Microsoft Certifications

Get Ready for the ADO.NET 3.5 MCTS Exam

This exam is due to be in beta very shortly.  Sorry no exact dates just yet so don't ask.  :-) 

Watch your MCP Flash and/or forums for the invitation.

But, are you ready for it?  How do you know?  Be certain.  Have a look at what will be covered on this exam below.  NOTE: this is an excerpt from the prep guide that will be published on the web site in the next couple of days.  We thought you might want to get an earlier look at it though.

NOTE: Prep guide is now available for this exam, http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-561.mspx

Credit toward certification

When you pass Exam 70-561: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Application Development, you earn credit toward the following certification:

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Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Applications

Skills measured by Exam 70-561

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

Selecting and Querying Data (22 percent)

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; etrieving 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

Modifying Data (24 percent)

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; 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.

Synchronizing Data (15 percent)

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

Working with Disconnected Data (16 percent)

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, 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 percent)

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

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.