Performing Database Tasks

The major tasks associated with working with a database are planning, designing, implementing, optimizing and maintaining. The following table lists topics in SQL Server 2005 Books Online that describe how to understand and perform these tasks, giving novice users a conceptual grounding in how databases work.

Important

The topics listed below might refer to user interface elements or features that are not supported by SQL Server Express. For more information about feature support, see Overview of SQL Server Express.

Database task	SQL Server 2005 Books Online topic
Plan a database	Database Basics System Databases Understanding Files and Filegroups Introduction to Transaction Logs Developing a Database Plan Table Basics Table Planning Guidelines Index Basics Types of Indexes Transactions (Database Engine) Stored Procedure Basics User-defined Function Basics Types of Functions Types of Stored Procedures PRIMARY KEY Constraints FOREIGN KEY Constraints
Design a database	Designing Databases Online Transaction Processing vs. Decision Support Normalization Data Integrity Data Integrity Basics Database Performance Estimating the Size of a Database Designing Files and Filegroups Designing Stored Procedures (Database Engine)
Implement a database	Creating a Database (Database Engine) Modifying a Database Setting Database Options Renaming a Database Changing the Database Owner Inserting Data into a Table Adding Rows by Using INSERT and SELECT Changing Data by Using UPDATE Deleting Rows by Using DELETE Creating and Modifying PRIMARY KEY Constraints Creating and Modifying FOREIGN KEY Constraints
Optimize a database	Optimizing Databases Index Design Basics Types of Indexes Understanding Views
Maintain a database	Maintaining Databases (Database Engine) Backing Up and Restoring Databases in SQL Server Considerations for Backing Up and Restoring System Databases Monitoring and Tuning for Performance