From Ranking to Rolling Totals: Windowing Functions Explained

Proposed session for SQLBits 2026

TL; DR

Learn how to use SQL Server windowing functions to create rankings, running totals, and rolling averages. This session makes complex queries simple and gives you practical skills you can use right away.

Session Details

If you write SELECT statements in SQL Server, windowing functions are a game changer. They make queries faster, cleaner, and far more powerful. In this session, we’ll break down the theory, show you the process visually, and demonstrate the output. From ROW_NUMBER and RANK to LEAD and LAG, you’ll learn how to add totals, sub-totals, variances, and rolling averages with ease. Whether you need running totals or comparisons to previous rows, you’ll leave knowing how to write windowing functions that make it happen.

3 things you'll get out of this session

A clear understanding of what windowing functions are and why they matter. Practical techniques for using ROW_NUMBER, RANK, LEAD, LAG, and more. The ability to create running totals, rolling averages, and comparisons with confidence.

James McGillivray's other proposed sessions for 2026

5 Design Patterns for Better Looking Reports - 2026

Seconds to Save Lives: Real World Real-Time Intelligence with Fabric - 2026

Solving Real Business Challenges with DAX - 2026

Super Simple Fabric Workloads Make You Feel Precocious - 2026

The Force Awakens: Charting Your Career Path with the Data Community - 2026

Turning Data Into Stories People Remember - 2026

Understanding DAX Through Pictures - Part 1 - 2026

Understanding DAX Through Pictures - Part 2 - 2026

YMCA: You Must Consider Accessibility - 2026

Same Words, Different Worlds: Communication Across Domains, Roles and Ranks - 2026

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