Online Training
Advanced SQL
Live online training course - classroom version also available
£650 + VAT (where applicable)
Two days (09:30 to 16:30 UK time each day)
Learning to write SQL involves two things. First, you need to learn how to write SELECT statements to interrogate your corporate database (including joining tables, setting criteria and grouping data). For this our two-day Introduction to SQL course is ideal. This is where most people choose to stop.
However, SQL is so much more than just the SELECT statement. Our advanced SQL course will teach you how to program in SQL, including:
- Creating and running stored procedures (programs in SQL), including passing parameters
- Creating your own user-defined functions
- Inserting, updating and deleting rows and tables
- Working with temporary tables and table variables
- Creating Common Table Expressions (CTEs)
You should only consider attending this course if you already understand how to select data in SQL (including joining tables).
Course schedule
Here are our next few online Advanced SQL course dates:
| Dates | Times | Price (excl. VAT) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-12 May | 09:30-16:30 | £650 | Book |
| 14-15 Jun | 09:30-16:30 | £650 | Book |
| 22-23 Jul | 09:30-16:30 | £650 | Book |
| Show full list of dates | |||
Got a handful of like-minded people in your organisation? You could consider creating your own customised online course to run on a date convenient to you).
Course Contents
The contents of this course are as follows:
Stored procedures
- Creating stored procedures
- Executing stored procedures
- System stored procedures
Variables
- Declaring variables
- SET versus SELECT
- Tricks with variables
- So-called global variables
Parameters and return values
- Passing parameters
- Default values / WHERE clauses
- Output parameters
- Using RETURN
Scalar functions
- What they are
- Writing user-defined functions
- Worked examples
- Pros and cons of scalar functions
Testing conditions
- IF / ELSE statement
- Using CASE where possible
Looping
- Syntax of WHILE
- Breaking out of a loop
Error-handling
- Using TRY / CATCH
- System error functions
- Custom error messages
Deleting using SQL
- Ways to drop tables
- DELETE versus TRUNCATE
Updating data in SQL
- The UPDATE statement
- Updating using joins
Inserting data
- Making tables (SELECT INTO)
- Appending data (INSERT INTO)
- Inserting individual rows
Creating tables
- Creating tables in SQL
- Primary keys and indexes
- Adding relationships
Transactions
- Beginning a transaction
- Committing / rolling back
Temporary tables and table variables
- Scope (local versus global)
- Using temporary tables
- Creating table variables
- Pros and cons of each approach
If time
Table-valued functions
- In-line table-valued functions
- Mult-statement table-valued functions
Derived tables and CTEs
- Using derived tables
- Common Table Expressions (CTEs)
- Multiple CTEs in a single query
If time
Debugging
- Debugging queries and procedures
- Setting breakpoints
If time
Dynamic SQL
- Building up dynamic SQL
- Executing dynamic SQL
- Disadvantages of dynamic SQL
If time
Pivots
- Assembling data for pivoting
- Using PIVOT
- Dynamic column headers
If time
Triggers
- Insert, update and delete triggers
- Using generated tables (eg INSERTED)
- Using INSTEAD OF
Benefits of our online training
Here are some reasons to choose Wise Owl online courses:
- Maximum of 5 people per class
- Excellent colour courseware manual posted to you in advance
- Pre-course set-up included in the days before the course
- No need to install any software on your computer
- All courses given by one of our 6 Wise Owl trainers
- 537 references viewable online
What other people have said
Many thanks to those listed below for kindly agreeing to let us use their names. All of the reviews are from the last 3 calendar years (although some may be for classroom courses):
Jack Wright (Brooksby Melton College)
Tom Langhorne (NHS Pension Scheme)
Katie Cawley (Cobalt Housing)
William Watson (Restons Solicitors Limited)
Matthew Norman (NHS Leeds CCG)
Refresh the page to see a different set of reviews!
How our live online training courses work
We've published a full summary of what it's like to attend a Wise Owl course online - here are the main things you need to know.
You'll need three things for the course:
- A computer (obviously) running Windows.
- A good internet connection.
- A microphone and (ideally) webcam.
In addition you'll find the course very difficult without an additional monitor (so that you can participate in the course on one screen, and use the software you're learning on the other).
Within a few hours of your booking a place on one of our online courses, we'll be in touch to get you set up correctly. This usually takes about half an hour, and can be done at any mutually convenient date/time.
A few days before your course begins you'll receive a parcel in the post (free for UK bookings) containing:
- A full colour courseware manual;
- An exercise booklet to go with the course; and
- A USB stick containing the files for the course, should you need a back-up.
Your parcel will even include a Wise Owl Sheaffer biro (they're good; trust us) and pad.
You won't need to install any software at all on your computer. This is because:
- you'll use Windows Remote Desktop to connect to our computers, and these will have all of the necessary files and software installed; and
- we use Teams for our online training, which you can run through most modern browsers.
On the day of the course itself you will be able to join the course up to half an hour before it begins. This will give you time to:
- familiarise yourself with the set-up;
- meet your trainer; and
- get to know the other delegates!
After the course finishes you'll receive an electronic certificate proving your attendance (we will gladly send a paper copy on request also).
You can see full details of exactly how our online courses work here.