Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 1 (Quiz 1)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
SQL Overview
Get started using SQL Server by downloading, installing SQL Server, and using the AdventureWorks database.
1 What is SQL Server Understand what are the major SQL Server Architecture
pieces in SQL Server SQL Server Editions and Version.
2 Get Started Using Install SQL Server Download and Install SQL Server and SSMS.
SQL Server
3 Using SSMS (SQL Understand SSMS basic Getting Started with SQL Server Management
Server functions. Studio
Management Creating and Organizing T-SQL scripts
Studio )
Writing Select Queries
Learn to write query a table and return one or more column values.
4 Writing Select Write a basic query Writing Simple SELECT Statements
Queries Using Column and Table Aliases
Eliminating Duplicates with DISTINCT
Sorting Data
Sort data returned from a query.
5 Order Data Sort data by ascending and ORDER BY
descending values ASC and DESC
6 Limit Results with Return the first rows from a TOP
Top result.
7 Paging with OFFSET Understand how to return the OFFSET
and FETCH middle portion of a result. FETCH
Filtering Data
Not all data is relevant, learn how to exclude those entries you dont need.

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 1 (Quiz 1)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
8 Introduction to Understand the function of the WHERE clause
Filtering WHERE Clause Comparison operators
BETWEEN and IN
9 Boolean Logic Learn to write filters with Learn to use AND, OR, and NOT.
multiple filter conditions Learn to use together and under order of
evaluation.
10 Pattern Matching Understand how to use the LIKE LIKE operator
operator to partially match data Apply wild cards
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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 2 (Quiz 2)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Data Types
Understand how SQL stored and organizes dates, numbers, and text. Data types define the characteristics of the data that can be
stored in a location such as a database column. A data type defines the possible set of values that are accepted.

1 Null Values Understand NULL and it special NULL

meaning in SQL IS NULL
2 Common Data Learn how to use date, numeric, INT
Types and textual data in SQL VARCHAR, NVARCHAR
DATETIME
DECIMAL, FLOAT
BIT
3 Exoteric Data Types Know and understand the less GUID
commonly used data types with Spatial Data
are on the exam. XML
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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 3 (Quiz 3)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Built-In Functions
Built-In functions are used in SQL SELECT expressions to calculate values and manipulate data. These functions can be used
anywhere expressions are allowed. Common uses of functions include to change a name to all upper case.
4 Introduction How are functions used. What is Categories of Functions
the difference between How to use Functions
deterministic and non- Deterministic and non-deterministic functions
deterministic functions?
5 CASE Statement Understand practical uses of the CASE
CASE statement in the SELECT
statement.
6 Data Type Understand how to convert data CAST
Conversion from one data type to another. CONVERT

7 Logical Functions use logical conditions to display CHOOSE

one of several values. IIF

8 Math Functions To know that math rocks! Learn common math functions such as: SQRT,
SQIARE, CEILOMNG, FLOOR, ROUND, ABS, SIGN,
RAND
9 String Functions Learn to alter a text value, such Learn common string functions such as:
as removing the first name from CHARINDEX, LEN, LEFT, LOWER, LTRIM,
REPLACE, RGHT, RTRIM, SUBSTRING, UPPER
a full name.
10 Date Functions Manipulate date values Learn how to use functions such as GETDATE,
DATENAME, DATEPART, DAY, MONTH, YEAR,
DATEDIFF, and DATEADD

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 3 (Quiz 3)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Review Lessons

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 4 (Quiz 4)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Grouping and Aggregating Data
Learn to group and summarize data. Use SQL to calculate averages and subtotals.

1 Aggregate Understand to how to use Learn about AVERAGE, COUNT, SUM, MIN, and
Functions functions to summarize data in MAX
your SELECT list
2 Grouping Data Use GROUP BY to collect data GROUP BY
into rows of unique values
3 Filtering Grouped Learn how HAVING is used to HAVING
Data filter aggregate function results.
Know the difference between
WHERE and HAVING.
Set Operators
Understand how to take rows from two or more queries and combine them into a single result.

4 Union Learn how to use the UNION UNION

statement in a SELECT statement. UNION ALL

5 Intersect Know when and how to apply INTERSECT

INTERSECT in a query.
6 Except Understand the difference EXCEPT
between INTERSECT and EXCEPT
and apply to a query.
Joins
Joins combine data from two or more tables. In this unit youll learn about the most common types of joins and reasons to use them.

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 4 (Quiz 4)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
7 Introduction Understand what is a join and What is a Join?
when to use them. Ware are typical uses?

8 Cross Joins Understand which rows from two CROSS JOIN

tables are returned in a CROSS
JOIN.
9 Inner Joins Understand how matching INNER JOIN
affects the rows returned within
a result.
10 Self-Join When does it makes sense to use INNER JOIN on Same Table
a self-join?

