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Steven HarmanSteven Harman is a passionate developer who believes that writing great software isn't just a job, its a craft.

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Get Northwind, the Database That Won't Die, On SQL Server 2005

I am getting ready to put together a few sample applications to show off some of my favorite JavaScript libraries and demonstrate just how easy they make building AJAX enabled web applications. To simplify the process I was planning to use a little SubSonic magic to wire up REST interface to my database. But what to what database?

Hello Northwind!

Well the Northwind database, naturally! Problem is, I use SQL Server 2005 on both my main dev box and my laptop and it doesn’t include the sample databases. Actually, that’s entirely not true.

Hello AdventureWorks...?

As of SQL Server 2005 the new Microsoft provided sample applications are built against the AdventureWorks database. So when you install SQL Server 2005 and it’s sample databases, that’s what you get... no Northwind to be found. Fear not!

Likely due to Redmond’s obsession, to the point of insanity, with backwards compatibility you can still download the Northwind and Pubs databases. The download is just an installer that unpacks a few files to C:\SQL Server 2000 Sample Databases\.

Installing Northwind

Run the installer and then browse to the above location. Once you get there you have 2 options:

  1. Attach the pre-build databases (the .mdf and .ldf files) to your SQL Server instance
  2. Run the .sql scripts against your SQL Server instance to build out the databases - complete with data!

Personally I’m a fan of running the .sql scripts as it just feels more natural to me, but do what makes you happy.

Now... back to building out those sample apps!

What others are saying.

# re: Get Northwind, the Database That Won't Die, On SQL Server 2005
Gravatar Zack
Sep 19, 2007
That sounds really cool. What JS library are you using?
# re: Get Northwind, the Database That Won't Die, On SQL Server 2005
Gravatar Steven Harman
Sep 19, 2007
I'm just throwing together some quick examples for a Tech Session I'll be doing at work. I've been a big fan of PrototypeJS + Script.aculo.us for a while, but Kevin Fricovsky has turned me on to jQuery as of late... so I'm also doing the samples to investigate/compare that library.

Oh, and I've also used the asp.net AJAX Client Library a little bit too - but it's not nearly as powerful nor fully featured as the others.
# re: Get Northwind, the Database That Won't Die, On SQL Server 2005
Gravatar Rob Conery
Sep 19, 2007
FWIW we give you the scripts to Northwind in the SubSonicCentral website (res/Northwind). We even give you the MySQL version.

We love you.
# re: Get Northwind, the Database That Won't Die, On SQL Server 2005
Gravatar Steven Harman
Sep 25, 2007
@Rob I didn't know that... but it sure would have saved me some time if I had! :) Thanks for the update buddy.
# Geek Smatterings: 300 Comments, Silos, Digg pics, Northwind
Gravatar Dave Burke
Sep 28, 2007
THAT STEVE JOBS SURE CAN INSPIRE A COMMENT THREAD. I don't have an iPhone, but if I did I wouldn't
# Geek Smatterings: 300 Comments, Silos, Digg pics, Northwind
Gravatar Dave Burke Everyday Blog
Dec 01, 2007
THAT STEVE JOBS SURE CAN INSPIRE A COMMENT THREAD. I don't have an iPhone, but if I did I wouldn't
# 
Gravatar Dave Burke
Jul 14, 2008
Geek Smatterings: 300 Comments, Silos, Digg pics, Northwind
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