Introduction to SQL
Learn
the key concepts of Structured Query Language (SQL) and gain a solid working
knowledge of this powerful and universal database programming language.
You'll learn the basic structure of relational databases, how to read and
write simple and complex SQL statements, and advanced data manipulation
techniques.
To enroll in this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, and the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, any type of computer with a Windows Operating System, and any desktop (standalone, not required to run over a server) Database Management System (DBMS) that supports the execution of Structured Query Language (SQL). Examples include Microsoft Access, SQL Server Personal Edition, SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE), SQL Server Evaluation Edition and Developer Edition, Oracle Personal Edition. Or any client/server (required to run over a server) database management system that is connected to a server and supports the execution of Structured Query Language. Examples include MySQL, Sybase, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition.
Syllabus:
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end.
Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course.
You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must
complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each
month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to
space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
| In our first lesson, we'll explore the basic
structure and history of relational databases. Then, you'll
understand what SQL is and how it is used with a relational
database. |
| Friday - Lesson 02 |
| In this lesson, you'll learn how to use SQL to
sort and retrieve data from tables. We'll talk about important query
terms that enable you to communicate with your database, as well as
syntax rules that will enable you to create clear and understandable
queries while avoiding system generated errors. |
| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
| In this lesson, you'll learn how to use SQL to
filter retrieved data. You'll practice sorting retrieved data using
the ORDER BY clause. You'll be able to sort single and multiple
columns, and you'll know how to specify sort directions such as
ascending and descending order. You'll also learn additional query
terms that will help you customize your SQL queries. |
| Friday - Lesson 04 |
| Today, you'll learn how to reformat retrieved
data with calculated fields and functions. You'll also learn how to
create alternate names for columns and you'll discover the secret
behind merging columns with the concatenation symbol. |
| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
| In this lesson, we'll discuss gathering
significant statistics from data using aggregate functions. You'll
also learn how to use the GROUP BY clause in conjunction with an
aggregate function to gather important statistics from a table. Then
you'll find out how to use the HAVING clause in conjunction with an
aggregate function to filter groups of data from a table. |
| Friday - Lesson 06 |
| Today's lesson is all about subqueries. You'll
learn how to extract data from multiple tables simultaneously, how
to use calculated fields in subqueries, how to use the DATEPART ()
function in subqueries, and how to use aggregate functions in
subqueries. Then we'll talk about qualification—a technique used to
combine a table name with a column name so there's no question about
which table the column name refers to. |
| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
| In this lesson, you'll learn how to use joins to
gather information from two or more tables simultaneously. You'll
learn how to use the inner join, self-join, natural join, and the
outer join. Then you'll become familiar with the term Cartesian
product. |
| Friday - Lesson 08 |
| In today's lesson, you'll discover how to
manipulate data using the INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements.
You'll learn how to insert partial and complete rows into a table,
and how to update information already stored in a table. You find
out how to transfer data to a new table, how to transfer data to an
existing table, and how to delete rows from a table. |
| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
| Today, you'll find out how SQL can be used to
create and maintain tables. You'll learn how to use the CREATE TABLE
keywords to create a table, then we'll discuss how to use the ALTER
TABLE, DROP TABLE, ADD COLUMN, and DROP COLUMN keywords to
manipulate the tables themselves. You'll also find out how to define
a primary key, data type, and field size. |
| Friday - Lesson 10 |
| In this lesson, you'll learn how and why views
are used in SQL. You'll learn how to create and use views to
simplify complex queries, summarize data, and manipulate data stored
in tables. I'll also teach you how to update and delete a view. |
| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
| Today, you'll learn how transaction processing,
constraints, and indexes are implemented in SQL. You'll work through
an example that demonstrates how a transaction is created, how
constraints are used in the creation of a table, and how indexes are
used to improve the performance of a database by optimizing the
speed at which queries are processed. |
| Friday - Lesson 12 |
| In our last lesson, you'll find out how stored procedures, triggers, and cursors are implemented in SQL. You'll see how stored procedures are created and executed, as well as how triggers work. You'll also see how cursors are declared in SQL. |
To enroll in this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
