SQL Server Samples : Microsoft

AdventureWorks Community Sample Databases available for SQL Azure

bonniefe — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:06:00 GMT

It is a delight to announce the availability of the AdventureWorks Community Sample Databases for SQL Azure. You can download the scripts and data files from CodePlex. To install the databases on your SQL Azure server just follow the directions on the release page at CodePlex or in the ReadMe.htm file which is included in the zip file.

The scripts and data files in the zip file can be used to create the data warehouse (DW) and light (LT) sample databases in a SQL Azure server without SQL Server or Visual Studio being installed on the machine performing the installation. Currently the AdventureWorks OLTP database is not supported for SQL Azure and is not included in the zip file.

Code Samples for SQL Server 2008R2 November CTP available

bonniefe — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:36:00 GMT

It is a delight to announce that SQL Server 2008R2 November CTP3 code samples are now posted to CodePlex at http://sqlserversamples.codeplex.com/. The wiki pages have been updated to reflect the availability of the new sample code installers. These installers join the already released AdventureWorks Sample Databases for KJ on CodePlex and complete the sample work for SQL Server 2008R2 November CTP.

Thanks for your contribution to creating a vibrant developer community for SQL Server.

--Bonnie

SQL Server 2008R2 Sample Databases Updated

bonniefe — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:13:00 GMT

The AdventureWorks sample databases for SQL Server 2008R2 have been updated and are available at http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=24854. This version includes both the AdventureWorks 2008R2 schema and data, and the original AdventureWorks schema and data which shipped with SQL Server 2005. With this one installation package you get the databases you'll need to run most samples, and also the databases you can use to explore the new features in SQL Server 2008. Several bugs have been fixed including one community submitted one. The installer now functions better when there are multiple instances of SQL Server with different SQL Server versions. Please try the latest installer out and let us know what you think on the Community Sample forums at http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-us/sqlserversamples/. Thanks!

--Bonnie

AdventureWorks 2008R2 November CTP is now live on CodePlex!

bonniefe — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:31:00 GMT

The AdventureWorks 2008R2 November CTP sample databases are now live on CodePlex at http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=24854! This is a beta quality release. We’re still addressing some relatively minor issues that came up during testing, but we feel that the sample databases will be very helpful to have now that SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP is available on MSDN, so we’re publishing what we have so far. We’ll be addressing some issues and looking carefully at feedback as we work our next update for SQL Server 2008R2.

Here are the key improvements we have delivered with this release compared with SQL Server 2008:

· All dates have been incremented by 4 years. This is a requested change and helps keep the data looking relevant.

· Product descriptions in the data warehouse have been localized into 73 new languages. A new table has been added to store this new localized content.

· Scripts have been updated to use new names for the databases (AdventureWorks2008R2, AdventureWorksDW2008R2, AdventureWorksLT2008R2) so that the updated databases can live side by side with the SQL Server 2008 sample databases.

· A new approach to installing the databases has been implemented. This approach provides more targeted feedback when issues (such as an incorrectly configured server) arise and provides links to detailed help. It addresses some issues folks have had with previous installers.

Please let us know what you think of the new installer. If folks feel it is better than the previous installer then we can reissue the SQL Server 2008 sample databases using this same technology. Note that you can install the SQL Server 2008R2 sample databases on SQL Server 2008 if you wish.

SQL Server 2008 (Katmai) October 2009 Samples Refresh 3 Available

bonniefe — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:08:00 GMT

SQL Server 2008 (Katmai) October 2009 Samples Refresh 3 is now available.

SQL Server 2008 (Katmai) Product Samples Refresh 3 is now live at http://sqlserversamples.codeplex.com/. There are numerous bug fixes and a new sample, RSPermissions which demonstrates how to write an application which manages Reporting Services permissions via the Reporting Services Web Service API. There is also a refresh of the AdventureWorks family of sample databases at http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/. There are no changes to the databases themselves, but the installers have been improved.

SQL Server 2008R2 (KJ) samples and sample databases are not yet available. We are working on that and we'll announce when they are ready in this blog.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this release.

VS/SSMS settings and the Fault Retry functionality

bonniefe — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:20:00 GMT

Doug Holland (a C# MVP) has opened two work items in Connect. The first one is about being able to share settings between VS and SSMS for those of us who do both DBA and developer work. You shouldn't have to specify font, color, or tab settings twice, or at least you should be able to import settings. The second one is a request to put the functionality in the Fault Retry Provider sample into SQL Server and ADO.NET. I think that is a wonderful idea. I've voted for both items, and added a comment to the second one. I encourage you all to take a look at these and vote if you agree. Thanks!

