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For a SQL practice database, match the sample to your database engine: use Sakila with MySQL, AdventureWorks with SQL Server, or Chinook for options covering several engines. Follow the chosen project’s installation method, then check that the intended database and its tables are present. To confirm data loaded too, query a table and make sure it returns rows.
Choose a sample that matches your SQL engine
| Sample | Engine fit | Available format | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakila | MySQL | Archive with separate schema and data scripts, plus a Workbench model | A direct option for MySQL learners who can load the schema and then populate it with data. |
| AdventureWorks | SQL Server | Version-specific backup file (.bak) or installation scripts | A SQL Server sample. Check prerequisites and use Microsoft’s current installation instructions. |
| Chinook | SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and DB2 | Engine-specific scripts and files; the repository points to release SQL scripts | A useful option when your engine is not MySQL or SQL Server. Select the matching file and follow its engine-specific guidance. |
These files are not interchangeable. A backup intended for SQL Server is not a MySQL import script, and an SQL script may need to be run with the correct server and client. Before downloading, check the engine, file type, version compatibility, and installation prerequisites.
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Load Sakila into MySQL
The Sakila archive includes sakila-schema.sql, which creates tables and other database objects, and sakila-data.sql, which populates them. Load the schema first, then the data script, following the official Sakila installation instructions for your system. The documentation notes that schema and data details can depend on the MySQL server version, so check compatibility before running the scripts.
After loading, the MySQL documentation’s basic confirmation is to select the database and list its tables:
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USE sakila;
SHOW FULL TABLES;If the database cannot be selected or the expected tables do not appear, check that the scripts completed and that your client is connected to the intended MySQL server.
Install or restore AdventureWorks in SQL Server
Microsoft documents two routes: restore a .bak backup that matches your SQL Server version, or install the sample using scripts. Follow the current AdventureWorks installation instructions and confirm the listed prerequisites before starting.
Take care with the OLTP installation script: by default, it can drop an existing database named AdventureWorks. If you need to preserve a database with that name, change the target name as described in the repository instructions before running the script.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsPick the correct Chinook variant
The Chinook repository offers versions for SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and DB2. Choose the file or script for your particular engine and use the repository’s instructions for that variant. Import commands differ between engines, so do not assume a single command will work for all of them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check whether the database, tables, and data loaded
Verify the import in layers. Each check answers a different question:
- Database: Can you select or connect to the intended database on the correct server or instance?
- Schema: Does a table listing show the expected objects? Sakila’s documented check is
USE sakila;followed bySHOW FULL TABLES;. - Data: Run a small
SELECTagainst a known table and inspect the returned rows. This is a practical follow-up check; the table-listing command alone confirms objects, not that data was populated.
If the database exists but tables are missing, the schema step may not have completed or you may be checking the wrong database. If tables exist but a query returns no rows, confirm that the data script or data-loading step ran successfully. Exact commands, paths, and privileges depend on the engine, version, operating system, and client; use the sample’s engine-specific instructions rather than reusing commands across products.
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