iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Choose a sample database built for the SQL engine you are practicing: Sakila for MySQL, AdventureWorks for SQL Server, or Chinook for several engines, including PostgreSQL and SQLite. Follow that project’s installation instructions, then check that you selected the right database, its tables exist, and—if it should contain data—a simple query returns rows.
Choose a sample database that matches your SQL engine
Sample database files are not interchangeable. Some are scripts that create and populate objects; others are backups that must be restored. Check the target engine, file type, and version requirements before downloading.
| Sample | Engine fit | Available installation format | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakila | MySQL | Archive with schema and data scripts, plus a Workbench model | A MySQL learner who wants a documented script-based install |
| AdventureWorks | SQL Server | Version-specific .bak backup or installation scripts |
A SQL Server learner following Microsoft’s installation guidance |
| Chinook | SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and DB2 | Engine-specific scripts and files in the project repository; the repository points to release SQL scripts | A learner using one of the supported engines beyond MySQL or SQL Server, or seeking alternatives |
Choose the exact file for your engine and follow its own instructions. A script intended for one database system may not run on another, and restoring a backup is a different process from executing SQL scripts.
Recommended Free Tools
What to check before loading the files
- Engine and version: Make sure the sample supports your database server and check for version-specific requirements. Sakila’s documentation notes that schema and data details can depend on the MySQL server version.
- File type: Identify whether you downloaded SQL scripts, a backup, or another engine-specific file. Use the installation path documented for that format.
- Prerequisites and target: Review the project’s prerequisites and confirm which server or database instance the installation will affect. Microsoft’s AdventureWorks instructions list prerequisites; its OLTP installation script can drop an existing database named
AdventureWorksunless you change the target name.
Load Sakila into MySQL
The Sakila archive includes sakila-schema.sql, sakila-data.sql, and sakila.mwb. The schema script creates tables, views, procedures, and triggers. The data script populates the structures and includes trigger definitions created after the initial load. Follow the official Sakila installation instructions for the paths and method that fit your system.
#1 Best Overall
- Check the MySQL version notes and the installation prerequisites in the official documentation.
- Run
sakila-schema.sqlfirst so the database objects exist. - Run
sakila-data.sqlnext to populate those objects. - Select the database and list its tables to verify the schema, as shown in the next section.
Install AdventureWorks in SQL Server
Microsoft documents two routes: restore a version-appropriate .bak backup or use installation scripts. Choose the route and file described in the current AdventureWorks installation instructions, and check their prerequisites before starting.
Take care with the OLTP script’s default target name: it can drop an existing database named AdventureWorks. If you need to preserve that database, change the target name as directed by the installation materials before running the script.
Choose the correct Chinook variant
The Chinook repository lists variants for SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and DB2. Select the file or script intended for your specific engine and use the instructions supplied for that variant. The import steps differ by engine, so there is no single Chinook command that applies across all of them.
Check whether the sample database loaded correctly
Verify the connection and database in layers: the right database name confirms you are targeting the intended database; tables indicate that schema objects are present; returned rows show that at least some data was loaded. A table listing alone does not prove that the data import succeeded.
Sakila’s documented table check
In MySQL, the official Sakila documentation shows this sequence:
USE sakila;
SHOW FULL TABLES;The first statement selects the database; the second lists its tables and other table-like objects. If MySQL reports that the database does not exist, check whether the scripts ran successfully and whether you are connected to the intended server.
Run a small data query
After confirming that the expected tables are present, run a simple SELECT against a known table and inspect a few results. If the table exists but the query returns no rows, the schema may have loaded without the data, or you may have queried an empty table. Check the sample’s installation sequence and confirm that the data-loading step completed.
Quick Recap
Best Value
If the checks fail
- No database selected: Select the intended database in your client or run the engine-appropriate command to choose it.
- Database or tables are missing: Confirm that the scripts or backup were applied to the server instance you are connected to, and review any errors from the import or restore.
- Tables exist but expected data does not: Verify that you ran the data script or restored a populated backup, rather than only creating the schema.
- Script errors: Recheck engine compatibility, server version, prerequisites, and the instructions for the exact file you downloaded. Do not assume syntax or import commands transfer between engines.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
