<p>What is the best way to use SQL Server 2008 as a development database, but ensure that the database is compatible with SQL Server 2005?</p>

This can be done via SQL Enterprise Manager or like this:
```
```
ALTER DATABASE <database> 
SET COMPATIBILITY_LEVEL = { 80 | 90 | 100 }
```
```
Use 90 for 2005 compatibility.
This replaces the functionality used for previous releases, the stored procedure
sp_dbcmptlevel
.