SSMS settings import / export.
https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=429646

SQL Fault Retry Provider
https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=429652

The transition to community based development

bonniefe — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:49:00 GMT

The times they are a changin'

When I first started working on code to share with the SQL Community that code shipped in the box with very little community participation. Over the years my job has changed and so has the processes we use to create open source samples and tools that we share with you. So much has changed, much of it in the last few months. We now keep our master sources for all samples on CodePlex itself, rather than publishing the source code to CodePlex. We now also keep all our bugs on CodePlex as work items. Instead of scattering forums across many different CodePlex projects, we now have a single samples forum (http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-us/sqlserversamples/threads) where all open source issues related to SQL Server can be and are being discussed. I'm very excited about these changes because they raise the level of interaction among many diverse community members both within and outside of Microsoft, and in my book that is a very good thing. This approach also provides much more transparency into what we are doing, and gives community members much more opportunity (if you choose to participate) in what we do together.

Thank you all very much for your help in building a vibrant SQL Server community.

New step-by-step instructions for installing sample databases

bonniefe — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:02:00 GMT

The new sample database installers which shipped at the end of October 2008 greatly simplify the installation process for the sample databases. For one thing, there are only three installers to choose from instead of tens of installers. Just pick the install that is right for the architecture of the machine you'll be installing on (x86, x64, or IA64). Step by step installation instructions can be found at here.

The new installers create the databases using scripts and CSV files rather than attaching MDF/LDF files or restoring backup files. This means that the databases will be created with the default collation of the server rather than us picking one or the other for you. Because they create all the sample databases, you don't have so many installers to pick from. Things should just work. Thanks for your patience while we've been working out the issues with the installers. Please let us know what you think about them.

October 2008 SQL Server Samples Refresh

bonniefe — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:50:00 GMT

We've completed an October refresh of the SQL Server 2008 samples (http://CodePlex.com/SqlServerSamples). We've heard from you that the install experience for the databases was too complex and error prone. In this refresh we're providing a much simpler install experience with a lot fewer database installers to choose from. Please let us know how you like this new approach.

If you haven't been to the CodePlex SQL Server samples portal page in a while it's worth another look. We've got lots of community based projects going on.

Thanks for trying out SQL Server 2008 and 2005 samples. We look forward to working on them with you!

SQL Server 2008 Samples are here!

bonniefe — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:44:00 GMT

SQL Server 2008 samples are now available at http://codeplex.com/SqlServerSamples. That's our portal page to many different product and community projects on CodePlex with samples for SQL Server. On the releases tab of the portal page you'll find installers for downloading all the code samples. If you're looking for the sample databases for SQL Server 2008, you'll find the project at http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/. Please look over the content on that page carefully before proceeding to the releases tab for the sample database project (or navigate to http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx) to download the sample databases and sample database scripts. We have a lot of sample database installers and now zip files for those who have trouble with using the MSI based installers, or who would prefer to inspect the contents before installation. The advantage of using the MSI based installers is that they place the files in an appropriate directory (by default), optionally create shortcuts, and optionally install the databases. A change from SQL Server 2005 and early SQL Server 2008 CTPs is that we now install database backups which are then optionally restored rather than delivering MDF/LDF files which were attached. The backups greatly simplify the deployment of some of the new, exciting features we've put into the v2008 AdventureWorks OLTP sample database which demonstrates cool new features only found in SQL Server 2008. The v2005 sample databases are compatible with the versions we shipped with SQL Server 2005 which can be important if you are running a sample which hasn't been upgraded to use the new schemas we're shipping in the v2008 sample databases. The v2005 and v2008 sample databases use different database names so you should be able to tell by looking at the USE statement in scripts or or the connection string in the sample as to which version of the sample database to use. For example, the v2005 OLTP sample database is named AdventureWorks and the v2008 version of the sample database is named AdventureWorks2008. You can install v2005 and v2008 side by side. There are schema diagrams published which you can use to see the new schema designs. Note that although the v2005 installers are schema compatible with the schemas we shipped for SQL Server 2005, they are not binary compatible. The sample database installers for SQL Server 2005 are still available, and they are located at http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=4004. There is lots more to say about all the great community and product samples for SQL Server 2008. More blog posts to come!

SQL Server 2008 RC0 is here!

bonniefe — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:43:00 GMT

SQL Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 (RC0) has shipped! You can get RC0 from http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/trial-software.aspx. After you've installed SQL Server 2008, try out the latest batch of samples and sample databases at http://CodePlex.com/SqlServerSamples. New for this release is the rest of the AdventureWorks 2008 family of sample databases including AWAS2008 (the analysis services database) and AWLT2008 (the light weight AdventureWorks OLTP database for 2008). There are also some new OLEDB and ODBC samples.

