Backup Structure Only

[Trevor Best]

Is there a way to back up the structure of the database only? i.e.
backup without the data.

I sometimes need to backup a database in one location and compare the
structure in another, can be a pain if there's 600MB of data that goes
with it.

[sqlmatt]

I do not believe you can backup just the db structure. Why not use a
tool like AdeptSQL Diff or Red Gate SQL Compare for a schema
comparison?

[xman]

On Jul 13, 8:00 am, Trevor Best <[e-mail]:

Is there a way to back up the structure of the database only? i.e.
backup without the data.

I sometimes need to backup a database in one location andcomparethe
structure in another, can be a pain if there's 600MB of data that goes
with it.

Hi Trevor,

have a look at xSQL Software's (www.xsqlsoftware.com) xSQL Object - it
allows you to take snapshot of the database schema only (without the
data). You can then compare snapshots to live databases or snapshots
to snapshots etc.

Thanks,
JC
xSQL Software
http://www.xsqlsoftware.com

[Erland Sommarskog]

Trevor Best (go**********@besty.org.uk) writes:

Is there a way to back up the structure of the database only? i.e.
backup without the data.

I sometimes need to backup a database in one location and compare the
structure in another, can be a pain if there's 600MB of data that goes
with it.

The new version of SQL Compare from Red Gate permits you to script the
database to a folder, and then you can compare a database to that folder.

You can also script the database from Enterprise Manager and SQL Server
Mgmt Studio, and then create a database from that script on the target.
--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, es****@sommarskog.se

Books Online for SQL Server 2005 at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...ads/books.mspx
Books Online for SQL Server 2000 at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinf...ons/books.mspx

[Sualeh Fatehi]

The free, open-source SchemaCrawler tool will do what you need. You
can take human-readable snapshots of the schema and/ or data, for
later comparison. Comparisons are done using a standard diff tool such
as WinMerge. SchemaCrawler outputs details of your schema (tables,
views, procedures, and more) in a diff-able plain-text format (text,
CSV, or XHTML). SchemaCrawler can also output data (including CLOBs
and BLOBs) in the same plain-text formats. A lot of examples are
available with the download to help you get started. You will need to
provide a JDBC driver for your database, such as the free jTDS driver
for SQL Server.

You can download a pre-packaged version of SchemaCrawler for SQL
Server to get you started quickly. SchemaCrawler is available at
SourceForge:http://schemacrawler.sourceforge.net/

Sualeh Fatehi.

[Trevor Best]

Thanks all. I'm planning on upgrading SQL Compare anyway so will go
with Erland's suggestion.

[Trevor Best]

On Jul 13, 4:33 pm, sqlmatt <[e-mail]:

I do not believe you can backup just the db structure. Why not use a
tool like AdeptSQL Diff or Red Gate SQL Compare for a schema
comparison?

yebbut, kinda need to get the databases to the same location to
compare them ;-)