Question

I want to copy a database A into database B (same SQL Server) entirely – what would be the easiest SQL or utility command to do that? (database B should be 100% erased before the copy)

Note that it can be non-SQL thing, but in any case I need to run it as one-click. So some utility that does that is also acceptable as far as I can run copying with one click or from command line.

SQL Server 2008R2 or 2012.

Best, Askar

Answer 1

I made a soultion based on David’s thoughts. It looks like this (Prod – source DB, Demo – destination copy)

 DECLARE @backup varchar(300) = 'e:\Prod.bak'; 
 DECLARE @logic_db_file varchar(300) = 'koe'; 
 DECLARE @logic_log_file varchar(300) = 'koe_log'; 
 DECLARE @out_db_file varchar(300) = 'c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\Demo.mdf'; 
 DECLARE @out_log_file varchar(300) = 'c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\Demo_log.ldf'; 

 PRINT N'Backing up Production database.'
 BACKUP DATABASE Prod
    TO DISK = @backup WITH FORMAT;


 PRINT N'Restoring FILELISTONLY, see log file for data.'
 -- Restore the files to Demo
 RESTORE FILELISTONLY
    FROM DISK = @backup

 PRINT N'Getting exclusive access to Demo'  
 Alter database  Demo set single_user with rollback immediate
 drop database Demo



 PRINT N'Restoring backup to Test database'
 RESTORE DATABASE Demo
  FROM DISK = @backup
  WITH REPLACE,
  MOVE @logic_db_file TO @out_db_file, 
  MOVE @logic_log_file TO @out_log_file
 GO

  -- if you want you can do some SQL fixes to newly made DB

  PRINT N'Changing normal users to demo users, if account type is OK'

  USE Demo; 
  UPDATE USER_ACCOUNTS SET ACCOUNT_TYPE=3 WHERE (STATUS=1) AND (ACCOUNT_TYPE=1);  
  GO