Accessing SQL Server Documentation

You might have to refer to SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 R2 documentation while you plan your upgrade. This topic lists methods for accessing SQL Server Books Online.

Accessing Locally

You can view SQL Server Books Online previously installed on your computer or install it from the product CD.

  • To view SQL Server 2000 Books Online - From the Start menu, click All Programs, followed by Microsoft SQL Server, and then click Books Online.

  • To view SQL Server 2005 Books Online or higher - From the Start menu, click All Programs, Microsoft SQL Server <VersionNumber>, Documentation and Tutorials, and then click SQL Server Books Online.

Downloading

The complete product documentation, updated with new content and revisions, is available as HTML Help files that you can download.

Online

The complete SQL Server 2000 product documentation, updated with new content and revisions, is available online, at the following MSDN Web sites.

Important Considerations:

Installing SQL Server 2008 R2 Books Online upgrades your existing SQL Server 2008 version of Books Online. If you upgrade, be aware that the content and help topics now describe tools and features of SQL Server 2008 R2. To reinstall SQL Server 2008 Books Online, you must first uninstall SQL Server 2008 R2. Because SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 share components, you cannot have side-by-side installations of Books Online on the same machine.

If you have SQL Server 2008 installed with shared component, inlcuding SQL Server Books Online, which you upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2 and subsequently uninstall SQL Server 2008 R2 Books Online and reinstall SQL Server 2008 Books Online, you may experience minor issues, such as a default starting topic with a SQL Server 2008 R2 heading. All other content is specific to SQL Server 2008, as expected.

Stand-alone installations of SQL Server 2008 Books Online that are upgraded to SQL Server 2008 R2 Books Online and later restored to SQL Server 2008 Online do not exhibit this behavior.

See Also

Concepts

Working with Upgrade Advisor