MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Administration All-in-One Exam Guide (Exams 70-431, 70-443, & 70-444)

CHAPTER 4 Transact-SQL Primer

In this chapter, you will learn about:

• Transact-SQL

• SELECT statements

• INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements

• Transactions

• XML

• Hints

Do ordinary things, extraordinarily well. —St. Francis DeSales

This chapter focuses on Data Manipulation Language (DML) statements—SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. Once you master the SELECT statements, the others fall easily into place, so most of the material will focus on SELECT statements.

At the core, T-SQL is basic and ordinary. However, that's no reason to overlook its importance. Those who can "do the ordinary extraordinarily well" stand out from the others in their field.

For those of you preparing to take the 70-431 test, you'll need to know the SELECT statement ...