SQL Querying: Advanced
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What you'll learn
Construct complex nested queries and correlated subqueries to filter data on multiple levels.
Insert, update, merge, and delete database records while maintaining table structures.
Create views, build indexes for performance, and manage transactions to ensure data accuracy.
Learn by doing. Perform guided, step-by-step hands-on activities on your own computer.
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
January 2026
1 assignment
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There are 7 modules in this course
In today's competitive environment, information is one of the most important factors in determining the success of an organization. If you are able to manage and retrieve information efficiently, you can streamline the organization's processes and give it a competitive edge. Some data analysis tasks may require that you query multiple tables simultaneously or create complex views of data.
In the course SQL Querying: Fundamentals, you learned the basics of SQL querying. In this course, you will build on this foundation, learning advanced querying techniques, such as writing nested queries and using views to simplify repetitive querying tasks. You will also learn how to perform common database administration tasks such as duplicating tables; modifying table structures; inserting, updating, or deleting data; and indexing tables to optimize query performance. You will also learn how to work with multiple tasks as a transaction. This course is intended for individuals who have basic SQL skills and who want to expand their skillset with more advanced tasks. In this course, you will: use nested queries to generate query output; manipulate table data by inserting, modifying, and deleting data; manipulate the structure of tables; work with views to present data; index data to improve querying efficiency; and manage database transactions. This course requires that you have Microsoft SQL Server Express and Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) installed on a Windows PC. The course setup instructions provided in the first module of the course go into more detail about the hardware and software requirements.
You have performed some fairly complex queries using a basic SELECT statement. However, SQL provides advanced capabilities that enable you to take your queries further. In this course, you will use these advanced capabilities to build on the fundamentals of SQL querying. You will start by performing various types of nested queries.
What's included
25 plugins
25 plugins•Total 149 minutes
- Data Files and Setup for This Course•15 minutes
- About This Course•1 minute
- Lesson Introduction•1 minute
- Topic 1A: Search Based on Values from a Subquery•1 minute
- 1A-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 1A-2: Activity•10 minutes
- 1A-3: Activity •10 minutes
- Topic 1B: Compare Values from a Subquery•1 minute
- 1B-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 1B-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 1C: Search Based on the Existence of Records•1 minute
- 1C-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 1C-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 1D: Generate Output Using Correlated Subqueries•1 minute
- 1D-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 1D-2: Activity•10 minutes
- 1D-3: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 1E: Filter Grouped Data Within Subqueries•1 minute
- 1E-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 1E-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 1F: Perform Multiple-Level Subqueries•1 minute
- 1F-1: Reading•1 minute
- 1F-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Mastery Builder: Using Subqueries to Perform Advanced Querying•15 minutes
- Lesson Summary•5 minutes
Although database client applications typically provide features within the user interface to manage content, in many cases you may need to set up database structure and content before you deploy an application. Or you might need to perform maintenance tasks outside the client application. Using SQL, you can directly perform such tasks. In this lesson, you will use SQL to insert, update, and delete rows.
What's included
11 plugins
11 plugins•Total 78 minutes
- Lesson Introduction•1 minute
- Topic 2A: Insert Rows•1 minute
- 2A-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 2A-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 2B: Modify and Delete Data•1 minute
- 2B-1: Reading•10 minutes
- 2B-2: Activity•10 minutes
- 2B-3: Activity•10 minutes
- 2B-4: Activity•10 minutes
- Mastery Builder: Manipulating Table Data•15 minutes
- Lesson Summary•5 minutes
Over time, you might need to change your database's structure. You can use SQL to add new tables and new columns, or change the types of data stored within a particular column.
What's included
17 plugins
17 plugins•Total 125 minutes
- Lesson Introduction•1 minute
- Topic 3A: Create a Table•1 minute
- 3A-1: Reading•10 minutes
- 3A-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 3B: Create a Table with Constraints•1 minute
- 3B-1: Reading•20 minutes
- 3B-2: Activity•10 minutes
- 3B-3: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 3C: Modify a Table's Structure•1 minute
- 3C-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 3C-2: Activity•10 minutes
- 3C-3: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 3D: Delete Tables•1 minute
- 3D-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 3D-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Mastery Builder: Manipulating the Table Structure•15 minutes
- Lesson Summary•5 minutes
Some database users may not know how to write SQL queries, or may not want to be bothered to write a query to view data coming from multiple tables. Or you may want to hide certain columns of data from the view of end users. Database views enable you to control what data users see, like a query, but they can be quickly invoked to present data in a particular way. In this lesson, you will create views and use them to manipulate data, modify views, and delete views.
What's included
14 plugins
14 plugins•Total 90 minutes
- Lesson Introduction•1 minute
- Topic 4A: Create a View•1 minute
- 4A-1: Reading•10 minutes
- 4A-2: Guidelines•1 minute
- 4A-3: Activity•10 minutes
- 4A-4: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 4B: Manipulate Data in Views•1 minute
- 4B-1: Reading•10 minutes
- 4B-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 4C: Modify and Delete Views•1 minute
- 4C-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 4C-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Mastery Builder: Working with Views•15 minutes
- Lesson Summary•5 minutes
How Microsoft® SQL Server® retrieves the data that satisfies a query can have a huge impact on your database server's performance, especially if you have very large tables. One of the strategies you can use to improve the efficiency of SQL Server is to create indexes to support your most frequently executed queries.
What's included
9 plugins
9 plugins•Total 58 minutes
- Lesson Introduction•1 minute
- Topic 5A: Create Indexes•1 minute
- 5A-1: Reading•10 minutes
- 5A-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 5B: Drop Indexes•1 minute
- 5B-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 5B-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Mastery Builder: Indexing Data•15 minutes
- Lesson Summary•5 minutes
Some database transactions must be accomplished through more than one SQL statement. If a problem occurs at any point in the transaction, you need to roll back each step of the entire transaction to get the database back to its original state. SQL provides features that enable you to accomplish this.
What's included
9 plugins
9 plugins•Total 49 minutes
- Lesson Introduction•1 minute
- Topic 6A: Begin and Roll Back Transactions•1 minute
- 6A-1: Reading•5 minutes
- 6A-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Topic 6B: Commit Transactions•1 minute
- 6B-1: Reading•1 minute
- 6B-2: Activity•10 minutes
- Mastery Builder: Managing Transactions•15 minutes
- Lesson Summary•5 minutes
You'll wrap things up and then validate what you've learned in this course by taking an assessment.
What's included
1 assignment2 plugins
1 assignment•Total 25 minutes
- Course Assessment•25 minutes
2 plugins•Total 6 minutes
- Course Summary•1 minute
- Appendix: The Pub2 Database•5 minutes
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