Online Training
Introduction to SQL
Live online training course - classroom version also available
£595 + VAT (where applicable)
Two days (09:30 to 16:30 UK time each day)
If your organisation has a database built in SQL Server (whether Agresso/Unit4, Dynamics, LiquidLogic, Sage or any proprietary system) this course will show you how to get information out of it! You'll learn how to:
- Write queries in T-SQL or Transact SQL (the dialect of SQL used in SQL Server)
- Apply criteria to pick out only records of interest
- Create expressions using keywords like CASE WHEN and CAST
- Link tables together using inner and outer joins
- Aggregate data using the GROUP BY clause to show statistics
There's no need to install SQL Server on your computer, as you'll be using our Wise Owl laptops remotely. And you don't need any base knowledge to join this course (although you will need to understand your corporate database to get information out of it - we can't teach you that bit!).
Course schedule
We're running our online Introduction to SQL course on the following dates:
Show these dates on a separate page
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:
Using SQL Server
- SQL Server Management Studio
- Controlling windows
- Using Object Explorer
Creating databases - overview
- Designing databases
- Primary keys
Working with tables
- Creating tables
- Allowing nulls or not
- Identity fields
- Creating relationships
Query Designer
- Building queries
- Editing queries in the designer
Simple Queries
- Creating queries
- Comments
- Indentation and case
Setting criteria using WHERE
- Wildcards (% and _)
- Setting criteria for dates
- Coping with nulls
Calculations
- Calculated columns
- Using aliases
- String functions and concatenation
Calculations using dates
- GetDate
- Converting dates
- Useful date functions
Basic joins
- Inner joins
- Table aliases
- Left and right outer joins
Aggregation and grouping
- SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX
- Various ways to count
- Grouping by fields
- Using HAVING to filter results
If time
Views
- The view designer
- Limitations of the designer
- Scripting views
If time
Subqueries
- The concept of a subquery
- Syntax of subqueries
- Using subqueries in a query
If time
Derived tables and CTEs
- Using derived tables
- Common Table Expressions (CTEs)
- Multiple CTEs in a single query
Benefits of our online training
Here are some reasons to choose Wise Owl online courses:
- Maximum of 4 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 7 full-time Wise Owl trainers
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):
Jane Sims (NHS Herts Valleys CCG)
Mirat Santilale (Virgin Media)
Robert Stevenson (Cross Keys Homes)
Jason Thomas (Crown Commercial Service)
Jessica Amartsombat-Foskett (Barbican Insurance Group)
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 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 GotoTraining for our online training, which is browser-based.
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 a blog showing exactly what it's like being in one of our online courses here.