What are my options if I need to move a database from SQL Server 2012(32bit) to SQL Server 2005(64bit)?
I know I cannot:
I know I can:
Is there an easier option?
You can follow any method below :
Note: If you are using any new features like new data types, etc then you have to test out as it will throw errors.
METHOD 1: Using Native Tools
Script out the database SCHEMA_ONLY and recreate an empty database on the destination server. Below are the screenshots :
Use BCP OUT and BULK INSERT to insert data.
Below is the script that will help you with Part 2.
/************************************************************************************************************************************************
Author : KIN SHAH *********************************************************************************************************************
Purpose : Move data from one server to another*********************************************************************************************
DATE : 05-28-2013 *********************************************************************************************************************
Version : 1.0.0 *************************************************************************************************************************
RDBMS : MS SQL Server 2008R2 and 2012 *************************************************************************************************
*************************************************************************************************************************************************/
-- save below output in a bat file by executing below in SSMS in TEXT mode
-- clean up: create a bat file with this command --> del D:\BCP_OUT\*.dat
select '"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\bcp.exe" '-- path to BCP.exe
+ QUOTENAME(DB_NAME())+ '.' -- Current Database
+ QUOTENAME(SCHEMA_NAME(SCHEMA_ID))+'.'
+ QUOTENAME(name)
+ ' out D:\BCP_OUT\' -- Path where BCP out files will be stored
+ REPLACE(SCHEMA_NAME(schema_id),' ','') + '_'
+ REPLACE(name,' ','')
+ '.dat -T -E -SSERVERNAME\INSTANCE -n' -- ServerName, -E will take care of Identity, -n is for Native Format
from sys.tables
where is_ms_shipped = 0 and name <> 'sysdiagrams' -- sysdiagrams is classified my MS as UserTable and we dont want it
and schema_name(schema_id) <> 'some_schema_exclude' -- Optional to exclude any schema
order by schema_name(schema_id)
--- Execute this on the destination server.database from SSMS.
--- Make sure the change the @Destdbname and the bcp out path as per your environment.
declare @Destdbname sysname
set @Destdbname = 'destination_database_Name' -- Destination Database Name where you want to Bulk Insert in
select 'BULK INSERT ' -- Remember Tables **must** be present on destination Database
+ QUOTENAME(@Destdbname)+ '.'
+ QUOTENAME(SCHEMA_NAME(SCHEMA_ID))+'.'
+ QUOTENAME(name)
+ ' from ''D:\BCP_OUT\' -- Change here for bcp out path
+ REPLACE(SCHEMA_NAME(schema_id),' ','') + '_'
+ REPLACE(name,' ','')
+'.dat''
with (
KEEPIDENTITY,
DATAFILETYPE = ''native'',
TABLOCK
)' + char(10)
+ 'print ''Bulk insert for '+REPLACE(SCHEMA_NAME(schema_id),' ','') + '_'+ REPLACE(name,' ','')+' is done... '''+ char(10)+'go'
from sys.tables
where is_ms_shipped = 0 and name <> 'sysdiagrams' -- sysdiagrams is classified my MS as UserTable and we dont want it
and schema_name(schema_id) <> 'some_schema_exclude' -- Optional to exclude any schema
order by schema_name(schema_id)
Method 2 : Using Third Party Tools
Create a blank database on destination server. Use Redgate's schema compare and data compare to create and load data into the destination server.
Note: I have used Redgate's schema and data compare and they are the best tools for such type of task and hence if you are using 3rd party tools, then my recommendation would be Redgate.
In addition to the methods already suggested here, you could also try creating a BACPAC file and import it into your destination. This is similar to how Microsoft recommends migrating your databases from on-prem to Azure cloud databases.
The benefit of it is that it's a combination of exporting schema as well as data, and it's not dependent on the database version, so you could theoretically import databases from any version to any version.
The downside of it is that before it generates the BACPAC file at the source, it runs some sort of strict validation process which can easily fail if you have references to objects outside your database (be it user or system databases), or if you have encrypted objects. But if you're lucky and it doesn't fail, then it can be a rather easy solution.
All you need is one of the newer SSMS versions (17 or 18): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms
To start creating a BACPAC file, right-click on a database and select "Export Data-tier Application..." (be sure not to be confused with "Extract Data-tier Application..." which is something different):
You'll be presented with a simple wizard to guide you through the steps. When you're done, you can use "Import Data-tier Application..." in your destination server, which you can see by right-clicking on the "Databases" node (again, don't be confused with "Deploy Data-tier Application..."):
This, too, will show you a simple wizard to guide you through the steps.
To decrease the version of Sql Server is very hard work.
There are some options to decrease like;
First of all, create all database object script and run at destination server.
After that you can use;
But for RedGate Data Compare tool,
you must consider that it compares tables only which has primary keys . So if your tables that has not primary key, you must use other ways
It's impossible to downgrade a database on SQL Server. However, a workaround is to script all DB objects and apply the script on the destination database. SSIS is a great way to help perform this.
