For an instructor lead, in-depth look at learning SQL click below.
Welcome to our Beginner’s Guide to SQL Server Reporting. This blog post will walk you through the basics of using SQL (Structured Query Language) for data analytics. SQL is a programming language that’s used to communicate with and manipulate databases. We’ll focus on Microsoft’s SQL Server, a relational database management system that’s widely used in both small and large businesses.
Introduction to SQL Server Reporting
SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a server-based report generating system from Microsoft. It is used to prepare and deliver a variety of interactive and printed reports. With SSRS, you can create tabular, graphical, or free-form reports from relational, multidimensional, or XML-based data sources.
Example 1: Simple SELECT Statement
The SELECT statement is used to select data from a database. The data returned is stored in a result table, called the result-set.
|
1 2 3 4 |
SELECT column1, column2, ... FROM table_name; |
This SQL statement selects the “column1”, “column2” … from the “table_name” table.
|
1 2 3 |
SELECT * FROM Customers; |
This SQL statement selects all columns from the “Customers” table.
Example 2: SQL WHERE Clause
The WHERE clause is used to filter records. The WHERE clause is used to extract only those records that fulfill a specified condition.
|
1 2 3 4 5 |
SELECT column1, column2, ... FROM table_name WHERE condition; |
In the example below, we are selecting all records from the Customers table where Country is ‘USA’:
|
1 2 3 4 |
SELECT * FROM Customers WHERE Country='USA'; |
Example 3: SQL JOIN
A JOIN clause is used to combine rows from two or more tables, based on a related column between them.
|
1 2 3 4 5 |
SELECT Orders.OrderID, Customers.CustomerName FROM Orders INNER JOIN Customers ON Orders.CustomerID = Customers.CustomerID; |
The above SQL creates a new result table by combining column values of two tables (Orders and Customers) based upon the CustomerID match.
Ending notes
Learning SQL is like learning a new language with its own rules, syntax, and nuances. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become with its idiosyncrasies. Remember that every big journey begins with a single step. Start practicing now using the examples provided above.