About the Sample Databases

for RuBoard

To make things easier on the reader, this book uses SQL Server's Northwind and pubs sample databases extensively. By using the sample databases that come with the product, I'm helping you avoid having to create lots of custom objects just to understand concepts that can easily be taught using what comes in the box. You'll nearly always be able to determine which database a particular example uses from the surrounding commentary or from the code itself. The Northwind database is used more often than pubs, so when it's not otherwise specified, or when in doubt, use Northwind.

Usually, modifications to these databases are made within transactions so that they can be reversed ; however, for safety's sake, you should probably drop and recreate them after each chapter in which they're changed. The scripts to rebuild them (instnwnd.sql and instpubs.sql) can be found in the \Install subdirectory under the root SQL Server folder.

for RuBoard