I have a restricted environment without SQL Server Management Studio, only Visual Studio 2012, and a restricted internet connection.
I have a 50mb MDF file. I need to create a BAK file that I can use to restore a database on my hosting provider (it's the only option they have to create a database).
Is there a way I can create a BAK file from the MDF? Either by scripting through Visual Studio, or a small tool I can download to do this.
Use the BACKUP DATABASE t-sql command. Check the link below and scroll about halfway down the page, past the "Using Management Studio" section, for more detail on how to use the command:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187510.aspx
Here's the sample from that page, in case the link ever goes dark:
USE AdventureWorks2012;
GO
BACKUP DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
TO DISK = 'Z:\SQLServerBackups\AdventureWorks2012.Bak'
WITH FORMAT,
MEDIANAME = 'Z_SQLServerBackups',
NAME = 'Full Backup of AdventureWorks2012';
GO
Osql
Or
Sqlcmd can be used to run
Sql backup database command
I am new to sql scripting. I have a problem where I sometimes run a standalone mode that doesn't allow a connection from my database to my actual program. I am trying to automate a way to take the data out of my sql server database and push it to my program somehow. Just as a backup.
Is this possible?
Source: fmsinc.com/free/NewTips/SQL/SQLServerExpr..
Download and install the SQL Server Management Studio Express interface from the following URL (if you do not already have this utility installed on your server):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c243a5ae-4bd1-4e3d-94b8-5a0f62bf7796&displaylang=en
Please note that an installation of SQL Server Express does not install this interface (at the time this article was created for the 2005 version). This is a separate download.
Open the SQL Server Management Studio Express interface.
Create a new backup device using the wizard (expand Server Objects => New Backup Device).
Right click on the new backup device and select the database that you wish to backup.
Select the backup type (most often this is “Full”).
Choose a name for the job. Insert a description if you would like.
Click the Add button to add a Device Destination (this is where you would like the backup .bak output file to be placed).
Click Ok. The backup device is now setup. Repeat steps 3-7 for each database that you wish to backup.
Create a batch file using the following syntax (this is used to execute the backup device).
A syntax example is below (remember to save this file with a “BAT” file extension):
===< Begin Code Batch Script >===
sqlcmd -S MYSERVER\OFFICESERVERS -E -Q "BACKUP DATABASE MASTER TO TEST"
===< End Code Batch Script >=====
..where “MYSERVER” is the name of the SQL Server machine.
..where “OFFICESERVERS” is the name of the SQL Server.
..where “Test” is the name of the backup job.
..where “MASTER” is the name of the database.
Finally, open the Microsoft Windows Scheduler and assign the batch file created above to a scheduled event. Set the event to run at the point you wish.
EDIT: As you asked if 2 peoples are working remotely - in that case one will be server or both will be clients. What you can do is to create backup file on Server & the get that backup file for client OR in other case define 2 different Jobs & set their starting points for each of them. A backup file will be created for each job that will be executed & get that from destination for each client.
I am currently reading through a book about MVVM and I need to use the Northwind database for the next section. Unfortunately, when I try to add Northwind to my project, I get the following error:
"An error occurred while connecting to the database. The database might be unavailable. An exception of type 'Microsoft.Data.ConnectionUI.SqlDatabaseFileUpgradeRequiredException' occurred. The error message is: 'This database file is not compatible with the current instance of SQL Server.'"
I haven't installed an SQL Server, just Visual Studio 2012. The book instructs me to add the .MDF file to the project, set it as an Entity Data Model, and then to generate from database. It's on the next screen where I get the error. I use NORTHWND.MDF as the data connection and the entity connection string is as follows:
metadata=res:///Model1.csdl|res:///Model1.ssdl|res://*/Model1.msl;provider=System.Data.SqlClient;provider connection string="data source=(LocalDB)\v11.0;attachdbfilename=|DataDirectory|\NORTHWND.MDF;integrated security=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=True;App=EntityFramework"
In the book, this reads:
metadata=res:///Model1.csdl|res:///Model1.ssdl|res://*/Model1.msl;provider=System.Data.SqlClient;provider connection string="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\NORTHWND.MDF;Integrated Security=True;UserInstance=True"
I have tried using both data sources and neither work.
Also of note, the sample code that goes along with the book doesn't work either. It compiles and launches, but in the server explorer, NORTHWND.MDF has an 'x' in the icon and upon launch none of the data is there.
When I attempt to upgrade the database, I get an error saying:
"Database '...\NORTHWND.MDF' cannot be upgraded because its non-release version (539) is not supported by this version of SQL Server. You cannot open a database that is incompatible with this version of sqlservr.exe. You must re-create the database..."
If anybody could give me any tips on how to get this working, I would certainly appreciate it.
my simple way:
go to VisualStadio 2012
In Server Explorer Windows
open Data Connections
Right click on ASPNETDB.MDF
click on Modify Connection...
a new windows open for you ... you just click OK
if other windows open for you click Yes
FINISH ( be Happy ) :D
If we are trying to attach .mdf file in SQL Express mode in our development project and while adding .mdf file in App_Data folder we are getting exception like below :
"The database file is not compatible with the current instance of sql server...."
Then we can go to Server explorer window → go to Data connections → go to "your database" → right click on Modify connection → check the Data sources and Database file name, then use windows Authentication and press OK.
It works for me.
one way to potentially fix it is, install Sql Server 2012 Express and use database connection to sql server. Do not use local database. That might work. Just a suggestion.
