SQL Programming Language:
A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction

What is this course about?

This is an introductory level course which focuses on standard SQL. Whenever features outside of the standard are required, this course covers these features in two of the most commonly used database products, Oracle® Database 11g Release 2, and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Release 2. This comprehensive course provides a good foundation for the product specific Learning Tree courses covering Oracle and SQL Server.

What is SQL?

Structured Query Language, or SQL, is the language used by all relational database management systems to build, manipulate and access database contents. The name is somewhat misleading - while "queries" are the most extensive and complex part of the language, SQL is also used for updating and building databases. SQL is standardised through various versions of the ANSI/ISO SQL standard. However, none of the database products follow the standard 100%. They all have dialectic variations to the language. In order to work with a particular database, the programmer will need to be aware of product-specific features for that particular database system, in addition to the common functionality provided in the standard.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for a wide range of professionals including:

• Developers, analysts, administrators, managers, programmers, consultants and others who design and write applications using relational databases
• Experienced data processing professionals working with traditional database systems (hierarchical or network), who are now moving to relational databases
• IT managers and project leaders who need a general overview of the features and functionality of SQL

What background should I have?

Experience working with a relational database and a familiarity with basic programming concepts are helpful but not required. Familiarity with fundamentals of database concepts is useful but not strictly required. Course 382, Relational Database Design, Tools and Techniques: Hands-On, provides this background.

Prior SQL knowledge is not required. If you have a background in one particular dialect of SQL, you may be interested in learning how that dialect differs from the standard and from other dialects.

Which database system is used for the course exercises?

The exercises in this course use two database management systems: Oracle® Database 11g Release 2, and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Release 2. The examples and exercises in the course will also work on earlier versions of the two products. Attendees have a choice between these two systems for the hands-on exercises. All examples and exercises are designed to work on both systems and the differences between the dialects will be pointed out during class.

Is this course useful if I am already familiar with Oracle or SQL Server?

If you have a strong background in SQL in a particular database product, parts of the course content will be repetitive for you. However, you may be interested in learning how other dialects differ from the one you are familiar with.

What kinds of hands-on exercises are included in this course?

Approximately 47 percent of class time is devoted to hands-on exercises. The hands-on exercises in this course provide immediate reinforcement of the material covered. Exercises include:

• Creating tables, constraints and indexes
• Modifying table contents
• Retrieving data from tables
• Joining multiple tables
• Applying row and aggregate functions
• Embedding subqueries within statements
• Building fine-grained access control with views

How much time is spent on each topic?

Does this course cover advanced queries?

This is an introductory level course. For those who need to do advanced queries, Learning Tree provides two product specific courses: Course 234, Developing SQL Queries for Oracle^® Databases: Hands-On, and Course 534, Developing SQL Queries for SQL Server^®: Hands-On. These courses require previous knowledge of SQL, and this course will provide an excellent foundation.

Does this course cover stored procedures and triggers?

Each database product has procedural extensions to SQL for building stored procedures and triggers. These languages are highly product specific and fall outside the scope of this course. For those who need to learn procedural extensions, Learning Tree provides two courses: Course 493, Oracle^® PL/SQL Programming: Hands-On, and Course 532, SQL Server Transact-SQL^® Programming: Hands-On. Course 925 provides an excellent foundation for these courses.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

Learning Tree offers a number of courses that will help you expand upon the knowledge gained in this course and further your skills in several key areas. Those courses include:

• 234, Developing SQL Queries for Oracle® Databases: Hands-On 
• 534, Developing SQL Queries for SQL Server®: Hands-On 
• 593, Oracle® Database 10g: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction 
• 493, Oracle® PL/SQL Programming: Hands-On 
• 492, Application Development and Tuning for Oracle® Databases: Hands-On 
• 382, Relational Database Design, Tools and Techniques: Hands-On 
• 126, Hands-On Crystal Reports® 
• 523, SQL Server® 2005 Reporting Services: Hands-On 
• 140, SQL Server® 2008 Reporting Services: Hands-On 
• 532, SQL Server Transact-SQL® Programming: Hands-On 
• 137, SQL Server® 2008: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction 
• 926, Oracle® Database 11g: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction 

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