from 2008 to 2005

  • A client of mine happens to have SQL Server 2005 and they're not inclined to change that for the time being. Me, on the other hand, I have SQL Server 2008 on both my laptops and I'm not willing to change that either (I tried to have 2005 and 2008 on my laptop but that got some how messy).

    Would it be possible to set up a db in 2005 (my client) and use this in 2008 (my laptop) for further developing and then move it back to 2005 (my client)?

    And: How would I do this? (Attach/detach?)

    Many thanks in advance,

    Henk

  • It is not possible.

    A SQL 2008 database cannot be attached or restored to SQL 2005 or lower. Only upgrades of database versions are possible (2005->2008), never downgrades.

    The only way to achieve what you want would be to script out all the objects, export the data and recreate the DB on the lower version.

    SQL 2005 and 2008 play well together on a single machine, I have both on my desktop. 2005 should be installed first. If you can't get it to install, consider creating a virtual machine (hyper-V, virtual PC, Virtual box, vmware) and installing SQL 2005 in the virtual and developing on that.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • You're saying: Only upgrades of database versions are possible (2005->2008).

    But what if I initially create it one 2005 and then use it one 2008. Will it automatically convert the format to 2008, or would it be possible to keep the 2005 format?

    Henk

  • Henk de W (6/9/2010)


    You're saying: Only upgrades of database versions are possible (2005->2008).

    Correct.

    But what if I initially create it one 2005 and then use it one 2008. Will it automatically convert the format to 2008, or would it be possible to keep the 2005 format?

    When you attach/restore the DB to the 2008 instance, several upgrade steps will run converting the database to the SQL 2008 format. Once finished, the database is a SQL 2008 database, just as if it had been created on SQL 2008, and it will not be possible to attach/restore the DB to SQL 2005.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Hm, Ok.

    One of my Laptops has Windows 7 and SQL server 2008 Express.

    So I best uninstall SQL Server 2008 Express, and after that install 2005 express.

    After that I can install 2008 again.

    Is there anything in particular that I need to consider before I'll do this?

    Cheers,

    Henk

  • Or you could use a virtual environment, like Virtualbox, to have a separate environment with SQL 2005.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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