SQL Server - Create a Database

One of the first things we should look at with SQL Server/Management Studio is how to create a database. After all, most of the tasks you perform with SQL Server will evolve around one or more databases.

System Databases

If you've only just installed SQL Server, you might notice that some databases have already been created. These are system databases.

Database	Type	Description
master	System database	Stores system level information such as user accounts, configuration settings, and info on all other databases.
model	System database	This database is used as a template for all other databases that are created.
msdb	System database	Used by the SQL Server Agent for configuring alerts and scheduled jobs etc
tempdb	System database	Holds all temporary tables, temporary stored procedures, and any other temporary storage requirements generated by SQL Server.

We will now create another database for our own use.

Creating a New Database

The following steps demonstrate how to create a database in SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio.

1. Right click on the "Databases" icon and select "New Database...":

    

           2.Name your database and click "OK":

Your New Database

You will now notice your new database appears under the "Databases" section of SQL Server Management Studio.
Your new database is based on the "Model" database. The Model database is a system database which is used as a template whenever a new database is created. If you use the left pane to navigate to your database and expand the tree, you will notice that your database already contains a number of objects. For example, it already contains system functions, system views, system stored procedures, and (hidden) system tables. These are system objects which provide information about the database.

Other Options

We have just created a database using the default options. When we created the database, a "Data File" and a "Transaction Log" were created. They were created in the default location for our server.
If we'd wanted to, we could have specified a different location for these files. We also could have changed specifications on whether to allow the file to grow automatically (as it stores more and more data), and if so, how that growth should be managed. We could have done that at step 2. But all is not lost. We can still do it now that we've created the database. We can do it via the Properties dialog box.
To view or change the database properties, simply right click on the database and select "Properties":

The Properties dialog contains a large number of options for changing the configuration of your database. For now, we can leave everything at its default setting.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the main administration console for SQL Server.
SSMS enables you to create database objects (such as databases, tables, views etc), view the data within your database, you can configure user accounts, transfer data between databases, and more.
Here's what SQL Server Management Studio looks like when you first open it up:

The left pane contains the Object Explorer. The Object Explorer provides navigation to databases, server objects (such as triggers), log files, and more.
The right pane allows you to write queries against the database and view the results. In this screenshot I have opened a blank query by clicking the "New Query" button. You can also bring up other windows, such as the Properties window.
Note that I have minimized the size of the window for this screenshot. Once maximized, you have much more room to play with.
You can use SQL Server Management Studio to create as many databases as you like. You can also connect to as many databases on as many servers as you like.
Most of the tasks performed with SQL Server Management Studio are initiated either from the top menu, or by right-clicking on an icon/object.
Throughout most of this tutorial, we'll be looking at the various things you can do via SQL Server Management Studio.