SQL stands for Structured Query Language, and comes in subtly different dialects.  Our SQL training courses use Transact SQL or T-SQL, which is the variant of SQL used by SQL Server.

Once you've learnt how to program in SQL, you can make your life much easier by learning stored procedures.  It's not just that stored procedures run so much more quickly (although they do); it's also that you can use them to create tables on the fly, pass parameters ... and generally make SQL into a true programming language.

We're big fans of Reporting Services. Somehow it seems so much easier to create reports than using Access, for example (and Crystal users also seem to prefer SSRS). Be sure to choose the correct version for your training, as there are big version differences between (for example) SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 and SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 R2, and also smaller differences between Reporting Services and Report Builder.

Report Builder 3.0 allows you to create reports by downloading a free application (although you still need a connection to a SQL Server database, obviously).  Although Report Builder 3.0 looks very different from Reporting Services, underneath the hood it's almost identical.

SQL Server Analysis Services is for those whose job involves mining data. If your corporate database is steaming quietly in the corner of the room (that's only meant as a metaphor), learn how to get more out of it. Our 3-day course covers the basics of SSAS, including how to construct cubes, as well as the basics of the MDX query language and basic data-mining algorithms.

Wise Owl are SQL Server experts - SQL Server databases provide the foundation for nearly all of our internal and external systems.  Have a look at some of our example SQL Server databases, then see how our SQL Server consultancy can help you organise your corporate data better and make it easier to produce reports.