How to Download the AdventureWorks Database for SQL Server 2012

The AdventureWorks database is a popular sample database used by developers, IT professionals, and data analysts to test and demonstrate various SQL Server features. If you're looking to download the AdventureWorks database for SQL Server 2012, this article will guide you through the process.

'Download Adventureworks Database 2012'

Important

The download package includes the following files:

* `AdventureWorksDW2012.bak`: A full database backup of the Data Warehouse version

* `AdventureWorksLT2012.bak`: A full database backup of the Lightweight (OLTP) version

* `AdventureWorks2012.bak`: A full database backup of the OLTP (Online Transactional Processing) version

To see the features in action, run the SQL Server 2016 sample scripts on this database. The download size is approximately 883 MB.

Using AdventureWorks as a Source Data

The AdventureWorksDW database can be used as source data for your projects. You can use the OLTP (Online Transactional Processing) version as well, which provides a more realistic representation of a transactional database.

Additional Downloads and Install Instructions

For additional downloads of older releases, you can visit the AdventureWorks2008R2 and AdventureWorks2012 pages. For install instructions, please review the Readme file provided with the download package.

The only difference between the various versions of AdventureWorks is the name of the database and the database compatibility level. The OLTP (Online Transactional Processing) version is designed to showcase SQL Server 2016 features, while the Data Warehouse version provides a more comprehensive representation of a data warehouse.

Additional Guidance and Resources

For additional guidance on attaching and restoring databases, please refer to the instructions provided with your SQL Server installation. For sample databases leveraging more recent features of SQL Server, you can visit the WideWorldImporters page.

Multidimensional and Tabular Models

If you're interested in using multidimensional and tabular models, you can download the AdventureWorks for Analysis Services package. Note that AdventureWorks has not seen any significant changes since the 2012 version.

In summary, downloading the AdventureWorks database for SQL Server 2012 provides a comprehensive sample database that can be used to test and demonstrate various SQL Server features. The release includes full database backups, scripts, and projects for AdventureWorks2008R2, which can be used as source data or to showcase SQL Server 2016 features.

Download adventureworks database 2012