Get Ready for SQL Server 2008

Basic SQL skills are a requirement for almost every job position at Microsoft. And even if you are currently in a role which doesn't require SQL knowledge, learning some SQL can help you advance your career. Microsoft will release SQL Server 2008 within the next few months. SQL Server 2008 has lots of new features. Here's a brief description of some of these new features that hiring managers will expect you to know about.

From a development perspective, SQL Server 2008 introduces a feature called Sparse Columns. This is an optimization that allows you to save significant space when you have a table which has mostly NULL values. Another new SQL Server 2008 feature is called Filtered Indexes. These are special indexes which increase the speed of SELECT statements. SQL Server 2008 introduces a MERGE statement which is sort of a combination of an INSERT and UPDATE, and is useful when you are copying tables. SQL 2008 now has the ability to create a TABLE data type which you can do things such as pass as an argument to stored procedures. SQL Server finally has new separate DATE and TIME data types, as well as high precision DATETIME2 and DATETIMEOFFSET data types. There is a new HIERARCHYID data type in SQL Server 2008 which allows you to store hierarchical data (such as a company's organization structure) in a standardized way. SQL Server 2008 introduces a FileStream data type which allows you to store large binary data such as Word files and JPEG images in the file system rather than directly in a table. SQL 2008 now has a GEOMETRY data type and a new GEOGRAPHY data type which are useful when storing map-related data. Finally, SQL Server 2008 introduces an important new security feature called Transparent Data Encryption, where all your data is encrypted automatically.

Volt Technical Education will offer short, two-hour classes "VS 065 - Introduction to SQL Server 2008" on Saturdays. The classes will run from 10:00am to noon, and again from noon to 2:00pm, starting Saturday, July 12. The classes are hands-on and will get you up to speed with SQL Server 2008 with the goal of enabling you to intelligently discuss SQL 2008 in a hiring interview. Topics covered include the new SQL Server 2008 features described above, plus SQL installation and configuration. Keep an eye out for course announcements from your Employee Relations representative. You can also check out the VTE Web site at www.VTEOnline.com for training news, updates, and schedules.