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WideWorldImporters Sample Database for SQL Server: Download and Tutorial

  • reaunenbiborfo
  • Aug 3, 2023
  • 7 min read


How to Download Dummy Database for SQL




If you are learning SQL or want to practice your SQL skills, you may need some data to work with. However, creating your own data from scratch can be time-consuming and tedious. That's why you may want to use a dummy database for SQL, which is a pre-populated database that contains realistic but not real data. In this article, we will show you what a dummy database is, where to find one, and how to restore it to your SQL Server instance.


What is a Dummy Database?




Definition and purpose of a dummy database




A dummy database is a database that contains fake or mock data that resembles real data in terms of structure, format, and values. A dummy database is not meant to be used for production purposes, but rather for testing, development, or learning purposes. For example, if you want to learn how to use SQL commands to query data from multiple tables, you can use a dummy database that has several related tables with different types of data.




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Benefits of using a dummy database for SQL practice




There are many benefits of using a dummy database for SQL practice, such as:


  • You can save time and effort by not having to create your own data.



  • You can work with large and complex datasets that simulate real-world scenarios.



  • You can test your SQL queries and see the results immediately.



  • You can avoid data privacy and security issues by not using real or sensitive data.



  • You can improve your SQL skills and confidence by solving various data challenges.



Where to Find Dummy Database for SQL




AdventureWorks sample databases from Microsoft




One of the most popular sources of dummy database for SQL is the AdventureWorks sample databases from Microsoft. These are databases that contain data about a fictional company that sells bicycles and related products. The AdventureWorks databases are designed for various types of workloads, such as online transaction processing (OLTP), data warehousing (DW), and lightweight (LT). You can download the AdventureWorks databases from the .


Mockaroo random data generator and API mocking tool




If you want to generate your own custom dummy data, you can use Mockaroo, which is a random data generator and API mocking tool. Mockaroo lets you create up to 1,000 rows of realistic test data in CSV, JSON, SQL, and Excel formats. You can choose from over 140 predefined data types or create your own using artificial intelligence (AI). You can also design your own mock APIs and test them with Mockaroo. You can access Mockaroo from the .


SQL Server sample database from SQL Server Tutorial




Another source of dummy database for SQL is the SQL Server sample database from SQL Server Tutorial. This is a simple database that contains data about customers, products, orders, staffs, and suppliers of a bike store. The SQL Server sample database is easy to use and suitable for beginners who want to learn the basics of SQL. You can download the SQL Server sample database from the .


How to Restore Dummy Database for SQL




Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)




One way to restore a dummy database for SQL is by using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), which is a graphical user interface (GUI) tool for managing SQL Server instances. To restore a dummy database in SS MS, you need to follow these steps:


  • Download the dummy database file (.bak) from the source website and save it to a folder on your computer.



  • Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.



  • Right-click on the Databases node in the Object Explorer and select Restore Database.



  • In the Restore Database dialog box, select Device as the source and click on the browse button.



  • In the Select backup devices dialog box, click on Add and locate the dummy database file (.bak) that you downloaded.



  • Click on OK to select the file and then click on OK again to return to the Restore Database dialog box.



  • In the Restore Database dialog box, select a name for the dummy database in the Destination section and check the Restore option in the Select a page section.



  • Click on OK to start the restore process and wait for it to complete.



You should see a message that says "The database was restored successfully" in the Messages tab. You can now expand the Databases node and see the dummy database in the list.


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Using Transact-SQL (T-SQL)




Another way to restore a dummy database for SQL is by using Transact-SQL (T-SQL), which is a programming language for interacting with SQL Server. To restore a dummy database in T-SQL, you need to execute a RESTORE DATABASE statement with the appropriate parameters. For example, if you want to restore the AdventureWorks2019 database from a file named AdventureWorks2019.bak, you can use this statement:


RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2019 FROM DISK = 'C:\AdventureWorks2019.bak' WITH REPLACE;


The RESTORE DATABASE statement specifies the name of the dummy database and the location of the backup file. The WITH REPLACE option overwrites any existing database with the same name. You can execute this statement in SSMS, Azure Data Studio, or any other tool that supports T-SQL. You should see a message that says "Processed XXX pages for database 'AdventureWorks2019', file 'AdventureWorks2019' on file 1." in the Messages tab. You can now query the dummy database using T-SQL commands.


Using Azure Data Studio




A third way to restore a dummy database for SQL is by using Azure Data Studio, which is a cross-platform tool for working with SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics. To restore a dummy database in Azure Data Studio, you need to follow these steps:


  • Download the dummy database file (.bak) from the source website and save it to a folder on your computer.



  • Open Azure Data Studio and connect to your SQL Server instance.



  • Right-click on the Databases node in the Servers view and select Restore.



  • In the Restore dialog box, select Backup file as the source type and click on the browse button.



  • In the Open File dialog box, locate and select the dummy database file (.bak) that you downloaded.



  • Click on Open to select the file and then click on OK to return to the Restore dialog box.



  • In the Restore dialog box, select a name for the dummy database in the Target Database field and click on OK to start the restore process.



You should see a message that says "Restore completed successfully." in the Output view. You can now explore and query the dummy database using Azure Data Studio features.


Conclusion




In this article, we have learned what a dummy database is, where to find one, and how to restore it to your SQL Server instance. A dummy database is a useful tool for practicing your SQL skills without having to create your own data. You can choose from various sources of dummy databases, such as AdventureWorks, Mockaroo, or SQL Server sample database. You can also use different methods to restore a dummy database, such as SSMS, T-SQL, or Azure Data Studio. We hope this article has helped you learn how to download dummy database for SQL and improve your data analysis abilities.


FAQs




What is SQL?




SQL stands for Structured Query Language, which is a standard language for accessing and manipulating data in relational databases. SQL allows you to perform various tasks with data, such as creating tables, inserting records, updating values, deleting rows, querying data, joining tables, aggregating data, and more.


What is SQL Server?




SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft that uses SQL as its primary language. SQL Server supports various types of data, such as text, numbers, dates, images, geospatial data, and JSON data. SQL Server also provides various features and services for data security, performance, scalability, availability, integration, analysis, and reporting.


What is a backup file?




A backup file is a file that contains a copy of the data and the structure of a database. A backup file is created by using a backup operation, which is a process of saving the data in a database to a disk or a cloud storage. A backup file can be used to restore a database to a previous or original state in case of data loss, corruption, or disaster.


What is the difference between OLTP and DW?




OLTP stands for online transaction processing, which is a type of workload that involves frequent and short transactions that modify the data in a database. OLTP databases are optimized for fast and concurrent operations that support business processes, such as online banking, e-commerce, or reservation systems. DW stands for data warehousing, which is a type of workload that involves infrequent and long transactions that analyze the data in a database. DW databases are optimized for complex and historical queries that support business intelligence, such as reporting, analytics, or decision making.


What is Azure Data Studio?




Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform tool for working with SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics. Azure Data Studio offers a modern and intuitive user interface that supports code editing, data exploration, query execution, notebook creation, and extension installation. Azure Data Studio also integrates with various Azure services and tools, such as Azure Data Factory, Azure Machine Learning, Azure Resource Manager, and Visual Studio Code. 44f88ac181


 
 
 

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