Introduction to SQL (2 days)
LSQ-61: Fixed price SQL training delivered on your site at any UK location.
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This introduction to SQL training course is for those who need to to be competent extracting data from, and updating data in, relational database servers like Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, PostgreSQL and MySQL using ANSI standard Structured Query Language (SQL). In order to master the syntax of the language, the course is highly practical in nature and the focus throughout is on coding SQL by hand. On completion, a comprehensive set of course notes, examples, tutor and attendee scripts are provided on a free USB pen drive to take away.
Suggested Prerequisites
No prior SQL training or relational database experience is assumed.
An Overview of Relational Databases
- The Role of the Database Server
- Interacting with a Database Server: The Client
- Databases, Schemas, Tables, Rows and Columns
- Primary Keys and Foreign Keys Explained
- Introducing Data Types: Character, Numeric, Date and Time
- The Basics of Database Normalization
Introducing SQL
- Creating and Editing SQL
- About Statements, Batches and Scripts
- Executing and Parsing SQL Scripts
- SQL Syntax and The Rules of SQL
- About Keywords, Identifiers. Operators, Whitespace and Case
- About the Semi Colon
- SQL Conventions and Good Practice
Retrieving Data with SQL: First Steps
- Introducing Queries: The SELECT Statement
- The Clauses of the SELECT Statement
- About Optional Clauses and Mandatory Clauses
- Using FROM to Specify the Source Table(s)
- Retrieving Entire Tables
- Retrieving Specific Columns
- The Importance of Clause Order
- How to Build Successful Queries
- Types of Output: About the Result Set
- Using Column Aliases to Rename Columns
- Performing Calculations
- Using Numeric and String Operators to Create Derived Output
- Ways of Limiting the Output
- Using ORDER BY to Sort the Output
- Ways of Working: Some Tips
Using WHERE to Filter Results
- Working with Comparison Operators (=, >= etc)
- Numeric and String Based Filtering
- Filtering Based on Calculations
- Eliminating Duplicate Results with DISTINCT
- Working with Execution Order
- Column Aliases: Where You Can and Cannot Use Them
- Extending Filters with AND and OR
- Solving AND/OR Difficulties with Brackets
- Excluding Results with NOT: Some Tips
- Range Filtering using BETWEEN and IN
- NULL and its Implications Explained
- Catering for NULL
- Matching Patterns with LIKE
Getting Results From Multiple Tables
- Qualifying Column Names
- Joins Explained
- The Different Types of Joins
- Creating an Inner Join: WHERE Syntax
- Creating an Inner Join: INNER JOIN Syntax
- Table Aliases: The Need
- Working with Self Joins
- Outer Joins: An Example
- How to Simplify Joins: An Approach
Using Standard SQL Functions
- How to Use Standard SQL Functions to Modify Results
- How to Find the Right Function
- Mathematical, String and Conversion Functions
- Functions for Modifying and Calculating Dates
- Formatting Numbers to Two Decimal Places
- Replacing NULL with a Specific Value
- Using Standard Functions in WHERE
- Using CASE to Specify Output Conditions
- Manipulating Dates
Grouping and Summarizing Results
- The difference Between Tabular and Scalar Results
- Using Aggregate Functions (MAX(), SUM(), AVG(), COUNT() etc)
- The Way Aggregate Functions Work
- Where to Use and Where Not to Use Aggregate Functions
- Using GROUP BY to Group Results
- The Need for HAVING: Filtering the Result Table
Working with Subqueries
- Subqueries Explained
- Where you can Use Subqueries
- How to Successfully Construct Subqueries
- Subqueries for Filtering
- Subqueries to Create Derived Columns
Working with Views
- Views Explained
- Advantages of Views
- How to use Views to Simplify your Work
- Creating Views
- Dropping Views
Inserting, Updating and Deleting Data
- Inserting Single Rows
- Inserting Multiple Rows
- Inserting Rows by Column Position
- Inserting Rows by Column Name
- Dealing with Auto-Incrementing Values
- Dealing with Nulls when Inserting
- Inserting Data from one Table into Another
- Updating Data
- Deleting Data
- Modifying Data through a View
"Good. Nice build up from first principles."
Orion Support Officer
YHA
(Matlock)