Download Northwind Database for SQL Server 2017
If you are learning SQL Server or want to practice your skills, you might need a sample database to work with. One of the most popular sample databases for SQL Server is the Northwind database, which contains data about customers, orders, products, suppliers, and employees of a fictional company. In this article, you will learn what is Northwind database, why you should use it, how to download it, and how to use it.
Introduction
What is Northwind database?
Northwind database is a sample database that was originally created for Microsoft Access and later ported to SQL Server. It contains 14 tables and 11 views that represent the business operations of a fictitious company called Northwind Traders, which imports and exports specialty foods from around the world. The database also contains stored procedures, triggers, and indexes that demonstrate various features of SQL Server.
download northwind database for sql server 2017
Why use Northwind database?
Northwind database is a great resource for learning and practicing SQL Server because it has a realistic and complex data model that covers many common scenarios. You can use Northwind database to:
Learn the basics of SQL syntax and queries
Practice advanced SQL techniques such as joins, subqueries, aggregates, and window functions
Explore the features and capabilities of SQL Server such as stored procedures, triggers, indexes, and views
Create reports and dashboards using tools like Power BI or SSRS
Analyze and visualize the data using tools like Excel or R
How to download Northwind database?
Download the script file from GitHub
To download Northwind database for SQL Server 2017, you need to get the script file that creates and loads the database from GitHub. The script file is called instnwnd.sql and you can find it in the following repository:
You can either clone the repository or download the script file directly. Save the script file in a folder on your computer where you can easily access it.
Run the script file in SQL Server Management Studio
To run the script file and create the Northwind database on your SQL Server instance, you need to use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or a similar tool. Follow these steps:
Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.
Open the instnwnd.sql script file in a new query window.
Run the script by clicking Execute or pressing F5.
Wait for the script to finish. You should see a message saying "Command(s) completed successfully."
Refresh the Databases folder in Object Explorer. You should see a new database called NORTHWND.
How to use Northwind database?
Explore the tables and data
Now that you have created the Northwind database, you can start exploring its tables and data. You can use Object Explorer in SSMS to view the structure and properties of the tables, views, stored procedures, triggers, and indexes. You can also use Query Editor in SSMS to write and run queries against the tables and views. Here are some examples of queries that you can try:
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QueryDescription
SELECT * FROM Customers;Returns all rows from the Customers table.
SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE CustomerID = 'ALFKI';Returns all rows from the Orders table where the customer ID is ALFKI.
SELECT ProductName, UnitPrice FROM Products ORDER BY UnitPrice DESC;Returns the product name and unit price from the Products table, sorted by unit price in descending order.
SELECT c.CompanyName, o.OrderDate, od.Quantity, p.ProductName FROM Customers c JOIN Orders o ON c.CustomerID = o.CustomerID JOIN [Order Details] od ON o.OrderID = od.OrderID JOIN Products p ON od.ProductID = p.ProductID WHERE c.Country = 'USA';Returns the company name, order date, quantity, and product name from the Customers, Orders, Order Details, and Products tables, joined by their foreign keys, where the customer country is USA.
Run queries and reports
Besides exploring the data, you can also use Northwind database to run queries and reports that answer specific business questions or provide insights. For example, you can use Northwind database to:
Find out the total sales by country, region, category, or product
Calculate the average order size, order frequency, or order value by customer or employee
Analyze the trends and patterns of sales over time by month, quarter, or year
Identify the best-selling products, most profitable products, or most loyal customers
Evaluate the performance of employees, suppliers, or shippers
You can use tools like Power BI or SSRS to connect to Northwind database and create interactive reports and dashboards that visualize the data and allow you to filter and drill down. You can also use tools like Excel or R to import the data and perform statistical analysis and modeling.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In this article, you learned how to download Northwind database for SQL Server 2017 and how to use it for learning and practicing SQL Server. You learned that:
Northwind database is a sample database that contains data about a fictitious company that imports and exports specialty foods
Northwind database is a great resource for learning and practicing SQL Server because it has a realistic and complex data model that covers many common scenarios
You can download Northwind database from GitHub and run the script file in SSMS to create and load the database on your SQL Server instance
You can use SSMS to explore the tables and data in Northwind database and write and run queries against them
You can use tools like Power BI, SSRS, Excel, or R to connect to Northwind database and create reports and analysis that answer business questions or provide insights
Call to action
If you are interested in learning more about SQL Server or want to improve your skills, you should definitely download Northwind database and start playing with it. You will find it very useful and fun. You can also check out some of the online courses or books that teach SQL Server using Northwind database as an example. Happy learning!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between Northwind database and pubs database?
Pubs database is another sample database for SQL Server that contains data about book publishers. It is simpler than Northwind database and has fewer tables and data. It is also available on GitHub along with Northwind database.
How can I restore Northwind database from a backup file?
If you have a backup file of Northwind database (with a .bak extension), you can restore it using SSMS. Right-click on the Databases folder in Object Explorer, select Restore Database..., choose Device as the source, browse to the backup file location, select it, click OK, and then click OK again.
How can I modify or delete data in Northwind database?
You can use SQL statements such as UPDATE or DELETE to modify or delete data in Northwind database. However, be careful not to break the referential integrity or cause errors. You can also use SSMS to edit or delete data directly in the tables by right-clicking on them and selecting Edit Top 200 Rows or Delete.
How can I add more data to Northwind database?
You can use SQL statements such as INSERT or MERGE to add more data to Northwind database. You can also use SS MS to import data from external sources such as Excel files or CSV files by right-clicking on the tables and selecting Import Data...
How can I share Northwind database with others?
You can share Northwind database with others by creating a backup file of the database and sending it to them. They can then restore the database on their SQL Server instance using SSMS. Alternatively, you can share the script file that creates and loads the database and ask them to run it on their SQL Server instance.
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