Structured Query Language (SQL): Fundamentals of Querying

Course length: 1 day (6 Hours)

Course Description

Overview: Students will learn what SQL is and how it can help them query a database to answer business questions.

Prerequisites: This course is designed for the student who is a savvy computer user, is comfortable using the Internet, and is experienced with database applications such as Access 97 or Access 2000. We do not provide basic computer, or database concepts in this course. A student who isn't familiar with basic computer terminology, or who hasn't used a database is strongly encouraged to first take the Software Training courses: Windows 98: Introduction, and Relational Database Design, or have extensive equivalent knowledge.

Delivery method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured hands-on activities.

Benefits: Students will learn how to use SQL statements to query a database.

Target student: Students enrolling in this course should be familiar with the components that make up the PC, including input, output, and storage devices. They should also be familiar with concepts related to database structure and terminology.

What's next: Structured Query Language (SQL): Fundamentals of Querying is the first course in this series. Students who want to learn more advanced features of the language can take the Software Training course, Structured Query Language (SQL): Advanced Querying.

Performance-based objectives

Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

· Define what a relational database is and identify some uses for the SQL language.

· Recognize proper syntax for an SQL statement.

· Use aggregate functions, column aliases, and mathematical expressions in a query statement.

· Use the WHERE clause to select specific rows of information from a database.

· Search for specific character strings or numeric data in a database.

· Write queries that return both aggregate and non-aggregate information simultaneously.

· Write queries that select information from two tables simultaneously.

· Generate a query and its report using Access 97.

Course content

Lesson 1: Introduction to databases and SQL

Database concepts

Understanding SQL concepts

Lesson 2: Introduction to the SELECT statement

An overview of the SELECT statement

Syntax rules you'll want to know

Lesson 3: Calculating data

Aggregate functions

Column aliases

Performing calculations

Date functions

Lesson 4: Selecting specific rows

The WHERE clause

The ORDER BY clause

Lesson 5: Working with other operators

Searching for text

Logical operators

NULLs

Lesson 6: Grouping data

The GROUP BY clause

The HAVING clause

Comparing the WHERE and HAVING clauses

Lesson 7: Multi-table queries

Joins

Joining tables

Outer joins

Lesson 8: Querying a database using Access 97

Connecting to a database

Querying a database

Generating a report of the data