Like most folks, I seem to have a perpetual need for realistic test data. While there are many databases available, sometimes the need is quite simple. All I need is some names, perhaps dates and phone numbers that can be used for testing my applications, SSIS or SQL Server Reports. I decided to take care of this need once and for all, and set out with a simple goal. At the conclusion of my work I wanted to wind up with a realistic looking, but totally fake set of data. I wanted to do it in the simplest means possible, using whatever tools I had available. Finally, I wanted to do it as quickly as possible. The release has four files in it. The PDF file documents the steps I went through to create the data. The SQLNameGame.Zip file contains the Visual Studio Database project needed to generate the table of sample data. The SQLScriptsAndDataFiles.zip has all of the scripts and data needed for building the base needed by the database project. If you are interested in only getting a lot of sample data, and don't care about process, you can choose to download just the SampleDataOnly.zip file. It contains a simple SQL script to create a sample table the bulk load the data in the txt file into it. Note that if you download SQLScriptsAndDataFiles.zip you won't have to download the SampleDataOnly.zip file. For more information, please see my blog at: ArcaneCode.com.
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