At CodePlex you can browse the source code for samples without downloading, and then download just the samples from the particular sample area you want. Or, if you like, you can download all of the sample code all at once. The sample databases can be downloaded from http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx. You may notice our installers are sporting a new look and a new UI. We hope these installers will be the easiest ones to use yet.

As we get close to completing SQL Server 2008 we begin to naturally look forward to the next thing. If you have input on where you would like more samples or if you have some ideas around SQL Server and community software development I hope you'll add a comment to this blog entry. If there is some way we can help you be more effective in your job please let us know.

The AdventureWorks 2008 Family of Sample Databases

bonniefe — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:43:00 GMT

There is a new AdventureWorks family of sample databases available for SQL Server 2008 February CTP at https://www.codeplex.com/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ProjectName=MSFTDBProdSamples. The AdventureWorks 2008 family of databases demonstrates some of the new features of SQL Server 2008. This family of databases can only be used with SQL Server 2008 and will not install successfully for earlier versions of SQL Server. The original AdventureWorks family continues to ship for SQL Server 2008, so you have a choice of staying with the compatible schema or trying out the new SQL Server 2008 features depending on which installers you download. The installers for the AdventureWorks 2008 family all have 2008 in their names. See the link above for additional details.

Right now most samples are compatible with the AdventureWorks family not the AdventureWorks 2008 family. As samples are migrated to the new schema the readmes for the samples will be updated and sample and snippets scripts will have statements like USE AdventureWorks2008 in them instead of USE AdventureWorks.

Take SQL Server 2008 July CTP for a spin

bonniefe — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 02:06:00 GMT

SQL Server 2008 July CTP is now available at https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/content/content.aspx?ContentID=5395. The samples for the July CTP are available at http://codeplex.com/SqlServerSamples along with your favorite SQL Server 2005 SP2 samples.

Some folks have been confused about how to download the samples either from the portal page or from various projects. You just click on the Releases tab and you'll find MSIs which are the best way to download the sample code and sample databases. On the portal project (http://codeplex.com/SqlServerSamples) the MSIs contain all the sample code for all technologies. If you go to a particular project page listed on the home wiki page of the portal project, the Releases tab will contain installers for that particular technology. For example, the Releases tab on the Analysis Services product sample project will have MSIs which just contain Analysis Services samples. The same goes for all the rest of the other technology areas. The AdventureWorks sample database project (http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples) also has a Releases tab, and the MSIs there can be used to dowload the various kinds of sample databases. There are always separate installers for each hardware architecture (x86, x64, IA64). Select the installer which matches the type of hardware you are using. For the database samples there are different kinds of sample databases to choose from (OLTP, OLAP/DW, Light (LT), Scripts). One thing that's different about the SQL Server 2008 database installers is that they attach the database for you (except the scripts installers which are for building the database yourself if you want). For more information about how to use CodePlex take a look at http://www.codeplex.com/SqlServerSamples/Wiki/View.aspx?title=HowToUseCodePlex&referringTitle=Home. Thanks!

But wait, there's more!

bonniefe — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:19:00 GMT

Today the next release of SQL Server was announced: SQL Server code name "Katmai" or SQL Server 2008. You can download the June 2007 CTP from here: https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/content/content.aspx?ContentID=5395. As always your humble samples team is on top of the situation and has Katmai June 2007 CTP samples ready for you with a brand new layout for our Wiki pages. Please check us out at http://CodePlex.com/SqlServerSamples. Don't worry the SQL Server 2005 samples are still available and we will continue to support them as we work on new samples for Katmai.

We welcome and encourage you to send us feedback on either connect or CodePlex and to blog and write forum posts about this new release and our samples. While there aren't currently a lot of new samples right now for Katmai, we hope to have some new ones to talk about in upcoming CTP releases.

SQL Server 2005 SP2 is Here!

bonniefe — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:59:00 GMT

SQL Server 2005 SP2 released to the web today. You can find it here: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/sp2.mspx

Note that the serivce pack does not update the samples. You'll need to download the updated samples separately from here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=e719ecf7-9f46-4312-af89-6ad8702e4e6e&displaylang=en. There is a link from the SP2 page to this samples download. Be sure to delete and then uninstall old sample databases before installing the new ones.

There are a lot of bug fixes in this web refresh of the samples, plus there are several new samples. There are five new samples too. The information on the new samples, and all the old ones is in the samples readme file here: http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/8/6/d865cf0c-c44b-401b-b426-b3bf5c628112/SQLServerDatabasesAndSamplesOverview.htm

There is also a new member of the AdventureWorks family of sample databases, AdventureWorksLT. This is a highly simplified and somewhat denormalized version of the Adventure Works OLTP database focused exclusively on a simple sales scenario. There will be more information about this latest member of the sample database family soon.