The purpose of this tutorial is to show how to use Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express to (1) import and export data to the same instance of the Microsoft SQL Server Express server. The last section of this tutorial shows how to attach original database data to alternate servers.

There are a number of reasons that you should back up your databases; three of the more important reasons would be:

1. All hard drives will eventually go bad; a current backup will enable you to restore the databases.
    
2. When developers are designing new procedures and queries, they will often test those functions on a backup copy of the database; once the testing proves to be correct, they can be used on the original database. If the procedures or queries are found to be faulty, the original database has not been destroyed.
    
3. There will be times when you wish to transfer a copy of the database to a second computer system. Exporting from the original database system and Importing to the second computer system will enable you to establish the second database.

There are a number of reasons that you should back up your databases; three of the more important reasons would be:

1] We shall backup the Northwind database on Net1. Note that the Northwind database contains 8 tables.

1] Using the mouse, right-mouse-click on the Northwind Database --> Select Tasks --> Select Back Up... (See Below!)

1] Using the mouse, right-mouse-click on the Northwind Database --> Select Delete (See Below!)

1] Suppose we have a copy of our Northwind.bak in directory C:\  (See Below!)

2] Using the mouse, right-mouse-click on Databases --> Select Restore Database (See Below!)

5] Locate the backup file in the top window. Using the mouse, select/push the OK button. I have selected Northwind.bak on C:\    (See Below!)
 

6] Using the mouse, select/push the OK button. (See Below!)
 

 

7] Check the box beside Northwind-Full Database Backup. Using the mouse, select/push the OK button. (See Below!)
 

 

8] Using the mouse, select/push the OK button. (See Below!)
 

9] As you can see below, once again we have a Northwind database whose Customer table has 91 records. This process can be used to make a copies of the Northwind database on other SQL/SQLEXPRESS Servers.  (See Below!)

1] Suppose we have a copy of our Northwind.bak in directory C:\  (See Below!)

2] Using the mouse, right-mouse-click on Databases --> Select Restore Database (See Below!)

1] Suppose we have a copy of our Northwind.bak in directory C:\  (See Below!)

2] Using the mouse, right-mouse-click on Databases --> Select Restore Database (See Below!)