SQL Server Databases – SQL, PL/SQL & T-SQL

Introduction to SQL Server and SQL Basics

• Overview of SQL Server: Understanding the SQL Server architecture, Introduction to SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), Connecting to SQL Server databases.
• SQL Basics: Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL), Writing basic SELECT queries, Filtering data with the WHERE clause, Sorting results with ORDER BY, Using DISTINCT to remove duplicates.

T-SQL Fundamentals

• Introduction to T-SQL: Understanding Transact-SQL (T-SQL) and its role in SQL Server, Differences between standard SQL and T-SQL, Writing basic T-SQL queries.
• Working with Functions: Using built-in T-SQL functions (string, date, mathematical functions), Using CAST and CONVERT for data type conversions.
• Variables and Control-of-Flow Language: Declaring and using variables in T-SQL, Using control-of-flow statements (IF, WHILE, BEGIN…END) to control query logic.

Joins, Subqueries, and Complex Queries

• Working with Joins: Understanding and using Inner Joins, Outer Joins (Left, Right, Full), and Cross Joins in T-SQL, Writing queries involving multiple joins.
• Subqueries and CTEs: Writing subqueries in SELECT, FROM, and WHERE clauses, Using Common Table Expressions (CTEs) for simplifying complex queries.
• Complex Queries: Writing complex queries using UNION, INTERSECT, EXCEPT, and using CASE statements for conditional logic.

PL/SQL Overview (Comparison with T-SQL)

• Introduction to PL/SQL: Understanding the role of PL/SQL in Oracle databases, Key differences between PL/SQL and T-SQL, Basic PL/SQL syntax and structure.
• Stored Procedures and Functions: Overview of writing stored procedures and functions in PL/SQL vs. T-SQL, Comparison of PL/SQL blocks and T-SQL scripts.
• Triggers and Exception Handling: Introduction to triggers in PL/SQL and T-SQL, Handling exceptions in PL/SQL and how it differs from T-SQL.

Advanced T-SQL Querying Techniques

• Using Aggregate Functions: Applying COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX in T-SQL, Grouping data with GROUP BY, Filtering groups with HAVING.
• Window Functions: Introduction to window functions in T-SQL (ROW_NUMBER, RANK, DENSE_RANK), Using PARTITION BY and ORDER BY within window functions for advanced data analysis.
• Transactions and Error Handling: Understanding transactions in SQL Server, Using BEGIN TRANSACTION, COMMIT, and ROLLBACK, Error handling with TRY…CATCH blocks in T-SQL.

Stored Procedures, Triggers, and Indexing

• Writing Stored Procedures: Creating and executing stored procedures in SQL Server, Using input and output parameters, Advantages of using stored procedures.
• Working with Triggers: Creating and managing triggers in SQL Server, Understanding AFTER and INSTEAD OF triggers, Using triggers for enforcing business rules.
• Indexing and Query Optimization: Introduction to indexing in SQL Server, Creating and managing indexes, Using execution plans and query hints for optimization, Best practices for writing efficient T-SQL queries.

Practical Exercises and Final Project

• Hands-On Practice: Writing and optimizing T-SQL queries based on real-world scenarios, Comparing SQL, PL/SQL, and T-SQL techniques.
• Final Project: Designing and implementing a set of complex T-SQL queries, Stored Procedures, and Triggers in SQL Server, Presenting performance optimizations and comparisons with PL/SQL equivalents.