11 Join Conditions Explain when to use non-equi Joining two or more columns
joins. Non-equi joins

12 Outer Joins Understand the difference RIGHT OUTER JOIN

between an inner and outer join. LEFT OUTER JOIN

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 5 (Quiz 5)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Subqueries
Subqueries provide a powerful means to combine data from two tables in to a single result. In this unit you learn and understand how to
use subqueries in various parts of the SQL SELECT statements.
1 Introduction Explain what is a subquery and Subqueries are enclosed in ()s
how it differs from a join. A subquery that returns a single value can be used
anywhere you would use an expression.
2 Subquery in SELECT Write a subquery in a SELECT Subqueries in select lists must return a single result.
statement.
3 Correlated Understand how the results of a Correlated subqueries are ways to incorporate the
Subqueries subquery can be affected by outer querys values into the subquerys clauses.
Correlated subqueries versus Inner Joins
values in the outer query.
4 Subquery in WHERE Explain how subqueries can be EXISTS versus NOT EXISTS
clause used to filter results. IN versus NOT IN
ANY
ALL
5 Subquery in FROM User derived tables in the FROM Derived tables and aggregate functions
Clause clause. Joining derived tables.

6 Subquery in Explain how to use subqueries in Correlated subqueries in HAVING clause

HAVING Clause HAVING clause criteria.
Common Table Expressions
Common table expressions are used to simplify a query. Since they can reference themselves, they are useful when working with
hierarchies.
7 Common Table Use CTEs (Common Table Definition of CTE
Expressions Expressions) within a SELECT WITH
statement Multiple CTE definitions in a single query

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 5 (Quiz 5)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
8 Recursive CTEs Get comfortable with CTE that CTEs that reference them selves
can call themselves. Use CTEs to display a hierarchy.

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 6 (Quiz 6)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Modifying Data
Create, remove, and modify rows within a table.

1 Inserting Data Insert rows into a table using INSERT

explicit values or the results of a INTO
query.
2 Modifying Data Update column values UPDATE

3 Delete Data Remove rows from a table DELETE

4 Merging Data Performs insert, update, or MERGE

Changes delete operations on a target
table based on the results of a
join with a source table.
Review Lessons

Window Functions
Understand how to create running and sliding totals.

5 Introduction Be able to describe what is What are window functions?

windowing and why it is useful in
SQLServer
6 Creating Windows Define a window over which OVER
with Over aggregate and ranking function
apply.

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 6 (Quiz 6)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
7 Writing queries Understand how to display the RANK
with Ranking quartile of each member in an NTITLE
Functions ordered set of quantitative data, DENSE_RANK
ROW_NUMBER
such as Sales Year To Date data.
8 Using Offset Access data from the previous or LAG
Functions next row in a result without LEAD
having to use joins. FIRST_VALUE
LAST_VALUE
9 Window Aggregate Understand how to use various Learn about aggregate functions such as AVG,
Functions aggregate functions with the COUNT, STDEV, MIN, and MAX
OVER clause.
10 Window Analytic Understand how to use various CUME_DIST
Functions analytic functions with the OVER Percentile ranking functions
clause.
Pivoting and Grouping
Transform table row values into columns and vice versa.

11 Transforming Create result set whose columns PIVOT

Datasets are row values from a source UNPIVOT
table.
12 Geometry Aggregate shape data into a Geometry Data Type
Aggregates single geometric structure. UnionAggregate
EnvelopeAggregate

13 Advanced Grouping Group data using advanced ROLLUP

GROUP BY arguments CUBE
GROUPING SETS
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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 7 (Quiz 7)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Stored Procedures
Write procedural code to execute and process SQL statements

1 Introduction Understand the benefits of CREATE PROCEDURE

stored procedures and how to EXECUTE
create and execute them. Parameters
Return Value
2 Programming Understand control of flow BEGIN, END
Stored Procedures language BREAK
IF, ELSE
RETURN
WHILE
3 Dynamic SQL Build dynamic SQL in a stored sp_executesql
procedure. EXECUTE
Build SQL based on variable values
4 Cursors Execute a query and DECLARE CURSOR
programmatically (e.g. in a loop OPEN
you build) visit each row. FETCH NEXT
@@FETCH_STATUS
CLOSE
DEALLOCATE
5 User Defined Create and use a user defined CREATE FUNCTION
Functions functions in a SELECT statement
6 Inline Table-Valued Create a user defined function TABLE datatype
Functions which return the TABLE datatype.

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 7 (Quiz 7)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
7 Apply Match one tables set of rows CROSS APPLY
against the results of an inline OUTER APPLY
table-valued function.
Error Handling
Detect and manage errors encountered as stored procedures and user defined functions execute.

