January 14, 2015 at 9:55 am
I am considering taking the 461 exam for SQL 2012 since our company is just about to upgrade to this. Looking over the skills measured section of the cert page, it doesn't look like it's that tough of an exam. I just have to memorize a few things that I usually "cheat" and use BOL on (constraints, keys, etc.).
But... I don't have a whole lot of experience with SQL 2012 itself. Most of my query skills come from 2000, 2005, and 2008. Taking that into consideration, does anyone have an specific recommendations on what to brush up on that is different in 2012 from the others?
My first impulse was "Oh, this looks easy enough to pass." I'm just not sure how much additional study time to throw into this before I take it. Thoughts?
January 14, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Make sure you have a good grip on the new window functions introduced in SQL 2012.
And you know, for some reason MS still likes to ask XML related questions...
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
January 15, 2015 at 4:44 am
Koen Verbeeck (1/14/2015)
Make sure you have a good grip on the new window functions introduced in SQL 2012.And you know, for some reason MS still likes to ask XML related questions...
Oy, XML. My weak point. Thanks for the warning.
New windows functions, huh? I will make sure to add those to my study plan. Thanks for the info.
January 15, 2015 at 5:09 am
Brandie Tarvin (1/15/2015)
Koen Verbeeck (1/14/2015)
Make sure you have a good grip on the new window functions introduced in SQL 2012.And you know, for some reason MS still likes to ask XML related questions...
Oy, XML. My weak point. Thanks for the warning.
New windows functions, huh? I will make sure to add those to my study plan. Thanks for the info.
This book is worth all of its money.
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 High-Performance T-SQL Using Window Functions[/url]
One of the best SQL Server books I have read.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
January 15, 2015 at 5:11 am
Ohhh. I shall take a look. Thank you for the reference.
January 22, 2015 at 8:14 am
So has Microsoft updated the exams to require you to type in T-SQL? Or is it still multiple choice options of code that looks identical but isn't?
And if answering this question comes too close to NDA violation, let me know.
EDIT: And does anyone know what the following technobabble is supposed to refer to? (It's under the "Create Database Objects" section of the exam objectives)
Design Views
•Ensure code non regression by keeping consistent signature for procedure, views and function (interfaces); security implications
January 22, 2015 at 10:23 am
The book that Koen mentioned is my favorite t-sql book and I second his recommendation. Anything by Ben-Gan is worth it's weight in gold Imho. I have not taken the test but am also studying for it as well. Friends that have passed it say there are some questions about SQL Merge statements, something I find tricky. There's also lots of XML as Koen mentioned.
The official "Training Kit" (book and cd): Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is good too. It's a bit dry but good. Itzek Ben-Gan is one of the authors.
-- Itzik Ben-Gan 2001
January 22, 2015 at 11:16 am
Brandie Tarvin (1/22/2015)
So has Microsoft updated the exams to require you to type in T-SQL? Or is it still multiple choice options of code that looks identical but isn't?And if answering this question comes too close to NDA violation, let me know.
EDIT: And does anyone know what the following technobabble is supposed to refer to? (It's under the "Create Database Objects" section of the exam objectives)
Design Views
•Ensure code non regression by keeping consistent signature for procedure, views and function (interfaces); security implications
I think they mean "with encryption" on the creation of a proc.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
January 22, 2015 at 11:18 am
Brandie Tarvin (1/22/2015)
So has Microsoft updated the exams to require you to type in T-SQL? Or is it still multiple choice options of code that looks identical but isn't?And if answering this question comes too close to NDA violation, let me know.
The possible different types of questions are posted somewhere on the Microsoft website, so they are not on an NDA.
It's a while since I took the exam. I had to type code. Some also had to, others didn't have to.
Multiple choice options of code that look identical is most likely to be in there 😀
You also get questions where they tell you the goal and you get different code snippets. Then you have to arrange them in the correct order.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
January 22, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Koen Verbeeck (1/22/2015)
Brandie Tarvin (1/22/2015)
So has Microsoft updated the exams to require you to type in T-SQL? Or is it still multiple choice options of code that looks identical but isn't?And if answering this question comes too close to NDA violation, let me know.
EDIT: And does anyone know what the following technobabble is supposed to refer to? (It's under the "Create Database Objects" section of the exam objectives)
Design Views
•Ensure code non regression by keeping consistent signature for procedure, views and function (interfaces); security implications
I think they mean "with encryption" on the creation of a proc.
But then why is it under "view"?
The consistent signature bit almost sounds like certificate signing, but the "code non regression" part doesn't make sense. Is it about regression testing? Is it about overwriting a newer bit of code with older code? Is it about someone being able to "read" it (hence encryption, like you mentioned)?
It worries me when I don't understand what it is they want people to know in order to pass the exam.
January 22, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Koen Verbeeck (1/22/2015)
Brandie Tarvin (1/22/2015)
So has Microsoft updated the exams to require you to type in T-SQL? Or is it still multiple choice options of code that looks identical but isn't?And if answering this question comes too close to NDA violation, let me know.
The possible different types of questions are posted somewhere on the Microsoft website, so they are not on an NDA.
It's a while since I took the exam. I had to type code. Some also had to, others didn't have to.
Joy. I have lots of code typing in my future then, to make sure I get it correct if I get those questions. Muscle-memory works better for me when it comes to things like that, and I've been cheating a lot lately by reusing old code rather than write all these object ALTER and CREATE statements brand new.
Multiple choice options of code that look identical is most likely to be in there 😀
😀 Figured.
You also get questions where they tell you the goal and you get different code snippets. Then you have to arrange them in the correct order.
I remember those. I also remember doing "server design" on a few of the older tests with that type of question.
January 23, 2015 at 5:30 am
Brandie Tarvin (1/22/2015)
EDIT: And does anyone know what the following technobabble is supposed to refer to? (It's under the "Create Database Objects" section of the exam objectives)
Design Views
•Ensure code non regression by keeping consistent signature for procedure, views and function (interfaces); security implications
Actually, it sounds more along the lines of ensuring you don't break calls to your database objects by changing things like the names of your procedures, the names/datatypes of parameters etc., that sort of thing. Not exactly sure why a view would be included in that mix, though.
____________
Just my $0.02 from over here in the cheap seats of the peanut gallery - please adjust for inflation and/or your local currency.
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