Advanced SQL Course

Course 929

  • Duration: 3 days
  • Labs: Yes
  • Language: English
  • Level: Advanced

Structured Query Language (SQL) is the cornerstone of all relational database operations. In this hands-on Advanced SQL course, you will learn how to exploit the full potential of the SELECT statement to write robust queries using the best query method for your application, test your queries, and avoid common errors and pitfalls. It also teaches alternative solutions to given problems, enabling you to choose the most efficient solution in each situation.

Advanced SQL Course Delivery Methods

  • In-Person

  • Online

Advanced SQL Course Information

In this Advanced SQL Course, you will learn how to:

  • Maximise the potential of SQL to build powerful, complex, and robust SQL queries.
  • Query multiple tables with inner joins, outer joins, and self joins.
  • Construct recursive common table expressions.
  • Summarise data using aggregation and grouping.
  • Execute analytic functions to calculate ranks.
  • Build simple and correlated subqueries.
  • Thoroughly test SQL queries to avoid common errors.
  • Select the most efficient solution to complex SQL problems.

Advanced SQL Course Prerequisites

This is an advanced course, and knowledge of the basics of SQL at the level of Learning Tree course 925, Introduction to SQL Course, or equivalent is assumed.

Advanced SQL Course Instructor-Led Outline

SQL fundamentals 

  • Why SQL can be both easy and difficult 
  • Recommendations for thorough testing 

Retrieving data with SELECT 

  • Expressions 
  • Literals 
  • Handling NULLs properly 

Executing queries 

  • Analysing query plans 
  • Enhancing query performance 
  • Retrieving partial results with FETCH and OFFSET 
  • Selecting the best alternatives 
  • Avoiding errors and pitfalls 

Implementing various types of joins 

  • Inner joins 
  • Cross joins 
  • Left, right, and full outer joins 
  • Equijoins vs. theta joins 
  • The performance implications of joins 
  • Adding filter conditions to outer joins 

Writing self joins 

  • Joining a table to itself 
  • Chaining self joins 
  • Solving time-interval problems 

Combining queries with set operators 

  • UNION 
  • UNION ALL 
  • INTERSECT 
  • EXCEPT 

Summarising data with aggregate functions 

  • COUNT 
  • SUM 
  • AVG 
  • MIN 
  • MAX 
  • Managing NULLs 
  • identifying duplicates 

Grouping data 

  • GROUP B 
  • Applying conditions with HAVING 
  • Calculating moving averages 
  • Building crosstab reports 

Extending group queries 

  • Nesting grouped aggregates 
  • Joins and grouping 
  • Introducing subtotals with CUBE and ROLLUP 

The OVER clause 

  • Specifying the ordering before applying the function 
  • Splitting the result set into logical partitions 

Calculating ranks 

  • RANK and DENSE_RANK 
  • ROW_NUMBER with ordered sets 
  • Calculating percentiles 

Extending the use of aggregates 

  • Partitioning in multiple levels 
  • Computing running totals 
  • Comparing row and aggregate values 
  • Top-N queries 
  • Defining sliding window boundaries 

Self-contained subqueries 

  • Subqueries in conditions and column expressions 
  • Creating multilevel subqueries 
  • Avoiding problems when subqueries return NULLs 
  • Handling multirow subquery results 
  • Finding gaps in number series 

Correlated subqueries 

  • Accessing values from the outer query 
  • EXISTS vs. IN 
  • Identifying duplicates 
  • Avoiding accidental correlation 

Common table expressions 

  • Reusable subqueries 
  • Recursive subqueries 
  • Traversing hierarchies 
  • Overcoming SQL limitations 
  • Reducing complexity and improving performance 

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Advanced SQL Queries Course FAQs

The SQL Language is an ANSI/ISO standard language used by all relational database products. 

For the hands-on exercises, you will choose between working with the PostgreSQL database product or Microsoft SQL Server. 

Yes! We know your busy work schedule may prevent you from getting to one of our classrooms which is why we offer convenient online training to meet your needs wherever you want, including online training.