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  • Question

  • Hi all,

     

    i have built and maintained a department application (Access 2007 / MS SQL 2008) over the last 2 years, a part of my daily tasks, and i am asking myself..where to go from here?

    I need to obtain knowledge in creating SQL queries and i want to learn more about SQL in order to also develop my application into a full SQL solution. Any suggestions? What courses (on line) etc etc?

    Monday, October 17, 2011 7:28 PM

Answers

  • Hi,

    Cool that you are becoming more interested in SQL. Before plunging into what you'd really like have a look here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/dd353197

    Just sit back and watch a few videos from this site and then decide on which area you would like to focus. Once decided look on the same site for starting points.

    If you are after certification then come back and let us know which area you will be targeting.

     


    Maurice
    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:08 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Monday, October 17, 2011 9:55 PM
  • You can find useful informations at the following web address

    http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/tags/sql+server/

    There are links pointing to many books that you can use in your learning process.

    Bye.


    Luigi Bruno - Microsoft Community Contributor 2011 Award
    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:08 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Monday, October 17, 2011 10:08 PM
  • Hi George,

    Well consider the first steps first. 70-433 would be a good start for certification. But what's more important and nice is the preparation materials to prepare for the exam. You will find those here:

    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-433#tab3

    I did the 2005 variant (70-431) and had a lot of fun just going through the learningplan mentioned in the list. My main focus was on learning and the certification was the goal at the end in a timeframe i found suitable. I passed the exam and that was the bonus for me.

    Now working daily with this stuff makes it really worth while. I'd say go for it!

    Cheers


    Maurice
    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:09 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Tuesday, October 18, 2011 5:16 PM
  • You can start at the SQL Server Development Centre. There you already have many videos/tutorials/howto/... resources to get you started.

    For certification: the certification path is outlined on the Microsoft Learning site. You can find the overview here, or the detailed outline here.

    As Maurice mentioned, and I concur, your first certification exam should be 70-433. Again, on the Microsoft Learning site, you can find more information on what this exam is all about (overview, topics, available preparation materials).

    I've seen that there is a Self-paced training kit available. This is a book which is a good place to start studying for your exam. Keep in mind that just studying this book isn't enough. Reading/learning from other web sites (blogs, videos, articles,...) and playing around with SQL Server yourself will help you too!

    The book: MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-433): Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Database Development Book/DVD Package
    By Tobias Thernstrom, Ann Weber, Mike Hotek


    Dimitri C. - Please mark the replies as answers if they help! Thanks.
    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:09 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Wednesday, October 19, 2011 6:13 AM
  • Try SQL Exercises.

    I think this is that you are seeking out.

    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:09 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Saturday, October 22, 2011 4:44 PM

All replies

  • Hi,

    Cool that you are becoming more interested in SQL. Before plunging into what you'd really like have a look here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/dd353197

    Just sit back and watch a few videos from this site and then decide on which area you would like to focus. Once decided look on the same site for starting points.

    If you are after certification then come back and let us know which area you will be targeting.

     


    Maurice
    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:08 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Monday, October 17, 2011 9:55 PM
  • You can find useful informations at the following web address

    http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/tags/sql+server/

    There are links pointing to many books that you can use in your learning process.

    Bye.


    Luigi Bruno - Microsoft Community Contributor 2011 Award
    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:08 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Monday, October 17, 2011 10:08 PM
  • This is very usefull, thanks indeed!

    So far i managed to actually se tup the server, distribute to users etc. But it remains a "file server"...

    Now i want to learn more about setting up triggers, stored procedures and other related topics.. and yes..i believe as an ultimate reward towards my self for all long houres building this application (45 users - 2 continents - 3 locations) i would strive to gain a certification in SQL development. I need to be able to present a "package" from A-Z (Certification) to my boss :-)

     

    Thanks for helping me out!

    Tuesday, October 18, 2011 11:02 AM
  • Hi George,

    Well consider the first steps first. 70-433 would be a good start for certification. But what's more important and nice is the preparation materials to prepare for the exam. You will find those here:

    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-433#tab3

    I did the 2005 variant (70-431) and had a lot of fun just going through the learningplan mentioned in the list. My main focus was on learning and the certification was the goal at the end in a timeframe i found suitable. I passed the exam and that was the bonus for me.

    Now working daily with this stuff makes it really worth while. I'd say go for it!

    Cheers


    Maurice
    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:09 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Tuesday, October 18, 2011 5:16 PM
  • You can start at the SQL Server Development Centre. There you already have many videos/tutorials/howto/... resources to get you started.

    For certification: the certification path is outlined on the Microsoft Learning site. You can find the overview here, or the detailed outline here.

    As Maurice mentioned, and I concur, your first certification exam should be 70-433. Again, on the Microsoft Learning site, you can find more information on what this exam is all about (overview, topics, available preparation materials).

    I've seen that there is a Self-paced training kit available. This is a book which is a good place to start studying for your exam. Keep in mind that just studying this book isn't enough. Reading/learning from other web sites (blogs, videos, articles,...) and playing around with SQL Server yourself will help you too!

    The book: MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-433): Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Database Development Book/DVD Package
    By Tobias Thernstrom, Ann Weber, Mike Hotek


    Dimitri C. - Please mark the replies as answers if they help! Thanks.
    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:09 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Wednesday, October 19, 2011 6:13 AM
  • Try SQL Exercises.

    I think this is that you are seeking out.

    • Proposed as answer by Dimitri C Friday, January 20, 2012 7:09 AM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:07 AM
    Saturday, October 22, 2011 4:44 PM