Masterclass: Advanced T-SQL querying, programming and tuning with Herbert Albert

This course focuses on writing and tuning queries and programming with T-SQL in SQL Server 2012 – 2019 and in Azure SQL Database.

In this course, you will dive deep into key T-SQL capabilities, including query processing, tuning, and optimization techniques such as indexing (including Columnstore Indexes), query revisions, and handling performance with Query Store and Cardinality Estimations. You will also cover advanced querying techniques like recursive queries, subqueries, windowing functions, and data modification methods.

Practical problem-solving examples include handling gaps and islands, ranking and aggregation, pivoting/unpivoting, and dynamic filtering. Additionally, you'll learn how to tune queries, create efficient stored procedures and functions, manage concurrency with transactions, and securely use dynamic SQL. A dedicated module on query tuning is central to the course, emphasizing performance optimization throughout

About Herbert Albert

Herbert Albert is a Mentor with Lucient (former SolidQ). Since version 6.0 he works with SQL Server as developer and trainer. He helped developing official Microsoft courses about Administering and Developing SQL Server as well as the Lucient training “Troubleshooting and Performance Tuning for SQL Server.” Furthermore, he coo-authored the “Upgrade Technical Reference Guide” and was technical editor of a couple of Microsoft Press books. As a trainer, consultant and speaker he is focused on T-SQL Programming, Performance Tuning, High Availability and Integration Servers- In these areas he delivers projects successfully Europe-wide.

Target Audience and Prerequisites

This course is intended for:

• T-SQL Developers, DBAs, BI Specialists, Data Scientists, Architects, and Analysts
• Those that need to write or review T-SQL code in SQL Server 2012 – 2019 and Azure SQL Database

Before attending this course, it is recommended that you have at least one year of T-SQL querying and programming experience.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will:

• Understand logical query processing
• Understand SQL Server’s internal data structures
• Be able to analyze and tune query performance
• Be able to analyze query execution plans
• Understand cardinality estimations
• Be able to solve complex querying and programming tasks
• Think in terms of sets
• Be able to compare set based and iterative solutions
• Use window functions to improve your solutions
• Handle date and time data including intervals
• Create system-versioned temporal tables
• Describe performance problems related to use of user defined functions and possible workarounds
• Understand compilations, recompilations, plan caching and reuse
• Understand transactions and concurrency aspects of database programming
• Know how to handle hierarchical data and write recursive queries
• Be able to migrate on-disk data to memory optimized data
• Describe T-SQL enhancements in SQL Server 2012 – 2019

Course Details

Logical Query Processing

• Logical Query Processing Order
• Logical Query Processing Example
• Phase Details

Query Tuning

• Internals and Index Tuning
• New Cardinality Estimator
• Temporary Tables
• Sets vs. Cursors
• Query Tuning with Query Revisions

Multi-Table Queries

• Subqueries and Table Expressions
• APPLY Operator
• Joins
• Set Operators

Grouping, Pivoting and Windowing

• Window Functions
• Pivoting and Unpivoting Data
• Custom Aggregations
• STRING_AGG
• Grouping Sets (bonus self-study unit)

TOP and OFFSET-FETCH 

• TOP
• OFFSET-FETCH
• TOP N Per Group

Data Modification

• Inserting Data
• Sequences
• Deleting Data
• Updating Data
• Merging Data
• The OUTPUT Clause

Working with Date and Time

• Date and Time Datatypes
• Date and Time Functions
• Date and Time Challenges
• System-Versioned Temporal Tables
• Date and Time Querying Tasks

Programmable Objects

• Dynamic SQL
• User Defined Functions
• Stored Procedures
• Triggers
• Transactions and Concurrency
• Exception Handling

In-Memory OLTP

• Intro to In-Memory OLTP
• Architecture
• Memory Optimized Table and Indexes
• Natively Compiled Modules
• Transaction Semantics