Changing the name of a SQL database

Question

What is the correct procedure to rename a database?

Example: I have a database that I can access with SQL Server Management Studio and has a name like \"MyDatabase\". Ph

Answer 1

Taken verbatim from here:

There are several ways to make this change, however to rename the physical database files at operating system level you will have to take the database offline

1. Use SSMS to take the database Offline (right-click on Database, select Tasks, Take Offline), change the name of the files at the OS level and then Bring it Online.

2. You could Detach the database, rename the files and then Attach the database pointing to the renamed files to do so.

3. You could Backup the database and then restore, changing the file location during the restore process.

4. using T SQL

   ALTER DATABASE databaseName SET OFFLINE GO

   ALTER DATABASE databaseNAme MODIFY FILE (NAME =db, FILENAME = 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\MSSQL\Data\db.mdf') GO --if changing log file name

   ALTER DATABASE databaseNAme MODIFY FILE (NAME = db_log, FILENAME = 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\MSSQL\Data\db.ldf') GO

   ALTER DATABASE databaseName SET ONLINE GO

for more info http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms174269.aspx