Sample Databases for SQL Server
Microsoft provides some sample databases to use to experiment with your code; because you wouldn’t dare query against your live customer data with untested code right?
Samples
http://www.codeplex.com/SqlServerSamples
SQL Server Database Examples
http://www.codeplex.com/SqlServerSamples#databases
I use the Northwind tables from theĀ SQL Server 2000 Sample DBs.
How to Install the Northwind Sample Database
- Unzip the sample database files you just downloaded
- Open SQL Server Management Studio (Express if you don’t have the full version) and connect to your SQL Server instance
- Create a new database called Northwind by right clicking Database and select New Database
- Go to File/Open, navigate to where you unzipped the download
- Select instnwnd.sql
- Click Execute to start the import
- It will take ~1 minute to complete

[...] You will need some table data to query against. I am using the Northwind sample database. You can get links to download a copy of the sample database and instructions how to install from here. [...]