Also as an extra note, you might want to download SQL Server 2012 Management Studio (I believe it comes with the above download as a component that you have select). With Management Studio Installed, you can test the database connectivity separately, create tables, run queries etc. This will make troubleshooting a lot easier.
Visual Studio doesn't install any database server by default so you can't connect to one. The MDF file is just the file where SQL Server stores its data, it's not a standalone database.
You have to install some version of SQL Server 2012 Express for both connection strings to work.
The first connection string uses the LocalDB feature which is essentially a minimal installation of SQL Server 2012 Exrpess (~ 35 ΜΒ). You can only connect to LocalDB from your machine which makes it useful only for development purposes.
The second connection string connects to an actual instance of SQL Server Express, called SQLExpress, installed on your local machine. The second connection string attaches the MDF file to the server as a User Instance, which means that the file is released when you stop using it.
The SQL Server Express downloads range from 130 MB to 1.3 GB depending on which version you download (minimal to full with advanced services).
Northwind database is not readily compatible with 2012, the compatible version of Northwind database for sql server 2012 can be downloaded from the below link, and after downloading .mdf file we can easily attach it with sql server 2012. I have found the following and it helped me, hope it will help you. How to Attach Northwind Database in Sql Server 2012
First go to data connection as on pic:1
2.Then browser your mdf file press ok and it will automatically convert the database.
picture:01
picture:02
Modify connection may solves the problem, but I am not sure whether the type of this database file is changed.
I have found a way to solve this problem if you have installed the database Server corresponding to the database file. You just need to change the default database Server of your visual studio.
On the menu, choose Tools-> Options -> Database tools, then on the data connections enter the SQL server Instance name corresponding to your database file which you have installed,then press Ok.
Next step is also important, it is necessary to click 'refresh' or delete the database filename in Data Connection and reopen the file, the file will be added to Data Connection again and open successfully.
This is what worked for me:
On the Add Connection dialog box, click Advanced.
Scroll down to the bottom and look for a field called Data Source.
Change it from (localdb)\MSSQLlocalDB to .\SQLEXPRESS.
My database file Whist.mdf was attached to a SQL Server Express through Management Studio, but it stopped working in that sense that NHibernate in my asp.net solution fired some connection exceptions. I just detached it from Management Studio because I couldn't open the database in there either.
But when I try to reattach it I get this error:
Attach database failed for Server 'MyPCName\SQLECPRESS'. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo) Unable to open the physical file "C:\Program
Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\Whist.mdf".
Operating system error 32: "32(process cannot access the file because
it is being used by another process)". (Microsoft SQL Server, Error:
5120)
I have googled it but can't find a solution that works for me. E.g.:
http://www.byteblocks.com/post/2010/01/06/Unable-to-open-the-physical-file-Microsoft-SQL-Server.aspx
"Cannot open user default database. Login failed." after installing SQL Server Management Studio Express
There is something about User Instance but I cant figure out if it have anything to do with that:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlexpress/archive/2006/11/22/connecting-to-sql-express-user-instances-in-management-studio.aspx
I have tried to delete the mdf file in windows but I can't do that either:
The action can't be completed because the file is open in system
I have tried stopping the SQL Server process, closing explore and delete from cmd and rebooting...
Hope someone can help - I guess it is just a simple thing..
I think you are on the right track. The error messages you are getting indicate that some SQL Server process is keeping the database file open. And SQL Server is designed to only allow the database file to be open by a single SQL Server process at a time.
You are also probably right to suspect User Instance of SQL Server Express to be the guilty process here. User Instance is a special SQL Server process that doesn't run as a service and instead is started and owned by the application that tries to connect to it. In your case there are two User Instances that can be the problem, one owned by the ASP.NET application you mentioned and one owned by you and started by Visual Studio. If you are using IIS Express or you configured the IIS App Pool for the ASP.NET application to run as your account then we only have one User Instance to worry about.
My recommendation is that you don't use User Instances and don't try to connect directly to the database file. Go over your connection strings and remove User Instance=true from all of them. You want to remove AttachDBFilename=... property as well.
If the database file is added to any of your Visual Studio solutions remove it (just be careful not to delete the file itself). The last step is to remove any connections to the database file from your Data Connections node in the Server Explorer.
Then restart the machine to make sure any User Instances that were running in the background were shutdown. After the machine starts again you should be able to attach the database file back to your main SQL Server Express using SQL Server Management studio. Let's name the database Whist
To connect to your database use the following connection string:
Data Source=.\SQLExpress;Integrated Security=true;Initial Catalog=Whist
When you connect from the ASP.NET application, make sure that you have created an account in your SQL Server Express for the application.
Turned out to be an issue with Daemon tools for me as well associating the .mdf file as an image.
If you want to copy your .mdf and .ldf file from your database, you can set your database file to 'offline' first . Please follow this steps:
Open your SQL Server 2008(suppose you are using SQL Server 2008 ).
Select your Database that you want to copy then left click.
Go to Tasks -> Take Offline.
Right click.
Then you can copy this database file to any folders.
Hey everyone,
I am trying to read an mdf file alone. How can I read it from inside Visual Studio 2008? My point here is reading the file without defining a database.
I've tried both "Add connection > SQL Server Compact" and "Add connection > SQL Server Database".
Not sure you can do this. You will have to Attach Database in SQL Server to view details.