Microsoft SQL Server Querying Data For Report Developers 3 Days

Course Overview

This 3-day course is intended for students who need to familiarise themselves with the various querying techniques available to retrieve data from a Microsoft SQL Server database in a report authoring environment, whether that be through an implementation of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services or similar reporting tool. No previous knowledge of the SQL language is assumed as the course is designed from the ground up, starting with basic queries and advancing to more complex querying methods.

Applies to all versions from SQL 2012 through to Server 2022.

DURATION: 3 days

INTRODUCTION

The last module (which is optional) will also give students the opportunity to put their SQL skills into practice by creating a simple report. On completion of the course students will be able to retrieve data using the SQL language and write effective queries for reporting purposes.

PREREQUISITES

Students should ideally be familiar with basic programming concepts.

They should also understand the fundamental design of relational databases including, but not restricted to, the purpose of primary and foreign keys, entity relationships, and data normalization. These prerequisites can be met by taking the 2 day “Microsoft SQL Server Relational Database Design and Querying Fundamentals” course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand SQL Syntax

• Retrieve, Filter and Sort Data

• Work with the SQL Server Date and Time Data Types

• Query Data from Multiple Tables by Using Joins

• Summarize and Rank Grouped Data

• Combine and Limit Result Sets

• Work with Subqueries

• Understand Basic Common Table Expressions

• Implement Stored Procedures

• Implement SQL Code to Create a Simple Report

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Introduction to SQL Server Databases Objects in a SQL Server Database

Database Diagrams

Components of a SQL Server Database Table

2. Introduction to SQL and Transact-SQL ANSI-SQL and Transact-SQL (T-SQL)

Categories of SQL Statements

T-SQL Scripts

Adding Comments to T-SQL Code

3. Using the SELECT Statement to Retrieve Data

Examine the Basic Syntax of the SELECT Statement

Using String Literals and Expressions

Retrieving Columns of Data from a Table

Using Aliases for Column Names

4. Filtering Rows of Data with the WHERE Clause

How to Use the WHERE Clause

Overview of Operators

Filter Data by Using Comparison Operators

Filter Data by Using String Comparisons

Filter Data by Using Logical Operators

Filter Data Using a Range of Values

Filter Data Using a List of Values

Filter Data with NULL Values

5. Formatting and Sorting Result Sets

Sorting Data Using the ORDER BY Clause

Eliminating Duplicate Rows with DISTINCT

Introducing Native SQL Server Functions

Functions Relating to NULL Values

Using the CASE Expression

6. Working with SQL Server Data Types

Native SQL Server Data Types

Working with Variables

Data Type Precedence

Implicit Data Type Conversions

Explicit Data Type Conversion Functions

Querying and Modifying Date and Time Data

Native SQL Server Date and Time Functions

7. Querying Data from Multiple Tables Using Joins

Introduction to Joins

Using Inner Joins

Using Outer Joins

Using Cross Joins

Using Aliases for Table Names

Joining More than Two Tables

Joining a Table to Itself (Self Join)

8. Summarizing Data Using Aggregate Functions

Using Aggregate Functions Native to SQL Server

Using Aggregate Functions with NULL Values

Grouping Summarized Data with GROUP BY

Filtering Grouped Data Using the HAVING Clause

9. Ranking Grouped Data

Ranking Data Using Ranking Functions

Using ROW_NUMBER

Using RANK

Using DENSE_RANK

Using NTILE

10. Combining and Limiting Result Sets

Combining Result Sets

Using the UNION Operator

Limiting Result Sets

Using the TOP Operator

11. Working with Subqueries

Introduction to Subqueries

Using Subqueries as Expressions and Derived Tables

Introducing Correlated Subqueries

Using EXISTS with Correlated Subqueries

Introducing Temporary Tables

12. Common Table Expressions

Introduction to Common Table Expressions

Using Basic CTEs

13. Controlling Program Execution

Control-of-Flow Language Statements

14. Implementing Stored Procedures

Overview of Stored Procedures

Creating and Using a Stored Procedure

Parameterizing Stored Procedures

15. Designing a Simple Report in SSRS (Optional)

Introducing SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)

Creating a Report Project

Creating a Report Creating a Data Source

Creating a Dataset Designing a Basic Report