The sample databases from Microsoft give you plenty of opportunities to work with different techniques for both OLTP and data warehouse and even familiarize yourself with Azure without having to come up with your own data. What Are You Waiting For?ĭatabase professionals, this is your chance to start exploring the features and functionality that SQL Server has to offer. The data set is large enough that it’s possible to make use of these features but it’s still small enough that you won’t need enterprise grade hardware to accomplish these things in a reasonable amount of time. While it’s not the biggest database (my copy is around 1.6GB), ContosoRetailDW provides a large enough data set where aspiring database professionals can really start to push the limits of a local SQL Server.ĬontosoRetailDW is also a good place to try out Enterprise Edition features like table partitioning and ColumnStore indexes. The Contoso Retail DW data set is several times the size of AdventureWorks and comes as a pre-built star schema. The AdventureWorks data sets are a great starting place, but the data set size doesn’t pose many challenges. Let’s say you want to do something a bit more adventurous and you want to branch out into the bigger BI world that Microsoft has to offer. If you’re just getting started, those are a good option (especially since there’s an SSAS tutorial available). There are some light weight data warehouse options available, but they are still relatively small.

If you want to deal with international databases, pick the CS version.Ī full list of AdventureWorks OLTP options is available at.

The CS lets you know it’s a case sensitive option. Protip: There’s usually a CS option for each of these. If you want something for Azure, use the script file to create the database and deploy data. AdventureWorks 2012 OLTP Script – these scripts will create AdventureWorks from scratch.įor a local database, go with one of the first two options – just drop the files in their appropriate folders, attach the database, and then you’re off to the races.AdventureWorks 2012 data and log file – there’s an MDF and an LDF zipped up in a file.You’ll need to drop it into a folder and tell SSMS to create a log file. AdventureWorks 2012 Data File – this is just an MDF file.To get started, database professionals should download one of the following: There are a number of downloads available for AdventureWorks, but only a few that matter to the OLTP crowd. All that aside, AdventureWorks is the first place that database professionals should go to get started practicing their skills. How Microsoft managed to cram all of the relevant SQL Server features into a 215MB database is beyond me. It’s not very exciting data and it’s not terribly big data, but it gives developers a highly normalized schema to work with for testing different querying techniques. Brightly colored sample databases for everyone! Introducing the AdventureWorks OLTP Sample DatabaseĪdventureWorks is a transactional database for a fictional bicycle and outdoor supply company. You can’t take a copy of your production database home with you, so what can you do? Thankfully, the fine people Microsoft have put together a set of databases that you can download and play with. If you’re like me, you might even take that practice outside of the workplace and do a bit of homework on the side.

The tables having the prefix Dim are suited to be used as Dimension tables, and tables having prefix Fact are suited to be used as Fact tables.The best way to improve your skills as a database professional is to practice. You should find something similar to the below screenshot.Įxpand the database higlighted above and check out the different Dim and Fact tables in this database. After the database in installed, open SQL Server Management Studio to verify the databases that were installed. Point the installer to the SQL Server instance that you are using, and install the database. This tutorial expects that the reader is using SQL Server 2008 R2, and all the exercises will be using this version of SQL Server.Īfter downloading, start the installer and you should get a screen similar to the one below.ĪdventureWorks Data Warehouse 2008R2 is the database we need for our exercises. To install the AdventureWorks database, navigate to the codeplex ( ) site and download the MSI for the version of SQL Server you are using. Developing a data mart is out of the scope of this tutorial, so we will use this sample database. We can use this database as a launchpad to start our SSAS project. This database contains dimension and fact tables with prepopulated data. Once you click on the above link it will open the following download AdventureWorks sample databases page. Open any web browser and search for AdventureWorks Database Download and click on the below Microsoft link. We need to use the AdventureWorks DW 2008 R2 database for our cube design and development. Let us see how to download the AdventureWorks database. AdventureWorks is the sample database available from Microsoft for different purposes as well as different SQL Server versions.

Adventureworks database 2012 tutorial