This Microsoft SQL Server tutorial has been written for those who are interested in learning how to create solutions with Microsoft SQL Server 2012, but have no prior knowledge of it. You may well have had exposure to other database management systems (DBMSs), such as MySQL, Oracle, or Microsoft Access, but SQL Server uses different interfaces and has a different way of working compared to much of the competition.
The aim of this tutorial is to bring you quickly up to a level at which you are developing competently with SQL Server 2012. This tutorial is specifically dedicated to beginners and to those who at this stage wish to use only SQL Server 2012. You may find this tutorial useful for understanding the basics of other database management systems in the marketplace, especially when working with T-SQL. Many DBMSs use an ANSI-standard SQL, so moving from SQL Server to Oracle, Sybase, etc. after reading this tutorial will be a great deal easier.
This tutorial is for those people who see themselves as becoming either developers, database administrators, or a mixture of both but have yet to tread that path with SQL Server 2012. This tutorial is for readers who wish to learn and develop on the free version of SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2012 Express, or either the trial or licensed versions of SQL Server 2012. Whether you have no knowledge of databases, or have knowledge of desktop databases such as MS Access, or even come from a server-based background such as Oracle, this tutorial will provide you with the insight to get up and running with SQL Server 2012.
Right from the start, your basic knowledge will be expanded, and you will soon be moving from a perceived beginner through to a competent and professional developer. It is the aim of this tutorial to cater to a wide range of developers, from those who prefer to use the graphical interface for as much work as possible to those who want to become more adept at using the SQL Server 2012 programming language, T-SQL. Where practical, each method of using SQL Server 2012 is demonstrated, explained, and expanded so that you can evaluate what works best in your situation. You will also find a chapter on how to work with using Excel, .NET, and Java and incorporate them with T-SQL.
There are plenty of examples within the tutorial of every action along with details about the security of your data. You will also learn the best way to complete a task and even how to make the correct decision when there are two or more choices that could be made.
Once you reach the end of this tutorial, you will be able to design and create solid and reliable database solutions competently and proficiently.
Table of Contents
- Basic Concepts and Installation
- SQL Components
- Data Definition Language
- Queries
- Modification of a Table’s Contents
- Stored Procedures and User-Defined Functions
- System Catalog
- Indices
- Views
- Security System of the Database Engine
- Concurrency Control
- Triggers
- System Environment of the Database Engine
- Backup, Recovery, and System Availability
- Automating System Administration Tasks