Even if you have little or no knowledge of T-SQL, Beginning T-SQL 2008 will bring you up to intermediate level and teach you best practices along the way. You'll learn how to write code that will help you to achieve the best-performing applications possible. You'll find an introduction to databases, normalization, and SQL Server Management Studio. You'll understand how data is stored in a database and learn how to use at least one of the available tools to get to that data. Each subsequent chapter teaches an aspect of T-SQL, building on the skills learned in previous chapters. Exercises are included in each chapter because the only way to learn T-SQL is to write some code. This book will do more than just give the syntax and examples. It will teach you techniques to help you avoid common errors and create robust and well-performing code. * Imparts best practices for writing T-SQL * Helps readers avoid common errors * Shows how to write scalable code that yields good performance What you'll learn * Understand the fundamentals of relational theory, upon which Transact-SQL is based * Write accurate queries that are scalable and perform well * Combine set-based and procedural processing, obtaining the best from both worlds * Embed business logic in your database through stored procedures and functions * Simplify your work through new and advanced features such as common-table expressions and virtual tables * Enhance performance by knowing when to apply features such table value parameters Who this book is for This book is for developers who will be writing database applications against SQL Server databases. Table of Contents * Getting Started * Writing Simple SELECT Queries * Using Functions and Expressions * Querying Multiple Tables * Grouping and Summarizing Data * Manipulating Data * Understanding T-SQL Programming Logic * Moving Logic to the Database * Working with New Data Types * Writing Advanced Queries * Where to Go Next?