Course of the Month: Creating SQL Reports in SQL Server

This is another in our series of free SQL Courses of the Month. This time, you can learn SQL Reporting in MS SQL Server for free.

Do you want to be able to prepare even better SQL reports? Or maybe you have some basic knowledge of SQL Server (one of the major SQL dialects) and would like to go a step further? This is the course for you.

Throughout August 2021, you can develop your analytical skills with free access to our interactive course on Creating Basic SQL Reports in SQL Server!

The rules are simple: This SQL course is free and you really risk nothing. At LearnSQL.com, we choose one of our SQL courses each month and make it available to our users for free.

Here's what you need to do to learn SQL Reports in MS SQL Server without spending a cent:

• Create a free LearnSQL.com account or log in if you already have one.
• Start the course. You will have free access to its content until the end of August 2021.

Thousands of people have already learned SQL with us in this way. You too can be one of them. You pay nothing and get so much; this could be your first step towards professional data analysis.

What Are SQL Reports?

Since you are reading this blog, you probably already know why you should learn SQL. It’s the most important language for relational databases, data analysis, and data engineering. It will allow you to write database queries and draw conclusions and insights from them.

Reports and statements created in SQL can become the basis for important business decisions. Why? Because these days you are either data-driven or lagging behind. Data is currently the most valuable resource, and whoever can use it wins. Check out Why Does Your Company Need Data Analysis? for more information.

When are SQL reports useful? Well, imagine that you need to make a monthly sales report for your online store, analyze data in Google Analytics, or prepare a summary of your monthly revenue. You can struggle with a spreadsheet – or you can write a few lines of SQL code and get the data you need. For a detailed example, see the article How to Calculate Revenue Growth in SQL.

It's really that simple! What's more, you can reuse the code you’ve written (i.e. just by changing the dates) or you can import it to your dashboard and visualize the data in real time. Pretty cool, isn’t it?

If you learn to create SQL Reports in MS SQL Server, you can rely less on your IT department: no more emails asking for specific data from the company's database, no more frustration as you’re waiting for a response. Even better, no more annoying arguments that they gave you the wrong thing!

Self-service analytics – giving business users the power to perform their own data analyses – is a global trend. It’s part of the data democratization process. Companies that give their employees access to data operate faster and more efficiently. And it’s much easier for organizational and team leaders to make important daily decisions.

What Will You Learn in Creating Basic SQL Reports in SQL Server?

As a warm-up, you’ll start with a short introduction to the database model we’ll use in the course. You’ll also check that you have sufficient knowledge of MS SQL Server to take full advantage of this course. If not, try the SQL Basics in MS SQL Server course first and come back once you have mastered the basics.

Next, the course covers popular SQL aggregate functions. You’ll practice using COUNT() and SUM(), which are crucial for creating SQL reports. You’ll need them to count business objects and compare metrics – among lots of other things.

The next step is data classification. You’ll learn how to create custom classifications of objects in MS SQL Server using the CASE WHEN syntax. You’ll also learn how to use the GROUP BY clause correctly, avoiding the mistakes typical of novice users. This will help you accurately compute various statistics in SQL. Without GROUP BY, very few SQL reports are possible, so it's important that you get to know this clause well.

Then it's on to multi-level aggregation, which makes complex SQL queries more readable. You’ll find out how to put multiple data metrics in one report, calculate ratios and percentages, and compare global and detailed data. You will become a true SQL reporting pro!

With the Creating Basic SQL Reports in SQL Server course, you will be able to create SQL reports, tame complex SQL queries, and properly organize data from multiple sources.

Now for the details. In this month’s free SQL course, you’ll learn how to:

• Use popular SQL aggregate functions like COUNT() and SUM().
• Classify data: Using CASE WHEN to create custom classifications and using classifications to group objects in the GROUP BY
• Calculate averages and the averages of averages.
• Organize long queries so they’re clear and understandable.
• Include multiple metrics in a single report.
• Calculate ratios and percentages.
• Compare different business groups in a single report.
• Use common table expressions (CTEs).

Why Choose LearnSQL.com Courses?

Other companies offer SQL courses, but few focus solely on SQL like we do. Databases are our passion and we like to share our knowledge and experience. Plus, our courses are interactive and convenient. You don't need to install anything or set anything up. As long as you have Internet access and a browser, you can learn SQL with us.

Our users like our courses because they provide a real hands-on learning experience. You write real SQL queries in our online console and see the results immediately. If you do something wrong, you’ll immediately learn what you need to correct.

The Creating Basic SQL Reports in SQL Server course consists of 97 exercises. We estimate that it will take about 10 hours to complete.

Who Should Take This Course?

Do you need to expand your knowledge of MS SQL Server? Do you dream of becoming a data analyst? Or do you just want to be able to use the data collected by your company? Maybe you are a student and you need to prepare for a data science exam. If any of these sound like you, this course is for you. It will give you the necessary skills and practice so you can start creating your own reports.

After completing this course, you will receive a personalized certificate of completion. You can include it on your LinkedIn profile, show it to your colleagues, or send it to the boss with a request for a raise.

Learn SQL Reporting in MS SQL Server for Free in August 2021

Creating basic reports in MS SQL Server is a useful skill. Not only will you be able to analyze data, but you will also become a much more attractive candidate on the labor market. People who can create reports are currently in great demand. If you don’t believe me, just check the job advertisements.

If you are hungry for more SQL knowledge, you can do the entire SQL Reporting in MS SQL Server track. It is a set of three interactive SQL courses:

• Creating Basic SQL Reports in SQL Server
• Revenue Trend Analysis in SQL Server – Learn how to perform trend analysis in SQL Server and create meaningful revenue reports.
• Customer Behavior Analysis in SQL Server – Find out how to conduct an analysis of customer behavior for your business using T-SQL queries. Learn how to measure acquisition, conversion, sales, and churn using SQL Server.

As you can see, there is a lot of work ahead of you. However, the effort will pay off. When you learn the advantages of creating SQL reports, you’ll wonder how your business functioned without data analysis and why you’ve been operating in the dark until now.

It's time to learn SQL! Let your first step be our free Creating Basic SQL Reports in SQL Server course. Welcome to the world of analysis and databases!