Online help system for SQL Server Recovery Toolbox

SQL Server Recovery Toolbox (download) is used to recover information from damaged MS SQL Server databases (*.mdf files). The recovery process is performed in the step-by-step wizard consisting of seven steps.

1. Selecting the damaged MS SQL Server database to recover information from.
2. Reading and analyzing the system information from the damaged database.
3. Viewing the information that can be recovered from the damaged database.
4. Selecting the method of exporting the recovered information.
5. Selecting the information to be recovered and saved.
6. Complete scanning, analyzing and saving the damaged database.
7. Viewing information export logs.

Step 1. Selecting the damaged MS SQL Server database to recover information from.

First of all, you should specify the location of the damaged file in the Source file name (.mdf) field. There are three ways to do it.

• Type the name of the source file in the corresponding field manually. You should type it with the full path.
• Select the name of the source file from the drop-down list opened with the button. It contains all files that SQL Server Recovery Toolbox has ever scanned.
• Select the name of the source file using Windows Explorer opened with the button.

See also: How to recover MS SQL Server database from several files?

Click the Next button to move to the next step.

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Step 2. Reading and analyzing the system information from the damaged database.

When you move to this step, the program asks you: Do you wish to start recovery? To start the process, click the Yes button. After that the program will start extracting the system data that can be used to recover the rest of information and you will see the indicator showing the state of the process.

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Step 3. Viewing the information that can be recovered from the damaged database.

After the program extracts the system data, it will display it on the screen. A window reminding the interface of Windows Explorer is used for that. The left part shows the list of information categories and the right part shows the information itself.

• User Tables. When you select this information category, the right part of the window is divided into two parts. The upper part shows the list of all user tables and the lower part shows the content of the currently active table.
• System Tables. When you select this information category, you can view the list of system tables in the right part of the window.
• Views. When you select this information category, the right part of the window is divided into two parts. The upper part shows the list of all views and the lower part shows the source code of the currently active view.
• Stored Procedures. When you select this information category, the right part of the window is divided into two parts. The upper part shows the list of all stored procedures. When you select any of them, you can see its source code in the lower part.
• Function. When you select this information category, the right part of the window is divided into two parts. The upper part shows the list of all stored functions. When you select any of them, you can see its source code in the lower part.
• User Defined Data Types. When you select this information category, you can view the list of user-defined data types in the right part of the window.

While viewing the system information recovered from the damaged MS SQL Server database, you can make sure that this is your lost data. You can also make sure that SQL Server Recovery Toolbox works well, i.e. that it can recover as much information as possible.

Click the Next button to move to the next step.

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Step 4. Selecting the method of exporting the recovered information.

There are two methods to export the information recovered from a damaged MS SQL Server database implemented in SQL Server Recovery Toolbox. The first one is saving it as a package of scripts in the SQL language. To use it, you should select the Save script to disk radio button and specify the folder it will be saved to in the Destination Directory field. You can do it either manually or using the standard Select Folder dialog box opened with a click on the button.

If you choose this option, during the recovery process the program will create a folder with the name generated according to the following template in the specified folder: Recovered source file name. It will contain a set of scripts in the SQL language and the file install.bat for the installation of the information on the server. Its launch command format: "install.bat server_name database_name username". This set of scripts can be moved to any computer and run on it.

The second method is exporting the recovered information directly into the database. To do it, you should select the Execute script on database radio button and specify the connection string in the Connection String field. You can do it either manually or using the standard Data Link Properties dialog box opened with a click on the button.

Since there can be a lot of information stored in the database, the program can split the output scripts into parts. To specify the maximum file size, you should specify the necessary number in the Split into parts with size = field (in kilobytes).

Click the Next button to move to the next step.

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Step 5. Selecting the information to be recovered and saved.

The window in this step looks very much the same as the window for viewing information (see step 3). The only thing that is different is checkboxes next to the names of all categories and objects. They are used to specify the information that will be recovered from the damaged MS SQL Server database and saved.

• To select the entire database or clear this selection, just select/clear the Database checkbox in the left part of the window.
• To select some category or clear this selection, you should select/clear the checkbox next to its name.
• To select some particular object or clear the selection, you should select the name of the category it belongs to and after that select/clear the checkbox with its name.

Click the Next button to move to the next step.

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Step 6. Complete scanning, analyzing and saving the damaged database.

When you switch to this step, the process of scanning and analyzing the damaged database starts. The progress bar on the screen allows you to watch how it is going. It should be mentioned that the duration of this process depends on the source file and the performance of the computer.

See also: How to import saved scripts into MS SQL Server database?

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Step 7. Viewing information export logs.

After the program finishes exporting the information, it will show the final report about the results of all data recovery processes from the damaged MS SQL Server databases performed during the current session of working with SQL Server Recovery Toolbox.

• It is possible to export data only in the registered version of SQL Server Recovery Toolbox. You can register the program by purchasing a registration key on the purchase page.
• SQL Server Recovery Toolbox can recover information from the following databases: Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, 2000, 2005 and 2005 (64-bit).

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