SQL Server: Importing database from .mdf?

sql-server database import mdf ssms
AgileMeansDoAsLittleAsPossible picture AgileMeansDoAsLittleAsPossible · Oct 27, 2010 · Viewed 114.9k times · Source

I have an .mdf file on my local box.

I have SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Management Studio 2008 Express installed on my local box.

How in the world do I import this .mdf file as a new database into my SQL Server?

This seems like a ridiculously common task that must be performed thousands of times a day across the globe, and I cannot figure out how to do it in Management Studio Express.

What am I missing?

Answer

saba picture saba · Jan 19, 2013

Open SQL Management Studio Express and log in to the server to which you want to attach the database. In the 'Object Explorer' window, right-click on the 'Databases' folder and select 'Attach...' The 'Attach Databases' window will open; inside that window click 'Add...' and then navigate to your .MDF file and click 'OK'. Click 'OK' once more to finish attaching the database and you are done. The database should be available for use. best regards :)

Related questions

MS SQL Server - Bulk Insert Across a Network

I have an application that uses MS SQL Server for which I'll need to do a bulk insert from a file. The sticking point is that the database and my application will be hosted on separate servers. What is the …

Read More
Reset identity seed after deleting records in SQL Server

I have inserted records into a SQL Server database table. The table had a primary key defined and the auto increment identity seed is set to “Yes”. This is done primarily because in SQL Azure, each table has to have …

Read More
How do I list all the columns in a table?

For the various popular database systems, how do you list all the columns in a table?

Read More