In this introduction to the course module, you will also get the information on the products and demo database used for the course, how to obtain, and how to install them.
Starting with SQL Server and Azure SQL Database Your Development Journey in the Relational World
No matter how much ado is currently about big data, semi and unstructured data, the appropriate place for the most important data is still the relational database management system (RDBMS). If you need to take care about the data integrity, then you should use the relational model as the logical model for your data and database schema. You have to learn the standard language for working with data in a RDBMS, the Structured Query Language (SQL).
In this course, you will learn the basics about the relational model, including normalization and constraints. You will start using the language that SQL Server and Azure SQL Database understand, the Transact-SQL (T-SQL) language. You will learn how to write basic and advanced queries. You will see how to create tables and insert, update, and delete data. You will learn how to handle errors and define user transactions. You will also understand the programmatic objects in a SQL database, including views, functions, stored procedures, and triggers.
Modules
Module 1: Core Transact-SQL SELECT statement elements
You will start your journey with the mighty SELECT statement. In the first module, you will learn how to write simple queries. Lessons: Introducing T-SQL Basic SELECT Aggregating and sorting data
Lessons
Module 2: Advanced SELECT techniques
In this module, you will go in depth with the SELECT statement and learn how to write more advanced queries. Lessons: Subqueries Window functions Filtering top n rows Using set operators
Lessons
Module 3: Data Definition Language statements
In order to store your data, you need to create objects. You will learn how to create schemas, tables, and other objects. The SQL Server system data types overview is a part of this module as well. Lessons: Introduction to schemas Creating tables Data types
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Module 4: Data Modification Language statements
INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and MERGE statements dominate this module. Lessons: Inserting data Updating and deleting data The MERGE statement and the OUTPUT clause
Lessons
Module 5: Introducing the relational model
In this module, you will learn about the relational model and the mathematical background behind it. This is the only module without and code, only the theory. However, this theory is fundamental for understanding why and how some code written in SQL works. Lessons: Introduction to the relational model and domains Relational operators, algebra, and calculus
Lessons
Module 6: Normalization and constraints
You will learn how to design a normalized database following the relational model. You will also learn how to enforce data integrity. Lessons: Normalization and denormalization Specialization and generalization Constraints
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Module 7: Dimensional modeling
For analytical applications, you typically model your data differently. This module introduces the dimensional model, the most widely used model for centralized and self-service reporting and analyzing your data. Lessons: Star and snowflake schemas and data warehouses Designing dimensions Designing fact tables
Lessons
Module 8: Programming views, functions, stored procedures, and triggers
Going back to practical database development. You will get an initial knowledge about the programmatic objects inside a database, why to use them, and how to create them. Lessons Views User-defined functions Stored procedures Triggers
Lessons
Module 9: Error Handling and Transactions
In the final module, you will learn how to handle errors and define your own transactions. Lessons: Implementing error handling Introducing transactions