8 Catching Errors Detect error in stored TRY

procedures. CATCH
ERROR functions such as ERROR_MESSAGE()
9 Throwing Errors Pass error conditions to calling RAISERROR
procedures.
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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 8 (Quiz 8)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Transaction and Isolation Levels
SQL operations can be run independently of other users, but to do so, requires some resources to be locked. This prevents two
people from working on the same item. The degree you lock and isolate these operations, affects what others see of
uncommitted transactions and how long they wait until they have full access to read or write to the same resources.
1 Introduction Understand the relationship What is a transaction?
between Transactions, Locks, and What are locks?
Isolations Levels Isolation level overview.
2 Database Write a statement to save a BEGIN TRANSACTION
Transactions transaction, and if there is an COMMIT
error, rollback the changes. ROLLBACK
3 Database Locks Explain how locks affect resource Intent shared (IS)
availability amongst concurrent Intent exclusive (IX)
transactions. Intent update (IU)
Shared intent update (SIU)
Update intent exclusive (UIX)
4 Isolation Levels Understand how isolation affect READ UNCOMMITTED
the visibility uncommitted data READ COMMITTED
changes to operation within and REPEATABLE READ
outside the scope of a SNAPSHOT
transaction. SERIALIZABLE
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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 9 (Quiz 9)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Creating Tables and Views
Build database tables and views.

1 Create and Modify Create table with primary key CREATE TABLE
Tables defined and then modify a ALTER TABLE
column to another datatype.
2 Create and Modify Create a view which uses a join CREATE VIEW
Views to present data from multiple ALTER VIEW
tables.
3 Deleting Objects Drop is dangerous. DROP

Temporal Tables
System versioned temporal tables contain all changes made to a database table and allow for easy point-in-time analysis of data. The
tables maintain a full history of changes.
4 Overview Understand what are temporal What is a temporal table.
tables and why they are useful. Know why you would want to use a temporal table.

5 Create Temporal Learn how to create temporal CREATE TABLE WITH

Tables tables and how this affects the
database.
6 Query Temporal Query a temporal table AS OF
Tables FROMTO
BETWEENAND
CONTAINED IN
ALL

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 9 (Quiz 9)
Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
7 Influencing Query How does data modification INSERT
Plans affect a temporal table? UPDATE
DELETE
MERGE
Database Integrity
Understand what methods are available to preserve database integrity.

8 Table Constraints Understand why foreign key Types of constraints:

constraints preserve database PRIMARY KEY
integrity. UNIQUE
FOREIGN KEY
CHECK
9 Database Triggers Create a trigger to execute after CREATE TRIGGER
a record is inserted in a table. DML versus DDL triggers
AFTER triggers
INSTEAD OF
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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 10 (Quiz 10)

Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
XML Data
Work with XML data within the context of SQL Server.
1 XML Schemas Understand why you would want XML datatype
to store XML data in a table, and Why XML?
how to ensure the XML Enforcing XML consistency with a schema
documents conform to a
standard.
2 Querying XML Data Use SQL and XQUERY to search SELECT
individual XML elements and XQuery specification
attributes.
3 Import and Export Export an XML document to the FOR XML
XML Data file system. OPENXML

4 Indexing XML Data Understand how to make XML CREATE XML INDEX
queries run faster.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
Work with JSON data within the context of SQL Server
5 Work with JSON Extract values from JSON text JSON_VALUE
text and use them in queries. JSON QUERY
ISJSON
6 Export JSON Data Export JSON data to the file FOR JSON
system.
7 Analyze JSON data Filter or Aggregate JSON data OPENJSON
using SQL Queries.

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Study Guide for Exam 70-761: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

Section 10 (Quiz 10)

Lesson
Number Name Goal Items
Query Optimization
SQL is a declarative language. That mean you declare what you want the DBMS to do, but it is really up to it to figure out how. The
query optimizer helps the DBMS make efficient decisions regarding this.
8 Optimizer Understand the optimizers Generate a graphical plan.
Overview purpose and how it transforms Be familiar with the following commands:
o SET SHOWPLAN_TEXT ON
your SQL into executable
o SET SHOWPLAN_ALL ON
database operations. o SET SHOWPLAN_XML ON
o SET STATISTICS PROFILE ON
o SET STATISTICS XML ON
9 Reading Query Understand the operations the Actual versus Estimated Plans
Plans DBMS takes to execute your SQL. Dynamic vs. parameterized queries
Describe the different join types (HASH, MERGE,
LOOP) and describe the scenarios they would be
used in
10 Database Statistics How are statistics used by the What are statistics?
query optimizer and what How are statistics updated?
happens if they are inaccurate? How do you know the optimizer is using them?
How do you refresh statistics?
11 Influencing Query What hints can you give the When should you use hints.
Plans query optimizer if you feel it is Know and understand the hints.
making poor decisions? Be familiar with table hints.
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