Description

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.