Advanced T-SQL Querying, Programming and Tuning for SQL Server 2005, 2008 and 2012

The course focuses on writing and tuning queries and programming with T-SQL in SQL Server 2005, 2008 and 2012. In this course you will learn the details and capabilities of T-SQL in the following areas: Logical Query Processing; Query Tuning; Subqueries, Window Ranking and Offset Functions, Joins and Set Operations; Aggregating and Pivoting Data; Window Aggregate Functions; TOP, OFFSET-FETCH and APPLY; Data Modification; Working with Date and Time; Programmable Objects (Dynamic SQL, Views, User Defined Functions, Stored Procedures, Triggers, Transactions and Concurrency, Exception Handling); Graphs, Trees and Hierarchies.Along the course you will learn how to use T-SQL to solve practical problems such as: Relational Division, Ranking and Offsets, Missing and Existing Values (Gaps and Islands), Separating Elements, Running Totals, Pivoting and Unpivoting, Custom Aggregations, Dynamic Analysis of Grouping Sets, TOP and OFFSET-FETCH Problems, Top N Per Group, Paging, Aggregate over Columns, Data De-duplication, Handling Sequences, Treatment of Temporal Intervals (Overlaps, Max Concurrent, Packing), Dynamic Filtering, and more. You will learn how to tune your queries, how to develop efficient routines including user defined functions, stored procedures and triggers, work in multi-user environments with transactions and isolation levels, and use dynamic SQL securely and efficiently. You will also learn how to maintain and query hierarchical data. You will learn what graphs, trees and hierarchies are, what the common requests against graphs are, and how to write T-SQL code to handle those requests. Several different solutions will be presented including: Enumerated Paths, Nested Sets, Nested Iterations using Recursive Queries, and using the HIERARCHYID datatype. The course provides a dedicated module focusing on query tuning. The module covers internals and index tuning, index access methods, temporary tables, set vs. cursors, and query tuning using query revisions. Moreover, query tuning is in the heart of this course and is incorporated in the different modules throughout the course. With each querying/programming problem the discussions will revolve around logical aspects, set-based vs. procedural programming and optimization of the solutions.