12.3.1- Getting the Data

Getting the Data

Whichever database application you're using, you're going to need some data. For the examples that follow, we'll be using a Movies database, which contains information pertaining to a number of recent Hollywood releases. This database is available in the following two formats, both of which are available for download from the Wrox web site at http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/productCd-0764543636,descCd-download_code.html.

Microsoft Access (.mdb) Files

Microsoft Access databases come in an easily transportable .mdb format. The file containing the Movies database in Microsoft Access format is called Movie2000.mdb. Simply download this file from the Wrox web site, and save it in a folder on your local hard drive. In these examples, we've saved the file into our C:\datastores folder.

Microsoft SQL Server/MSDE (.mdf) Files

SQL Server is a back-end (Server) tool, and therefore these databases aren't designed to be so easily portable. However, if you follow the instructions in the examples in this chapter, you'll find that the SQL Server .mdf format (while larger than the Access .mdb format) can be moved around with the same ease.

If you're planning to use MSDE, and you've installed it using either of the 'Try It Out's above, then you're ready to set up the data file. Download the file sqldb.zip from the Wrox web site – this contains a single data file called Movie2000.mdf, which you should extract to C:\MSSQL7\Data.

If you want to use SQL Server then you need to import the Movie2000 database. There are several ways to do this. One is to open the .mdb from Access 2000 and use the Upsizing Wizard. If you have Access 97, the upsizing tools are available for download from the following web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=f5c7a907-7c5f-46cb-9157-a1ec4e96083d&displaylang=en

The wizard is very easy to follow and will create the database on SQL Server. Another way is to use the Import and Export Data utility on SQL Server (effectively, the Data Transformation Services wizard).