What to use to open an .mdf (SQL Database) file

Question

I was hoping to be able to open .mdf file. I am using WebMatrix, I can view the queries there. I can read the schema too. But how can I read the file without using WebMatrix. Its SQL Server file not the Comptact edition.

I have searched for web help (Through windows). But all in vain. I will prefer any link or any method to read the basic queries.

but `.sdf` _is_ a Compact database... – Brad Christie Aug 18 '13 at 23:56 — Brad Christie, Aug 18 '13 at 23:56
Sorry, file format is .mdf. It was my bad! – Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan Aug 19 '13 at 00:05 — Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan, Aug 19 '13 at 00:05

score 14 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 08 '17 at 14:43

14

.sdf is, in fact, a Compact Database file (unless you've changed the extension which would be problematic). SQL Server would be .mdf.

SQL Server (`.mdf`)

You can attach the database to your local SQLEXPRESS instance and view it. An example of attaching it can be found on msdn: How to: attach a Database File to SQL Server Express. Essentially you're calling:

USE [master]
GO

CREATE DATABASE [database_name] ON 
    ( FILENAME = N'C:\Path\To\<database name>.mdf' ),
    ( FILENAME = N'C:\Path\To\<database name>.ldf' )
    FOR ATTACH ;
GO

SQL Compact Edition (`.sdf`)

The best tool I've found to open them is CompactView.

screenshot

edited Feb 08 '17 at 14:43

Community

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answered Aug 19 '13 at 00:00

Brad Christie

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Sorry It was my bad. I have just edited the file name! Actually I am having two folders one is the folder for App_Data (The one that is in the documents) and the other in C:\. So it just slipped off my mind. Sorry – Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan Aug 19 '13 at 00:06
1

@AfzaalAhmadZeeshan: No worried; Updated the answer for accommodate for `.mdf`. best thing to do is just attach it to your local SQLEXPRESS. (A walk-through can be found [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhIr9Qf-oHw)) – Brad Christie Aug 19 '13 at 00:12
Sorry youtube is blocked here! :( Will try to Google it. Anyways thanks :) – Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan Aug 19 '13 at 00:16

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 15 '18 at 11:47

1

SysTools SQL MDF Viewer can be used to view the table contents. I tried with the free trial version.

edited Nov 15 '18 at 11:47

Martijn Pieters

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answered Jul 17 '17 at 10:58

hailinzeng

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but it cant be used to get or copy something out of it – Bo Pennings Mar 28 '18 at 08:54

What to use to open an .mdf (SQL Database) file

2 Answers2

SQL Server (`.mdf`)

SQL Compact Edition (`.sdf`)

Linked

What to use to open an .mdf (SQL Database) file

2 Answers2

SQL Server (.mdf)

SQL Compact Edition (.sdf)

Linked

SQL Server (`.mdf`)

SQL Compact Edition (`.sdf`)