Introduction
Microsoft SQL Server is one of the most popular relational database management systems used by organizations across the world. In some cases, these organizations may have multiple SQL Server databases that they want to merge to streamline their data management process. This guide outlines the steps required to merge MSSQL databases.
Preparation
1. Back up your databases
The first step in merging MSSQL databases is to backup the databases. This is a crucial step in case something goes wrong during the merging process. To back up a database, use the following SQL command:
BACKUP DATABASE [Database Name] TO DISK='[Backup File Path]'
Note: Replace [Database Name] with the name of your database and [Backup File Path] with the path where you want to save the backup file.
2. Create a new database
The next step is to create a new database that will be used to merge the old databases. To create a new database, use the following SQL command:
CREATE DATABASE [New Database Name]
Note: Replace [New Database Name] with the name you want to give to your new database.
Merging Databases
1. Generate Scripts
To merge the databases, you need to generate scripts for each old database. The scripts will contain the schema and data of each old database. To generate the scripts, follow these steps:
Right-click on the old database and click on "Tasks" then "Generate Scripts".
Choose "Select specific database objects" and select all tables and other objects that you would like to merge.
Choose "Save to file" and save the script to a location of your choice.
Repeat these steps for each old database that you want to merge.
Note: Make sure to save the scripts with different names so that you don't overwrite any existing scripts.
2. Modify Scripts
Before you can merge the databases, you need to modify the scripts you generated in the previous step. Follow these steps:
Open each script in a text editor.
Change the name of each table so that it matches the new database name.
Change the "CREATE TABLE" statements to include a different schema name for each table.
Delete any references to foreign keys or constraints that reference tables in other scripts.
Note: Be careful when making these changes to ensure that you do not accidentally modify other elements of the script.
3. Run Scripts
After you have modified the scripts, you can run them to create tables and import data into the new database. Follow these steps:
Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the new database.
Right-click on the database and click on "New Query".
Paste the modified scripts into the query window.
Execute the query.
Note: Depending on the size of your databases, running the scripts may take a considerable amount of time.
Conclusion
Merging MSSQL databases can be a challenging task, but if done correctly, it can greatly simplify your data management process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can merge multiple MSSQL databases into one new database in a safe and efficient manner.