Question

Say I already created my database but forgot to save the sql commands do create it.

How could I reverse engineer the code from an already existing database?

I’m using Microsoft SQL Server Express 2008.

Answer 1

You can do this pretty easily by using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) – it’s available for free if you don’t already have it installed.

• Connect to the database
• Expand out Databases > YourDataBaseName.
• Right-click on the database and select the option “Script database as” then “Create To” then finally “File”.

That will create the necessary scripts to recreate your database.

To script out all the tables in your database:

• Right-click on the database node
• Select “Tasks” then “Generate Scripts”.
• When the wizard appears, click Next.
• Select the database. At this point you can check the “Script all objects in the selected database” which does exactly what it says, or if you leave it unchecked you will get the option later in the process to pick which items are scripted.
• Click next. Now you’re given some scripting options.
• I’d suggest scrolling down the list and checking the option to Script Indexes/Script Triggers. You can also script the data if necessary (though I wouldn’t do this if you’ve got a lot of data in your database).
• Modify any options you’d like and click Next.
• Select the database types you’d like to script (Users/Tables/Views). Click Next.
• Now you’ve got the opportunity to select more specific items. Hit Next and repeat the process of any of your other database types.
• Hit next one more time, then select where you’d like the script written to. You get the chance to review your selections.
• Click Finish.

Here’s a link for the 2008 version SSMS Express 2008