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create and use functions.
• Work with functions.
• Control execution context.

Module 9: Implementing Managed Code in the Database

The students will learn to use managed code to implement database objects, such as stored procedures, user-defined data types, user-defined functions, and triggers.

Lessons

• Introduction to the SQL Server Common Language Runtime
• Importing and Configuring Assemblies
• Creating Managed Database Objects

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Identify appropriate scenarios for managed code in the database.
• Import and configure assemblies.
• Create managed database objects.

Module 10: Managing Transactions and Locks

The students will learn to use transactions and SQL Server locking mechanisms to meet the performance and data integrity requirements of their applications.

Lessons

• Overview of Transactions and Locks
• Managing Transactions
• Understanding SQL Server Locking Architecture
• Managing Locks

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe how SQL Server 2008 transactions use locks.
• Execute and cancel a transaction.
• Describe concurrency issues and SQL Server 2008 locking mechanisms.
• Manage locks.

Module 11: Using Service Broker

The students will learn to use Service Broker to create secure, reliable, and scalable applications.

Lessons

• Service Broker Overview
• Creating Service Broker Objects
• Sending and Receiving Messages

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe Service Broker functionality and architecture.
• Create Service Broker objects.
• Send and receive Service Broker messages.

Module 1: Getting Started with Databases and Transact-SQL in SQL Server 2008

The student will be introduced to how client/server architecture works, and examine the various database and business tasks that can be performed by using the components of SQL Server 2008. The student will also be introduced to SQL Server database concepts such as relational databases, normalization, and database objects. In addition, the student will learn how to use T-SQL to query databases and generate reports.

Lessons

* Overview of SQL Server 2008
* Overview of SQL Server Databases
* Overview and Syntax Elements of T-SQL
* Working with T-SQL Scripts
* Using T-SQL Querying Tools

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.

Module 2: Querying and Filtering Data

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.

Lessons

* Using the SELECT Statement
* Filtering Data
* Working with NULL Values
* Formatting Result Sets
* Performance Considerations for Writing Queries

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.

Module 3: Grouping and Summarizing Data

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.

Lessons

* 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.

Module 4: Joining Data from Multiple Tables

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

Lessons

* Querying Multiple Tables by Using Joins
* Applying Joins for Typical Reporting Needs
* Combining and Limiting Result Set

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.

Module 5: Working with Subqueries

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.

Lessons

* 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.

Module 6: Modifying Data in Tables

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.

Lessons

* Inserting Data into Tables
* Deleting Data from Tables
* Updating Data in Tables
* Overview of Transactions

After completing this module, students will be able to:

* Insert data into tables.
* Delete data from tables.
* Update data in tables.
* Describe transactions.

Module 7: Querying Metadata, XML, and Full-Text Indexes

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.

Lessons

* Querying Metadata
* Overview of XML
* Querying XML Data
* Overview of Full-Text Indexes
* 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.

Module 8: Using Programming Objects for Data Retrieval

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.

Lessons

* Overview of Views
* Overview of User-Defined Functions
* Overview of Stored Procedures
* Overview of Triggers
* 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.

Module 9: Using Advanced Querying Techniques

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.

Lessons

* Considerations for Querying Data
* Working with Data Types
* Cursors and Set-Based Queries
* Dynamic SQL
* Maintaining Query Files

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.