SQL - How to backup a database and export as a MDF file with MS SQL 2008 R2

Question

I have created a database "test" with some tables in MS SQL Server 2008 R2 (i.e. MS SQL Server Management Studio).

Now, I need to export this database as a MDF file.

What should I do?

Answer 1

If you mean that you want to be able to attach the database on another server, then this is what you can do:

1. detach the database (right click the database and click Detach)
2. copy the mdf and ldf files to your backup location
3. attach the database (right click Databases and click Attach)

This is the path where you will find MDF file:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\

Answer 2

right-click on database from Management Studio -> Detach. Then you have the MDF file you can export to wherever you want :)

Answer 3

If what you want is a replica of your SQLEXPRESS/MDF local file- on a remote server (SQL Server 2005)

You can right click in the "Server Explorer" on your db.mdf file and press "Publish to provider..."

You can choose a variety of compatibilities with SQL Server 2005, 2008, etc.

The output is a .sql query file ..

Came across this question and thought this would be a good alternative answer, since I got here by searching for the exact same thing!

Answer 4

I think the best way is to create a .bak file from SQL Server .

Right click on the database => Task => Back Up -> Choose the database in Source , and hit OK .

Answer 5

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\

This is the path where you will find MDF file

Answer 6

Go to the path C:\Users\your pc name then you will find mdf , ldf file here

Answer 7

If you are in Visual Studio, go to SQL Server Object Explorer. Find the database you want, right click and select properties. In the properties tab, look for Data File, next to it will be the location for your mdf file.

Answer 8

In my experience, its easier to use the commands sp_detach_db (MSDN) and sp_attach_db (MSDN). I was trying to attach a database that was offline when detached and SQL Server Management Studio (2014) kept crashing when I used the Attach option from the right-click context menu. The commands worked - hope this saves someone some time.

NOTE: Run SSMS as an administrator if you see an access denied while trying to execute the attach command