data copy

  • I have a DEV database i.e DEVDB

    I also have a TEST database i.e TESTDB

    both are SQL SERVER 2008

    I want to import data from TESTDB to DEVDB.

    Is it possible through SQL Server Management Studio Wizard ? Is it faster than other approach ?

    I see a Import/Export on GUI of SQL Server Management Studio Wizard. Which datasource to use to copy data ?

  • Which datasource to use to copy data ?

    SQL Native Client

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  • spectra (9/27/2013)


    Is it possible through SQL Server Management Studio Wizard ? Is it faster than other approach ?

    Which other approach?

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

  • You might want to take a look at SQL Server Integration Services, SSIS. That's the standard Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) tool for SQL Server.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • does it overwrite data in destination DB ?

    I want to refresh destination DB in fact.

  • spectra (9/27/2013)


    does it overwrite data in destination DB ?

    I want to refresh destination DB in fact.

    That's up to you, how you configure it.

    If you just want to overwrite the data, why not go a simpler route. Use a backup and a restore. That's guaranteed to move all the data as well as the structures and with minimal coding required.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Is not backup and restore mess up permission ?

    I am scared about it....I don't want to set up permission again.

    All I need is fresh data imported from TEST DB

    also I have few extra tables in destination DB . I want to keep them as well.

    So what do I do ? can it be done using GUI ?

  • As to permissions, it's pretty easy to script them out and reapply them as part of a restore.

    But, if you have differences in structure, there is no way to run a restore and keep them in place. So, your choices are to script those out too, or build a data load process.

    The GUI is unlikely to do a complete job for you considering the different requirements you have. So, you're going to have to manually set it up within SSIS. It's not terribly difficult, but if you've never done it before, it's going to be a lot of work.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • This is something I do all the time. There are several methods you can choose from. The first is a real simple method that you discovered. The Import/Export feature actually creates an SSIS package to perform the data movement. What I do to move just data, I select all tables then when all of them are highlighted (in the Import wizard) you Edit Mappings to "DELETE Rows in existing destination tables" & "Enable identity insert". If there are no errors you can "Run immediately" and just your data moves to the destination database.

    Now I have a data compare tool from RedGate called SQL Data Compare. This does much the same thing and works very well. It just simply compares and moves data from 1 database to another.

    I move data all the time because 2 database structures may be different, especially when the developers are working in the DEV environment.

    Now if you know the data structures are the same and don't worry about overwriting the entire database then your backup/restore is probably the easiest.

    If the databases reside on the same box then you don't have to worry about creating orphan users. If they reside on different boxes then you have to insure your DB users don't become orphans. There is a script you can dig up on the net that resolves orphans.

    So you have some choices, or "there is more than 1 way to skin that cat". Let us know what you choose.

    Kurt

    Kurt W. Zimmerman
    SR DBA
    Lefrak Organization
    New York, NY

    http://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtwzimmerman

  • Kurt W. Zimmerman (9/27/2013)


    This is something I do all the time. There are several methods you can choose from. The first is a real simple method that you discovered. The Import/Export feature actually creates an SSIS package to perform the data movement. What I do to move just data, I select all tables then when all of them are highlighted (in the Import wizard) you Edit Mappings to "DELETE Rows in existing destination tables" & "Enable identity insert". If there are no errors you can "Run immediately" and just your data moves to the destination database.

    this failed.

    I got error "Can not truncate table dbo.Account Transfer because it is referenced by a foreign key constarint" ....

  • Kurt W. Zimmerman (9/27/2013)


    Now I have a data compare tool from RedGate called SQL Data Compare. This does much the same thing and works very well. It just simply compares and moves data from 1 database to another.

    This does not look like FREE version....Is there any free alternative ?

  • Why don't you just script out the tables you need and apply at destination?

    Regards,
    SQLisAwe5oMe.

  • spectra (9/28/2013)


    Kurt W. Zimmerman (9/27/2013)


    This is something I do all the time. There are several methods you can choose from. The first is a real simple method that you discovered. The Import/Export feature actually creates an SSIS package to perform the data movement. What I do to move just data, I select all tables then when all of them are highlighted (in the Import wizard) you Edit Mappings to "DELETE Rows in existing destination tables" & "Enable identity insert". If there are no errors you can "Run immediately" and just your data moves to the destination database.

    this failed.

    I got error "Can not truncate table dbo.Account Transfer because it is referenced by a foreign key constarint" ....

    That's because TRUNCATE TABLE doesn't work if there are foreign keys.

    The GUI alone won't be enough. Go through the GUI, but instead of executing it at the end, save the SSIS package.

    Open it up with Visual Studio and edit it until you implemented all of your requirements.

    Better search some tutorials about SSIS on the net.

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

  • If you haven't done this kind of thing before you might want to take a backup of the destination database before you do your import... just in case.

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