SQL Querying: Fundamentals

Organizations use large SQL databases to store information about clients, products, or sales. However, that data is locked into those databases until it is accessed by a business intelligence tool such as Power BI, Tableau or Crystal Reports. With the proper permissions, analysts can use SQL to select the data they need for additional analysis and reporting. This class, SQL Querying: Fundamentals, provides an overview of the SQL commands that can be used to access that data.

You will:

• Connect to the SQL Server database and execute a simple query.
• Include a search condition in a simple query.
• Use various functions to perform calculations on data.
• Organize the data obtained from a query before it is displayed on-screen.
• Retrieve data from multiple tables.

Target Student: This course is intended for individuals with basic computer skills, familiar with concepts related to database structure and terminology, and who want to use SQL to query databases.

Prerequisites: Some familiarity with database terminology and structure is helpful.

Course Outline

Executing a Simple Query

• Connect to the SQL Database using SQL Server Management Studio
• Query a Database using the SELECT Statement
• Save a Query Script to a File
• Modify and Execute a Saved Query

Performing a Conditional Search

• Use the WHERE Clause to Search and Filter Data using One or More Conditions
• Use the WHERE Clause to Search for a Range of Values with BETWEEN and IN Clauses

How to Handle NULL Values in Data

• Search Text Data Based on Patterns using the LIKE Operator

Working with Functions

• Format and Manipulate Dates using Date Functions
• Summarize Data using Aggregate Functions Like COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX
• Use Functions to Manipulate String Values

Organizing Data

• Sort Data using the ORDER BY Clause
• Group Data with the GROUP BY Clause
• Filter Grouped Data using the HAVING Clause

Retrieving Data from Multiple Tables

• Query Data from Multiple Tables using the JOIN Clause

Additional Topics for Self-Study

• Organizing Data

1. Rank Data with the RANK and DENSE_RANK Clauses
2. Summarize Grouped Data using ROLLUP and CUBE Clauses
3. Use PIVOT and UNPIVOT Operators

• Retrieving Data from Multiple Tables

1. Combine the Results of Two Queries with the UNION Statement
2. Compare the Results of Two Queries with the INTERSECT and EXCEPT Statements

• Exporting Query Results

1. Save the Query Results
2. Exporting an XML File