Transact-SQL Programming

Transact-SQL is a procedural language used on both Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase SQL Server systems. It is a full-featured programming language that dramatically extends the power of SQL (Structured Query Language). The language provides programmers with a broad range of features, including:

• A rich set of datatypes, including specialized types for identifiers, timestamps, images, and long text fields
• Local and global variables
• Fully programmable server objects like views, triggers, stored procedures, and batch command files
• Conditional processing
• Exception and error handling
• Full transaction control
• System stored procedures that reduce the complexity of many operations, like adding users or automatically generating HTML Web pages

In recent years, the versions of Transact-SQL have diverged on Microsoft and Sybase systems; the book explains the differences. It also contains up-to-the-minute information on the latest versions: Microsoft SQL Server versions 6.5 and 7.0 and Sybase version 11.5. A brief table of contents follows: PART I: The Basics: Programming in Transact-SQL 1. Introduction to Transact-SQL 2. Matching Business Rules 3. SQL Primer 4. Transact-SQL Fundamentals 5. Format and Style PART II: The Building Blocks: Transact-SQL Language Elements 6. Datatypes and Variables 7. Conditional Processing 8. Row Processing with Cursors 9. Error Handling 10. Temporary Objects 11. Transactions and Logging PART III: Functions and Extensions 12. Functions 13. CASE Expressions and Transact-SQL Extensions PART IV: Programming Transact-SQL Objects 14. Stored Procedures and Modular Design 15. Triggers 16. Views 17. System and Extended Stored Procedures and BCP PART V: Performance Tuning and Optimization 18. Transact-SQL Code Design 19. Code Maintenance in the SQL Server 20. Transact-SQL Optimization and Tuning 21. Debugging Transact-SQL Programs PART VI: Appendixes A. System Tables B. What's New for Transact-SQL in Microsoft SQL Server 7.0? C. BCP The book comes with a CD-ROM containing an extensive set of examples from the book and complete programs that illustrate the power of the language.