Overview

Language(s):	English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified)
Audience(s):	Developers
Technology:	Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Type:	Proctored Exam

Exam Topics Covered

Questions that contain code will be presented in either VB or C#. Candidates can select one of these languages when they start the exam.

Audience Profile

Candidates for this exam use Microsoft Visual Studio to develop data-access portions of applications. Candidates should have a minimum of two to three years of experience developnig Web, Windows, or distributed applications by using the Microsoft .NET Framework. Candidates should have a thorough understanding of relational database concepts and should have a minimum of one to two years of experience using Microsoft SQL Server and other relational database management systems, such as Oracle, DB2, and MySQL.
In addition, candidates should have a good grasp of the following:

Structured Query Language (SQL)
Stored procedures
Data-bound controls

Credit Toward Certification

Exam 70-561: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Application Development counts as credit toward the following certification(s):

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Applications
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5

Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.

Skills Measured

Connecting to Data Sources (12%)

Manage connection strings.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective may include but is not limited to: System.Data.Common namespace classes
Handle and diagnose database connection exceptions.

This objective may include but is not limited to: implementing try/catch handlers

Selecting and Querying Data (22%)

Build command objects.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective may include but is not limited to: handling asynchronous events
Handle special data types.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Binary Large Objects (BLOBs); Filestream, Spatial, Table Value Parameters
Query data sources by using LINQ.

This objective 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.

This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying and resolving syntax errors; security exceptions

Modifying Data (24%)

Manage transactions.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective may include but is not limited to: aggregation operators; JOIN operator, QUERY operator, LIKE, etc.

Synchronizing Data (15%)

Monitor event notifications.

This objective may include but is not limited to: implement notifications by using SqlDependency or SqlNotificationRequest
Cache data.

This objective 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.

This objective may include but is not limited to: SyncAgent, SyncTable, ClientSyncProvider, ServerSyncProvider, SyncAdapter

Working with Disconnected Data (16%)

Manage occasionally connected data.
Programmatically create data objects.

This objective may include but is not limited to: DataTable; DataSet
Work with untyped DataSets and DataTables.

This objective 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.

Object Relational Mapping by Using the Entity Framework (11%)

Define and implement an Entity Data Model.

This objective may include but is not limited to: mapping schemas and storage metadata; EDM Generator
Query data by using Object Services.

This objective 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.

This objective 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.

This objective may include but is not limited to: managing EntityConnection; creating EntityCommand; executing a query by using EntityDataReader; managing EntityTransaction