How To Convert SQL Server 2008 Database To SQL Server 2005?

Requirements

If you are trying to restore database backup of SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2005, you are bound to fail. Database backup of SQL Server 2008 is not compatible backward, you cannot restore it to SQL Server 2005. The following is a solution to convert databases of SQL Server 2008 to 2005

Step by Step Guide

1) Start convert wizard

Open SQL Server Management Studio2008. in 'Object Explorer', right click the database that you want to convert. Select 'Tasks' > 'Generate Scripts...'.

2) Next

Click 'Next'.

3) Select database and objects

Select the database that you want to convert, and check on 'Scripts all objects in the selected databases'

4) Convert Options

Set options:

'Script for Server Version' = 'SQL Server 2005'
'Script Data' = 'True'
'Scirpt Database Create' = 'True'
    

5) Output Option

Select option 'Script to file', 'Single file' and 'Unicode text'.

6) 'Finish'

View summary and click 'Finish'.

7) Result

Now you got a complete database creation script with data. It can be executed on target database server.

8) Amend Script

Open the generated script in SQL Server Management Studio 2005. Find the following section and amend the path to proper data folder

    CREATE DATABASE [StockTraderDB] ON  PRIMARY 
( NAME = N'StockTraderDB', 
FILENAME = N'c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\StockTraderDB.mdf ,
 SIZE = 4352KB , MAXSIZE = UNLIMITED, FILEGROWTH = 1024KB )
 LOG ON 
( NAME = N'StockTraderDB_log', 
FILENAME = N'c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\StockTraderDB_log.LDF',
 SIZE = 6272KB , MAXSIZE = 2048GB , FILEGROWTH = 10%)

9) Execute the Script

When finished, You should get converted database of SQL Server 2005

Related Resources

Restore a SQL Server 2008 Database into SQL Server 2005