sqlsql-serversql-server-2012-express

Get .sql file from SQL Server 2012 database

I need to get .sql files from an existing database with SQL Server 2012. Is this possible because all I see in the export option is delimited files.

Ex.) I have table1 with 30 records. I need a file that would be something like what is below. (I know my syntax is incorrect, but you should get the point).

CREATE TABLE table1 (
    INSERT INTO table1 values (
   .......)
Solution

  • If you just want to generate a .sql script you can do this by right-clicking the database in Object Explorer and choosing Tasks > Generate Scripts:

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    Then you can select database and all objects, or you can select just the table you want:

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    Then select a location, and be sure to go into Advanced before continuing:

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    Under advanced, at the very least, change types of data to script to "Schema and Data" (if the reason you are doing this rather than a proper backup is because you need to import the data into a database earlier than SQL Server 2012, you should probably change the target server version option to whatever version you're targeting):

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    If you don't have that option in Management Studio, you are probably still running the RTM version of the client tools. Full functionality has finally been made free as of SP1. Download the most recent version - SP2 - here:

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=43351

    (You want one of the SQLManagementStudio files.)