Working with Azure SQL Database Using External Tools

In this step, we’ll explore our ability to access a database with external tools such as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio for Windows. We’ll also be introduced to a few types of data relationships.

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (Windows)

Applications like this allow you to connect to your databases from outside the Azure browser environment and view the data relationships and other derivative information about the database in a visual representation.

Below are some alternatives for non-Windows users.

OSX

• Azure Data Studio – Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• DBeaver – This is the top-rated alternative on Alternative.to.
• MAMP – MAMP has a free and paid version, and both Windows & Mac OSX applications.

Linux

• Azure Data Studio – Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Relationship Types

Graeme refers to One to Many, One to One, and Many to Many relationships. These are often shown as 1:N, 1:1, and N:N, respectively.

• One to One (1:1)
  • This means that a record is associated with one and only one record in another table.
• One to Many (1:N)
  • One record in a table can be associated with one or more records in another table.
• Many to Many (N:N)
  • A many-to-many relationship occurs when multiple records in a table are associated with multiple records in another table.
  • Relational database systems usually don’t allow you to implement a direct many-to-many relationship between two tables.

Note: Why not explore more about JOIN, the new SQL command introduced in this step? You can find more information on it at W3Schools.