Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database Development From Scratch

Rob Hawthorne, MCSD, is a consultant for KPMG Consulting based in Wellington, New Zealand. KPMG Consulting deals in all aspects of E-Commerce, and is a leading provider of Internet Integration services around the globe. Rob is a specialist in Microsoft technologies. The web applications that Rob builds are mainly in Active Server Pages (ASP), VB (utilizing COM and MTS) over SQL Server 7.0/2000 databases. Consequently he has skills in front-end design, middle-tier and back-end architecture. Rob has a bachelor of commerce (BCom) from the University of Otago (also in New Zealand). He double majored in information science and operations management.

Introduction.


1. Taking Spy Net from Idea to SQL Server Database.


A Case Study for Spy Net Limited.



An Overview of the SQL Spy Net Application. Determining What the Application Should. What Are We Going to Achieve?



Modeling the SQL Spy Net Application.



Designing the Spy Net Tables. Using Relational Theory to Model Spy Net's Application. Building Relationships Between Enemies.



Taking a Broad Overview of Spy Net. Summary. Next Steps.



2. The Tools of SQL Server 2000 for Managing an Instance.


Exploring Database Objects with Enterprise Manager.



Why You're Sure to Love Enterprise Manager. How This Tool Fits into Our SQL Spy Net Application.



Getting the Answers with Query Analyzer.



What You Can Do with Query Analyzer. Using This Tool for the SQL Spy Net Application.



Tracking Code Crimes with Profiler.



When You'll Use Profiler. Profiling and the SQL Spy Net Application.



Importing and Exporting Data the Easy Way.



Why You Should Use DTS. Generating SQL Spy Net Data with DTS.



Checking Out SQL Server 2000's Other Tools. Summary. Next Steps.



3. Making Virtual Spies-Creating Spy Net in SQL Server 2000.


Playing Program Director (Sys Admin) for SpyNet.



Setting the sa Password. Configuring the Model Database to Meet Our SQL Spy Net Application. Requirements.



Creating the SQL Spy Net Application Database.



Using Enterprise Manager to Create Our Application Database.



Using the Data Definition Language (DDL) to Create Databases and Objects.



Building Tables for Our Spies. Revisiting the Analysis of the SQL Spy Net Application.



Bringing Our Data Model and Database Together.



Developing the First Database Table for the SQL Spy Net Application. Creating Tables the Fun Way-With Code. Filling in the Blanks.



Summary. Next Steps.



4. Manipulating Data with Transact-SQL.


What Is This SELECT Statement Then?



The First Building Block for SELECT. Where Does the Data Come FROM? Limiting Data with WHERE. Put Those Spies in Order!



Let's Get Some Data in with the INSERT Statement.



Defining the Table and Columns We Want to Insert Into. Let's Put In Some New Data!



Keeping Everything Up-to-Date.



Which Table, Please? Correcting Data to Fix Data Problems. WHERE to Put the New Value.



When a Good Spy Dies...DELETE 'em. What Else Can We Do with Transact-SQL Besides DMLs and DDLs?



Declaring Variables. Assigning Values to Our Variables with the SET Statement. The IF Test--Is What We Have in Our Variable What We Expect? Using WHILE Loops.



Summary. Next Steps.



5. Pushing the Boundaries of Our DDL Knowledge to View and Update Data.


Adding Information About Our Spies. Finding a Good View.



Getting Your First Look at a View. Looking at JOINs. Comparing Views to Tables. Restrictions on Views.



Streamlining Updates with Stored Procedures.



Creating the Stored Procedure Code. Checking the Table for Places to Fill. Letting the Stored Procedure Do the Work. Creating the Stored Procedure to Insert into Both the Person and BadGuy Tables. Checking For and Filling In NULLs. Guidelines for Using Stored Procedures.



Pulling Triggers to Catch Events.



Creating a Trigger to Catch Double Spies. Testing the Trigger. Setting a Trigger on the Spy Table.



Dropping Objects All Over the Place. Going Round and Round Using Cursors. Summary. Next Steps.



6. Getting Clearer Results with Functions.


Understanding the Role of Functions. Using Built-In Functions.



Using CONVERT to “Make Money”. COUNT-ing Spies. Using the SUM Function to Tally Paychecks. Putting STUFF into Strings.



Creating Your Own Functions to Manipulate Data.



Tweaking Dates from Around the Globe. Executing a User-Defined Function.



Building Your Function Library.



Scalar Functions. Aggregate and Rowset Functions.



Summary. Next Steps.



7. Securing Data Entry with Custom Rules and Defaults.


Introduction. Ruling Your Data World.



Checking for Underaged Spies. Binding and Testing the Rule.



Setting Default Values.



Filling in the Missing Data for Our Users. Testing the Default.



Adding Custom Data Types to Keep Data Uniform.



Validating Phone Numbers. Using the Data Type.



Summary. Next Steps.



8. Ensuring Data Consistency with Transactions, Locks, and Error Trapping.


Keeping Data Consistent with Transaction Wrappers.



Making Transactions Pass the ACID Test. Choosing a Transaction Type. Creating a Transaction for Spy Net. Getting the Most from Your Transactions.



Maintaining Data Integrity with Locks.



How SQL Server 2000 Automates Locking. Developing a Locking Strategy. Locking Considerations.



Handling Errors So Our Application Doesn't Break.



What Is an Error Composed of in SQL Server 2000? Catching an Error. Making Errors Work for You. Changing Our Stored Procedure to Implement Error Trapping.



Summary. Next Steps.



9. Implementing Security in Spy Net.


Sharing Spy Net with Other Users.



Creating Logins to Spy Net. Logging In as SQLSpyNetUser to Test Permissions.



