How good are these messages? Ref:SQL Server 2008

I am trying to attach data to my Analysis Server 2008 and find confusing and erroneous messages. How good are these?

1. Trying to attach

I choose to attach using the menu, Attach

Click (...) Browse for Remote Folder Window gets displayed. There were two files displayed neither of which I am interested in.

I see at the bottom of this window, the following:

To add or remove folders to this window
it is suggested to edit the
'AllowedBrowsingFolders' property.

It turns out that there is no such property

Figure 1.

I tried to locate the file with specific format for attching data to the Analysis Server, look what kind of a message I get.

Figure 2

Northwind Database with SQL Server 2008

I have been using TestNorthwind, a copy of the Northwind database that got shipped with SQL Server 2000 in many of my articles and my book. Some of my readers have asked me how to get this database.

With each new version of SQL Server Microsoft has been providing new sample databases such as pubs, Northwind, Adventure Works etc. In recent versions Microsoft does not provide a sample database during installation of the server but provides a link to download the sample database. A variety of methods can be used to install the databases. Two most common ones being; running the SQL script files or, using the attach/detach methods.




The sample databases PUBS and NORTHWIND can be downloaded from this link:
 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=06616212-0356-46a0-8da2-eebc53a68034&displayLang=enhttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=06616212-0356-46a0-8da2-eebc53a68034&displayLang=en

This .msi file installs both Northwind and Pubs database MDF/LDF files as well as instwnd.sql and instpubs.sql files. Make sure you read the ReadMe files.

The Important steps for attaching the Northwind database are shown here.

Step 1: Run the installer program. This is just one screen from the installation.

The files are installed to C:\SQL Server 2000 Sample Databases

Step 2: Connect to SQL Server 2008 and start the Attach wizard

Connect tot SQL Server 2008 and expand the nodes. Right click Databases folder and choose Attach...
The Attach Databases window gets displayed as shown.

Step 3: Click on Add...button. Browse to the C:\drive and click on the NORTHWND.mdf. You can provide a different name using the AttachAs option.

Step 4: Click on the OK button. Northwind database can now be found in the Databases folder. The owner will be the account name of the machine owner in this Windows XP Installation.






















Which database to use and where?
This largely depends on the purpose the database will be used. I have used Northwind many times as it is sufficient to demonstrate most aspects of relational databases. I have used it in the past as a backend database for demonstrating Analysis Services, Reporting Services and Integration Services demos. Adventure Works is another excellent sample database well suited for OLTP and OLAP demos. Actually I keep all of them on my servers for testing.

Effortless migration of data from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008

It's so easy to transfer a database from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008. Well the same holds good from SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2008. Read on...

Moving database from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008 in three steps

SQL Server 2005 can be migrated to SQL Server 2008 quite easily by manually detaching the database from SQL Server 2005 and attaching it to SQL Server 2008. This is a much easier process than the 'Copy Database Wizard' which has two procedures one of which is the same as the manual process but carried out under the watchful guidance of a wizard and the other which does not require the stopping of the Source server.