SQL Language

Prerequisites:

Anyone wishing to use SQL to access data. This course is a common prerequisite for those going on our client/server or database courses.

A degree of computer literacy is needed. Typically delegate skills will include a working familiarity with the Windows graphical environment but no prior knowledge of SQL. The most successful students on this course are those who can type accurately and consistently, and can cope with 'syntax' as SQL is a syntactically 'fussy' language. Typically delegates will have coded in some other language but it is not necessary to have done so to be successful on this course. The range of exercises allows students to work at the most approriate pace for them.

Course Description:

SQL is an industry-standard language for accessing mainframe, midrange and LAN-based, multi-user relational databases. This course will teach the student how to read and write good SQL for querying, updating and maintaining SQL databases. The course progresses through the elements of the language to build a thorough appreciation and understanding of SQL's capabilities and power. It covers ANSI-standard SQL and some of the common extensions.

This course is made up of a mix of theory and practical sessions. You will complete a series of exercises that cover all the important components of the language and allow you to practise your SQL.

Database Analysis and Design
Microsoft SQL Server and Transact SQL Programming
Programming with Microsoft Access using Visual Basic

This course includes the following modules:

Introduction to Relational Databases

• The need for an SQL standard
• The ANSI standards
• What is a database?
• What is a relational database?
• Components of a relational database
• Normalised data
• Anatomy of a table
• Primary and foreign keys
• Joins
• Components of SQL

Data Manipulation Language

• SELECT operations
• DISTINCT
• Virtual columns
• Column aliases
• Functions
• Restricting the rows returned
• Multiple conditions
• Ordering data
• Inserting rows
• Updating rows
• Deleting rows

Joining tables

• The theory of joining tables
• Cross, Inner, Outer, Full, Left and Right
• Composite joins
• Table aliases
• SQL92 and SQL89 Join syntax

Data Definition Language

• Data types
• Column attributes
• Create table
• Primary and foreign keys
• Referential integrity
• Alter and drop tables

Views

• Defining simple views
• Views with virtual columns
• Restricted-column views
• Joined-table views
• Restricted-row views
• View restrictions

Summarised Queries

• Table aggregates
• GROUP BY and aggregates
• The HAVING clause

Subqueries

• Using simple Subqueries
• EXISTS
• Correlated Subqueries

Further Data Manipulation Language

• Unions
• Self joins

Data Control Language

• Identifying users
• Setting privileges
• GRANT and REVOKE