My Part-Time Study Notes on Mssql Server

By Morris Sebenzile Mntoninzi

The back cover will show summary about each topic discussed in the book.
These are:
1. Database Engine
2. SQL Sever Analysis Services
3. SQL Server Integration Services
4. SQL Server Reporting Services
5. Business Intelligence Development Studio.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Mar 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781482806458

Morris Sebenzile Mntoninzi

I am interested in computer systems especially more integrated systems. During my working life I was unfortunate to work wth legacy systems where you do most of the work manually while you have a system in place. I studied Information Systems to Know more. I have just on my own studied MSSQL Server to know more about SQL Server Database Management System. I have worked for different companies and government in the following functions: Finance, Supply Chain, Work Study and Auditing. I have obtained the following Qualifications: B.Com and B.Com (hons) from UNISA, I also obtained National Diploma in Information Information technology. My interests are: my family, gym, computers and community activities. Now that I am retired I wish to start writing books based on my working experience that I was never able share. I wish to publish these books.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Morris Sebenzile Mntoninzi.

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Contents

Chapter One About The Book

Chapter Two Designing And Building Database

Chapter Three Sql Server Integrated Services

Chapter Four Sql Server Analysis Services (Ssas)

Chapter Five Sql Server Reporting Services

Acknowledgement Of Sources

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NOTES I COMPILED WHILE LEARNING MS SQL SERVER.

Chapter One

ABOUT THE BOOK

This booklet is written in a simple and plain language. Initially I never intended to write a book or a handbook on such a complex system like SQL Server. This book contains my notes, information and experience I collected during the course of learning SQL Server. I developed an interest on SQL Server Database Management system some time ago through experiencing problems with different systems I used as an end-user that demanded much manual interfacing or intervention and which consume more time in operating them. I wanted to have an in-depth understanding of SQL Server system rather than only apply it as application end-user.

I started learning about SQL Server some years ago in a start and stop manner as I did not have much time to concentrate on it; and have not been involved in IT departments. I use to leave it for a long time but once I encounter problems with legacy systems at work, especially in the public service, I again saw the need to research more on integrated systems. I knew that systems like SQL Server offer an opportunity to build an application that offers that integration with one-stop functionality.

I have worked on the front-end of some various systems and have experience their functionality. I however see the need of developing applications myself that will serve my needs. Hence I thought it wise to understand the structure of SQL Server itself. This book is therefore intended to share the stock of what I have collected and learnt on this journey in quest for knowledge about SQL Server.

All I have learnt about SQL Server, I learnt on my own, as I could not attend institutions that offer it. Also, all IT departments from the places I worked for did not use any of these systems. Fortunately Microsoft has deployed vast information on various sources on the net. All the information I used is from internet sources.

In the nutshell the aim of this book is to:

• Give an account of the knowledge I gained from my learning of SQL Server;

• Give an account of all the information I collected from different sources, and which I put together in one place;

• Produce a book that can be of assistance as handbook to students, struggling people like myself and SQL Server end-users, as most important information can be accessed from a single source.

• Share information and experience that privileged students do not encounter as they have lecturer in front of them; and working on already configured systems.

All the processes handled by different SQL Server components that I learnt about, I tested to ensure my understanding.

The approach adopted in this book in learning SQL Server is to read the source, e.g. Tutorial, MSSQLTips, and any other source I came across and test my understanding by practice on the SQL Server itself.

SOURCES AND TOOLS.

I did not know, at first, where to start looking for information about SQL Server. Few sources I consulted initially could not clearly help me in conceptualising what SQL Server is about. I could not figure out on how to interface with SQL Server engine so that I can do something on it. I used to be frustrated once it comes to testing my knowledge of what I have learnt. Sometimes when I ask full time student about this problem he/she would not understand what my problem is. This is because at the institution they work on already configured environment, ready interfaces prepared for them and all resources available. After some frustrations I realised that I need SQL Server itself to be installed on my computer, as I realised that I will need to test everything I learn to check my understanding. At last I discovered the following tools among others:

• SQL Server: a free version called SQL SERVER EXPRESS. This was a closed shell to me which I still needed to understand on how to interface with its Database Engine itself. And through reading about some functions of different components of SQL Server I found that Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio is the interface I am looking for.

• Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. This is an interface to Database Engine. I found a start. Now I could build a database and its tables.

• Walkthroughs, Tutorials that provided steps on performing some functions and processes on which I have vague ideas, for example, building simple applications, simple website pages, applying T-SQL queries like CREATE, INSERT SELECT etc. transferring data from one source to other sources for better manipulation and reporting. These tutorials also provide understanding on the relationship between SQL Server and Microsoft Visual Studio.

• MSSQLTips: I also came across MSSQLTips. I subscribed to this group. Like walkthroughs and tutorials, these Tips take you by hand through performing other functions, where the rest of SQL Server components are involved. I learnt how the following SQL Server components work: Integration Services, Analysis Servicesand Reporting Services and in conjunction with Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS). The MSSQLTips also assisted me on building databases and all its intricacies.

On discovering the above tools I made some progress.

While going through all the sources to learn about SQL Server, in testing my