Assigning Roles for Our Users.



Assigning Roles to the SQL Server Instance. Creating a Role Model. Exercising Our Rights.



Auditing: Yes, Big Brother Really Is Watching!



Basic Auditing in SQL Server 2000. Looking at C2 Auditing.



Considerations for Developing a Security Strategy. Summary. Next Steps.



10. Ensuring Data Availability.


Creating a Database Backup Strategy.



How to Prevent Losing Everything. Using Transaction Logs in Backup and Recovery. Choosing the Appropriate Recovery Model. Finding the (Right) Time. Where Do I Back Up To? What Do I Back Up? Backing Up Spy Net Using Enterprise Manager. Backing Up Spy Net Using Transact-SQL in Query Analyzer.



Restoring Spy Net.



How to Get It All Back. Applying Transaction Logs. Restoring Spy Net Using Enterprise Manager. Restoring Spy Net Using Transact-SQL in Query Analyzer.



Finalizing Your Plan.



Keep Track of Copies. Mark the Transaction Log. Create a Warm Server. Create a Checklist of Resources and Practices. Make and Follow Your Recovery Steps.



Summary. Next Steps.



11. Administering Spy Net.


Configuring SQL Server 2000. Performing General Administration Tasks.



Scheduling Jobs. Calling on SQL Server Operators. Using Alerts. What Do SQL Server Logs Do?



Running Consistency Checks. Generating a Maintenance Plan for Database Consistency and Availability.



Using the Maintenance Plan Wizard to Create Our Maintenance Plan.



Identifying Indexes.



How Indexes Work. When to Use an Index. Creating an Index on Our Person Table to Increase Query Performance. Maintaining Our Indexes to Keep Our Application Performing. Efficiently.



Performance Monitoring.



Monitoring Current Activity.



Summary. Next Steps.



12. Designing a Front End to Support Our SQLSpyNet Database.


Understanding Basic Client/Server Architecture to Implement for Our. SpyNet Application.



What Is a Fat Client? Why Use a Thin Client? Which Configuration Is Best?



Choosing a Front-End Development Environment for Our Application.



Microsoft Visual Basic (VB). Microsoft Access. Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP).



Establishing a Connection to Our SQLSpyNet Database.



Using the Tried and True Method of ODBC (MSDASQL). Using the New-Fangled OLE DB Provider for SQL Server (SQLOLEDB).



Building the SpyNet User Interface.



Determining the SpyNet Web Pages. Setting Up Your Machine to Run the SpyNet Application. Setting Up Our Web Site to Run Under PWS. Creating a New User to Establish a Connection. Creating Our First Page, the Global.asa. Creating the Default.htm Page. Building the Include Pages. Validating the User's Login. Greeting Users with the Welcome.asp Page. Creating the Search.asp Page to Retrieve Data from SpyNet.



Watching Speed and Consistency. Surfing the SpyNet Site. Summary. Next Steps.



13. Putting All the Pieces Together.


Putting New Data into SQLSpyNet with the DTS Wizard. Backing Up the Database Before the Transfer. Creating a Stored Procedure to Clean Out the Data.



Using Enterprise Manager to Create a Stored Procedure. Denying Access to the Power of Deletion. Running the Stored Procedure.



Using the DTS Wizard to Reload Our SQLSpyNet Database with Data. Checking the Results of the Import. Where Does Our Application Go Now? Summary. Next Steps.



14. Troubleshooting and Debugging in SQL Server 2000.


Using SQL Profiler to Find Errors.



Creating the Trace. Spying on Users.



Using the Client Network Utility to Resolve Connection Problems. Debugging Stored Procedures. What? No More Room?



How Memory Affects Database Transactions. Shrinking Your Data Files to Reduce the Database. Altering the Size of the Transaction Log Files. Truncating the Transaction Log. Keeping the Faith with Fail-Over Clustering



Summary. Next Steps.



15. Exploring SQL Server 2000 on Your Own.


Using Online Resources to Explore SQL Server 2000.



Search and Retrieval Tips for Books Online. Finding Help on the Web.



Seeing Double (or Triple, or...).



Running Multiple Instances on One Machine. Using Multiple Collation. Keeping Multiple Database Applications in Sync with Replication.



Leveraging Enhancements to Improve Development.



Using Cascading Declarative Referential Integrity (Cascading DRI). Mimicking Built-In Functions with User-Defined Functions. Coding with Three New Data Types. Getting More from Query Analyzer. Scripting Database Objects. Using AFTER and INSTEAD OF Triggers. Looking at Distributed Views. Creating Enhanced Indexes. Leveraging XML Support.



Using the New Wizards in SQL Server 2000.



Tuning Indexes. Copying Databases.



Improving Security.



Understanding Kerberos and Security Delegation. Using Password Security on Database Backups. Using C2 Auditing.



Summary.



Appendix A. Setting Up Your PC as a Web Server.


Appendix B. Installing and Configuring SQL Server 2000.


Selecting the Type of Installation. Installing the Application Following the Step-By-Step Wizard. What Happens If I Select the Custom Install Option? Checking the Installation's Success. Configuring SQL Server 2000.



Connecting to SQL Server 2000 for the First Time. Using a Wizard to Connect to SQL Server 2000. How Does It All Work?



Appendix C. Where to Go from Here.


Microsoft Certification.



How to Become a Microsoft-Certified Professional (MCP). How to Become a Microsoft-Certified Solution Developer (MCSD). How to Become a Microsoft-Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE). How to Become a Microsoft-Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA). How to Plan for Microsoft Certification.



Study Guides. Job Opportunities A Thank You to You, the Reader.



Index.