Prepare for Microsoft Exam 70-761–and help demonstrate your real-world mastery of SQL Server 2016 Transact-SQL data management, queries, and database programming. Designed for experienced IT professionals ready to advance their status, Exam Ref focuses on the critical-thinking and decision-making acumen needed for success at the MCSA level. Focus on the expertise measured by these objectives: Filter, sort, join, aggregate, and modify data Use subqueries, table expressions, grouping sets, and pivoting Query temporal and non-relational data, and output XML or JSON Create views, user-defined functions, and stored procedures Implement error handling, transactions, data types, and nulls This Microsoft Exam Ref: Organizes its coverage by exam objectives Features strategic, what-if scenarios to challenge you Assumes you have experience working with SQL Server as a database administrator, system engineer, or developer Includes downloadable sample database and code for SQL Server 2016 SP1 (or later) and Azure SQL Database Querying Data with Transact-SQL About the Exam Exam 70-761 focuses on the skills and knowledge necessary to manage and query data and to program databases with Transact-SQL in SQL Server 2016. About Microsoft Certification Passing this exam earns you credit toward a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification that demonstrates your mastery of essential skills for building and implementing on-premises and cloud-based databases across organizations. Exam 70-762 (Developing SQL Databases) is also required for MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development certification. See full details at: microsoft.com/learning

Effectively query and modify data using Transact-SQL Master T-SQL fundamentals and write robust code for Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL Database. Itzik Ben-Gan explains key T-SQL concepts and helps you apply your knowledge with hands-on exercises. The book first introduces T-SQL’s roots and underlying logic. Next, it walks you through core topics such as single-table queries, joins, subqueries, table expressions, and set operators. Then the book covers more-advanced data-query topics such as window functions, pivoting, and grouping sets. The book also explains how to modify data, work with temporal tables, and handle transactions, and provides an overview of programmable objects. Related Content Book: T-SQL Fundamentals, 4th Edition Microsoft Data Platform MVP Itzik Ben-Gan shows you how to: Review core SQL concepts and its mathematical roots Create tables and enforce data integrity Perform effective single-table queries by using the SELECT statement Query multiple tables by using joins, subqueries, table expressions, and set operators Use advanced query techniques such as window functions, pivoting, and grouping sets Insert, update, delete, and merge data Use transactions in a concurrent environment Get started with programmable objects–from variables and batches to user-defined functions, stored procedures, triggers, and dynamic SQL

Gain a solid understanding of T-SQL—and write better queries Master the fundamentals of Transact-SQL—and develop your own code for querying and modifying data in Microsoft SQL Server 2012. Led by a SQL Server expert, you’ll learn the concepts behind T-SQL querying and programming, and then apply your knowledge with exercises in each chapter. Once you understand the logic behind T-SQL, you’ll quickly learn how to write effective code—whether you’re a programmer or database administrator. Discover how to: Work with programming practices unique to T-SQL Create database tables and define data integrity Query multiple tables using joins and subqueries Simplify code and improve maintainability with table expressions Implement insert, update, delete, and merge data modification strategies Tackle advanced techniques such as window functions, pivoting and grouping sets Control data consistency using isolation levels, and mitigate deadlocks and blocking Take T-SQL to the next level with programmable objects

Apply powerful window functions in T-SQL—and increase the performance and speed of your queries Optimize your queries—and obtain simple and elegant solutions to a variety of problems—using window functions in Transact-SQL. Led by T-SQL expert Itzik Ben-Gan, you’ll learn how to apply calculations against sets of rows in a flexible, clear, and efficient manner. Ideal whether you’re a database administrator or developer, this practical guide demonstrates ways to use more than a dozen T-SQL querying solutions to address common business tasks. Discover how to: Go beyond traditional query approaches to express set calculations more efficiently Delve into ordered set functions such as rank, distribution, and offset Implement hypothetical set and inverse distribution functions in standard SQL Use strategies for improving sequencing, paging, filtering, and pivoting Increase query speed using partitioning, ordering, and coverage indexing Apply new optimization iterators such as Window Spool Handle common issues such as running totals, intervals, medians, and gaps