Connecting to Data Sources (12 percent)

• Manage connection strings. May include but is not limited to: using the ConnectionStringBuilder; leveraging the ConfigurationManager; protecting the connection string; using Security Support Provider Interface (SSPI) or SQL Server authentication; correctly addressing the SQL Server instance; managing “User Instance” and AttachDBfilename
• Manage connection objects. May include but is not limited to: managing connection state, managing connection pool; implementing persistent data connections; implementing Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS); encrypting and decrypting data
• Work with data providers. May include but is not limited to: limitations, behaviors, performance, installation issues, deployment issues; ODBC, Microsoft OLE DB, SqlClient, managed providers, third-party providers, native providers
• Connect to a data source by using a generic data access interface. May include but is not limited to: System.Data.Common namespace classes
• Handle and diagnose database connection exceptions. May include but is not limited to: implementing try/catch handlers

• Build command objects. May include but is not limited to: building Parameters collections; using input and output parameters and return values; selecting an appropriate CommandType action; selecting an appropriate Execute method; using the CommandBuilder class; choosing appropriate CommandBehavior
• Query data from data sources. May include but is not limited to: writing queries to solve assigned problems; implementing data paging; sorting, filtering, and aggregating data
• Retrieve data source data by using the DataReader. May include but is not limited to: retrieving data from SELECT statements; retrieving data from stored procedures; working with multiple result sets
• Manage data by using the DataAdapter or the TableAdapter. May include but is not limited to: retrieving data from SELECT statements; retrieving data from stored procedures; working with multiple result sets; working with JOIN products; creating updatable DataAdapters and TableAdapters; modifying TableAdapter Fill methods
• Execute an asynchronous query. May include but is not limited to: handling asynchronous events
• Handle special data types. May include but is not limited to: Binary Large Objects (BLOBs); Filestream, Spatial, Table Value Parameters
• Query data sources by using LINQ. May include but is not limited to: extended method; CLR delegate; lambda expressions; classes of the System.LINQ.Expressions namespace
• Manage exceptions when selecting data. May include but is not limited to: identifying and resolving syntax errors; security exceptions

• Manage transactions. May include but is not limited to: selecting an appropriate transaction isolation level; participating in local transactions; participating in distributed transactions; using declarative transactions
• Manage data integrity. May include but is not limited to: cascading updates or cascading deletes; auto number management; server-generated value management; client-side data validation; business rules, constraints
• Update data. May include but is not limited to: update data by using stored procedures; update dataSets to data source; managing concurrency
• Manage exceptions when modifying data. May include but is not limited to: resolve exceptions from data integrity, constraint, or referential integrity violations; data locking conflicts; data collision issues
• Transform data by using LINQ. May include but is not limited to: aggregation operators; JOIN operator, QUERY operator, LIKE, etc.

• Monitor event notifications. May include but is not limited to: implement notifications by using SqlDependency or SqlNotificationRequest
• Cache data. May include but is not limited to: SqlCacheDependency, Local Data Cache
• Manage update conflicts between online data and offline data.
• Partition data for synchronization.
• Implement Synchronization Services. May include but is not limited to: SyncAgent, SyncTable, ClientSyncProvider, ServerSyncProvider, SyncAdapter

• Manage occasionally connected data.
• Programmatically create data objects. May include but is not limited to: DataTable; DataSet
• Work with untyped DataSets and DataTables. May include but is not limited to: populating a DataSet or DataTable
• Expose a DataTableReader from a DataTable or from a DataSet.
• Work with strongly typed DataSets and DataTables.

• Define and implement an Entity Data Model. May include but is not limited to: mapping schemas and storage metadata; EDM Generator
• Query data by using Object Services. May include but is not limited to: querying data as objects and shaping results; working with objects; managing the Object Context; customizing objects
• Map data by using the Entity SQL Language. May include but is not limited to: manually define mapping files; execute an Entity SQL Query by using EntityCommand
• Access entity data by using the EntityClient Provider. May include but is not limited to: managing EntityConnection; creating EntityCommand; executing a query by using EntityDataReader; managing EntityTransaction

MS 6464 - Visual Studio 2008: ADO.NET 3.5