SQL Transact - Northwind Database
Northwind is free. With SQL server, Microsoft has provided THE most marvellous and comprehensive
database. Another benefit of Northwind is that once SQL is installed, then you
have a copy of Northwind and so you can try my examples.
 Once
you have finished installing SQL, then start the Query Browser, and you will
see the databases in the object browser.
Tip: Once inside the Query Browser, press F8 (Function key eight) to toggle
the Object Browser window.
The Northwind database structure is a series of User Tables, for example,
Categories, Customers and Employees.
If we home in on the Customers, then you can see the Columns or field names
and their characteristics. For instance, CustomerID is exactly 5
characters and it cannot be Null. Whereas City can be a variable number of
characters - up to 15, moreover, City could be Null or blank.
The diagram on the right also show folders with Indexes, Constraints and
Dependencies. You can also see in passing that their are other tables in
the Northwind Database, for example, Employees and Order Details.
GuyCustomer is of course, non-standard, just a table I created to experiment.
In the following section I will be concentrating on the SQL Transact
statements, and not worrying about database design. Remember all the
fields have been created for us, Northwind is there for us to query.
If Northwind were a real live database, 'Best Practice' would say 'Backup
regularly'. Guy says backup Northwind, so that you can go back and start
again, particularly when you are testing INSERT or DELETE statements.
While there are betters ways to backup Northwind, I have gone for the
simplest method.
Statement to Backup, and protect Northwind
-- SQL statement to BACKUP the Northwind Database to c:\ drive
BACKUP DATABASE Northwind
TO DISK = 'C:\GuyNorthwind.bak'
Oh yes, and if want to get it back - here is the restore
command.
-- SQL statement to RESTORE the Northwind Database from C:\ drive
RESTORE DATABASE Northwind
FROM DISK= 'C:\GuyNorthwind.bak'
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