Northwind or AdventureWorks

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Northwind or AdventureWorks

JC-3113

SSCrazy Eights

Points: 8371
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June 29, 2009 at 12:03 pm

#206105

Hi Folks
i finally got SP2 install for SQL Server 2005 Developer. I want to thank those of you who assisted.
I am at the next stage where I want to instal the sample databases and I have been reading a lot of forums where folks are also haveing issues finding Northwind and other database samples.
I have downloaded (SqlServerSamples_x64.msi), but it seems that all it contains is AdventureWorks.
Is this what I should be using for SQL Server 2005 ?
Is there a place to download Northwind and other database samples ?
I looked at
http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=4004
and folks did not seem to be very happy in what they wre getting, so I am confused as to what samples I should ge using
Thanks
Jim

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Florian Reischl SSC-Dedicated Points: 37301 More actions · Answer 1

AdventureWorks is the better choice in my opinion. It's more complex than Northwind but it covers much more features of SQL Server 2005 and many samples in BOL (Books On Line) work with AdventureWorks

Mayank Khatri SSCertifiable Points: 7984 More actions · Answer 2

JC (6/29/2009)
Hi Folks
and folks did not seem to be very happy in what they wre getting, so I am confused as to what samples I should ge using
Thanks
Jim

So why R the folks not happy with Adventure works?

JC-3113 SSCrazy Eights Points: 8371 More actions · Answer 3

It was not AdventureWorks so much. They were expecting to get Northwind DB sample and did not get it by downloading the executable so they were a wee bit perturbed, it seemd as some of the comments were not very nice. That's all. I did not get it also, so that's why I was asking about the two.

Thanks

Jim

Gift Peddie SSC Guru Points: 73570 More actions · Answer 4

Check the thread below I have attached a current copy of Northwind 2008 in .bak you still need to alter NText and Image column to NVarchar(max) and Vabinary(max).

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic672990-263-3.aspx

Kind regards,
Gift Peddie

JC-3113 SSCrazy Eights Points: 8371 More actions · Answer 5

Thanks Gift Peddie

is it 32-bit or 64-bit or does it matter ?

Thanks

Jim

Gift Peddie SSC Guru Points: 73570 More actions · Answer 6

I am not sure if it is relevant but you are running 2005 so you cannot use that .bak because it is for 2008 I have an MDF here so I will attach it to 2005 and post a 2005 .bak for you.

Kind regards,
Gift Peddie

JC-3113 SSCrazy Eights Points: 8371 More actions · Answer 7

JC-3113

SSCrazy Eights

Points: 8371

June 29, 2009 at 3:01 pm

#1017229

Thanks Very Much Gift Peddie

Jim

Gift Peddie SSC Guru Points: 73570 More actions · Answer 8

Here is NorthWind for 2005 you still need to ALTER NText to Nvachar(max) and Image to Vabinary(max) just right click on the tables and go to modify and you should change it. And yes it is in compatibility 90 for 2005.

Kind regards,
Gift Peddie

Florian Reischl SSC-Dedicated Points: 37301 More actions · Answer 9

Gift Peddie (6/29/2009)
Check the thread below I have attached a current copy of Northwind 2008 in .bak you still need to alter NText and Image column to NVarchar(max) and Vabinary(max).
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic672990-263-3.aspx

Thanks, too! 😉

Sometimes a small Northwind is simpler than AW for quick tests.

Gift Peddie SSC Guru Points: 73570 More actions · Answer 10

Florian Reischl (6/29/2009)
Gift Peddie (6/29/2009)
Check the thread below I have attached a current copy of Northwind 2008 in .bak you still need to alter NText and Image column to NVarchar(max) and Vabinary(max).
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic672990-263-3.aspx
Thanks, too! 😉
Sometimes a small Northwind is simpler than AW for quick tests.

Flo,

I am glad I could help.

🙂

Kind regards,
Gift Peddie

Mayank Khatri SSCertifiable Points: 7984 More actions · Answer 11

Thanks from me too. It will be nice to have both the databases.

Gift Peddie SSC Guru Points: 73570 More actions · Answer 12

Mayank Khatri (6/29/2009)
Thanks from me too. It will be nice to have both the databases.

I am glad I could help.

🙂

Kind regards,
Gift Peddie

Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398882 More actions · Answer 13

There is also a lite version of AdventureWorks that includes simpler structures and less data, so that's another alternative (not better, just different) to Northwind. There's also an AdventureWorksDW that shows dimensional modeling of AW data.

I know there's lots of complaints about AdventureWorks, but I use it all the time for examples in books, & articles & presentations. It may not be perfect, but it's pretty good.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt

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JC-3113 SSCrazy Eights Points: 8371 More actions · Answer 14

Thanks Grant

I was wonderig what all these databases were:

AdventureWorks_Data.mdf

AdventureWorksDW_Data.mdf

AdventureWorksLT_Data.mdf

I don't suppose there are any instructions on how to see them in SQL Server Management Studio

Apparently there is more to installing them besides just running the executable

Thanks

Jim