Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2005: T-SQL Querying

by Dejan Sarka, Itzik Ben-Gan, Lubor Kollar, Roger Wolter

Overview

Take a detailed look at the internal architecture of T-SQL—and unveil the power of set-based querying—with comprehensive reference and advice from the experts. Database developers and administrators get best practices, sample databases, and code to master the intricacies of the programming language—solving complex problems with real-world solutions.

Discover how to:

• Understand logical and physical query processing
• Apply a methodology to optimize query tuning
• Solve relational division problems
• Use CTEs and ranking functions to simplify and optimize solutions
• Aggregate data with various techniques, including tiebreakers, pivoting, histograms, and grouping factors
• Use the TOP option in a query to modify data
• Query specialized data structures with recursive logic, materialized path, or nested sets solutions
• PLUS—Improve your logic and get to the heart of querying problems with logic puzzles

Get code and database samples on the Web

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735623132
Publisher:	Microsoft Press
Publication date:	04/26/2006
Series:	PRO-Developer
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	640
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Dejan Sarka is a mentor with SolidQ and focuses on development of database and business intelligence applications. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences such as TechEd, SqlDevCon, and PASS. He is the founder of the Slovenian SQL Server and .NET Users Group. As main author or coauthor, Dejan has written nine books about SQL Server. He has also developed three courses for SolidQ: Data Modeling Essentials, Data Quality and Master Data Management, and Data Mining.

Itzik Ben-Gan is a mentor and cofounder of SolidQ. A Microsoft MVP for SQL Server since 1999, Ben-Gan teaches and consults internationally on T-SQL querying, programming, and query tuning. He is the author of Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL Fundamentals and coauthor of Inside Microsoft SQL Server: T-SQL Querying and Inside Microsoft SQL Server:T-SQL Programming. He has written numerous articles for SQL Server Magazine and MSDN, and speaks at industry events such as Microsoft TechEd, DevWeek, PASS, and SQL Server Connections.

Lubor Kollar is group program manager with the SQL Server Customer Advisory Team at Microsoft, working on the most challenging SQL Server deployments worldwide. He has 13+ years of experience with SQL Server development.

Table of Contents

Foreword;
Preface;
Acknowledgments;
Introduction;
Organization of This Book;
System Requirements;
Installing Sample Databases;
Updates;
Code Samples;
Support for This Book;
Chapter 1: Logical Query Processing;
Logical Query Processing Phases;
Sample Query Based on Customers/Orders Scenario;
Logical Query Processing Phase Details;
New Logical Processing Phases in SQL Server 2005;
Conclusion;
Chapter 2: Physical Query Processing;
Flow of Data During Query Processing;
Compilation;
Conclusion;
Chapter 3: Query Tuning;
Sample Data for This Chapter;
Tuning Methodology;
Tools for Query Tuning;
Index Tuning;
Preparing Sample Data;
An Examination of Set-Based vs. Iterative/Procedural Approaches, and a Tuning Exercise;
Additional Resources;
Conclusion;
Chapter 4: Subqueries, Table Expressions, and Ranking Functions;
Subqueries;
Table Expressions;
Analytical Ranking Functions;
Auxiliary Table of Numbers;
Existing and Missing Ranges (Also Known as Islands and Gaps);
Conclusion;
Chapter 5: Joins and Set Operations;
Joins;
Set Operations;
Conclusion;
Chapter 6: Aggregating and Pivoting Data;
OVER Clause;
Tiebreakers;
Running Aggregations;
Pivoting;
Unpivoting;
Custom Aggregations;
Histograms;
Grouping Factor;
CUBE and ROLLUP;
Conclusion;
Chapter 7: TOP and APPLY;
SELECT TOP;
APPLY;
Solutions to Common Problems Using TOP and APPLY;
Conclusion;
Chapter 8: Data Modification;
Inserting Data;
Deleting Data;
Updating Data;
Other Performance Considerations;
Conclusion;
Chapter 9: Graphs, Trees, Hierarchies, and Recursive Queries;
Terminology;
Scenarios;
Iteration/Recursion;
Materialized Path;
Nested Sets;
Transitive Closure;
Conclusion;
Appendix A: Logic Puzzles;
Puzzles;
Puzzle Solutions;
Conclusion;
Appendix : About the Contributors;

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
Itzik Ben-Gan, a Microsoft MVP for SQL Server since 1999, is among the world?s leading T-SQL consultants. Now, he?ll help you write T-SQL queries of exceptional power, and supercharge queries that already exist. From temporary tables to dynamic execution, his new book will give you mastery of advanced constructs many SQL Server programmers don?t dare to use.

Ben-Gan offers powerful insight into how SQL Server transforms logical queries into executable query plans -- and how to write code that generates far more efficient plans. He focuses heavily on set-based techniques but also covers cursors when they still make sense. Among this book?s many highlights: a systematic query tuning methodology he developed for his own company.

If you like what he?s done here -- and you will -- also check out his brand-new Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2005: T-SQL Programming, arguably the most useful advanced T-SQL programming reference ever written. Bill Camarda, from the June 2006 Read Only

bn.com