Ex post shrinking file sizes

[John Mosey]

Is there a fairly quick and dirty way to shrink the file size allowed
for a DB on SQL server after the DB is in use?

Our old DBA allowed 3 gb for log files and we don't need nearly that
much. However, the space is still being used and reserved. Can I
shrink that "maximum" and clear up the space?

I don't want to just copy all the tables and primary keys and open a
new one with the new data, though that is plan A right now.

I cant just change sysfiles, it yells at me.

[Simon Hayes]

"John Mosey" <jm****@cayen.net> wrote in message
news:9e**************************@posting.google.c om...

Is there a fairly quick and dirty way to shrink the file size allowed
for a DB on SQL server after the DB is in use?

Our old DBA allowed 3 gb for log files and we don't need nearly that
much. However, the space is still being used and reserved. Can I
shrink that "maximum" and clear up the space?

I don't want to just copy all the tables and primary keys and open a
new one with the new data, though that is plan A right now.

I cant just change sysfiles, it yells at me.

You don't mention which version of MSSQL you have - assuming it's 2000, then
you can do this through Enterprise Manager, or using DBCC SHRINKFILE.

Simon