[thelist] extracting data from a MS SQL database back-up file (OT?)

[Ken Schaefer]

To restore to MS SQL Server 2000 (it assumes you have the client tools
installed - you can install these from the trial edition of MS SQL Server
2000 - the client tools do not expire). The first link tells you what to do.
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Restore+Microsoft+SQL+Server+database+site%
3Amicrosoft.com


If you are restoring to MS SQL Server 2005, the first link here tells you
what to do:
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Restore+Microsoft+SQL+Server+2005+database+
site%3Amicrosoft.com

SQL Server 2005 Express has two download options - with or without Advanced
Services. If you choose not to download the Advanced Services bit, then you
don't have Management Studio. See:
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/features/compare-features.mspx
So either download SQL Server 2005 Express with Advanced Services, or use a
different edition of SQL Server 2005 (e.g. Workgroup or Developer Edition).

Cheers
Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: thelist-bounces at lists.evolt.org
[mailto:thelist-bounces at lists.evolt.org] On Behalf Of
rogerharness at comcast.net
Sent: Saturday, 12 May 2007 4:10 PM
To: thelist at lists.evolt.org
Subject: [thelist] extracting data from a MS SQL database back-up file (OT?)

Dear Evolters,

I hope this isn't too far off topic!?

At work we use a web-based LMS called Pathlore to keep track of all of our
employee training. The Pathlore database itself is housed on a Windows
server. While Pathlore can generate some simple reports, I mainly use Crystal
Reports to run anything more complicated then say a simple employee training
history.

I *can* run Pathlore from any computer with internet access, and successfully
access the training database. Unfortunately I can't reach the database via
Crystal Reports for security reasons, both from our IT folks, as well as
Pathlore's.

However, Pathlore technical support DID create and send me a back-up copy of
the database. But they said to view or extract any data, since the database
is an MS-SQL back-up file, I would need to open up the file using a Windows
Server. THEN I would be able to somehow access the data with Crystal Reports,
locally on my machine.

Honestly I'm pretty clueless with Window's servers. I tried to download and
install the simplelest Windows Server application I could find, which I
thought was Microsoft SQL Server 2005. And I *think* when I downloaded it, it
said something about "Express".

But now I still can't do anything with my back-up file! I don't even know how
to start the MS SQL Server, or what to do once I get it going. I was hoping
it would be similar to PHPMyAdmin where I could easily manage the data/etc,
but I am not having any luck.

Tech support is no help, and I've been googling it seems like forever now!
Does anyone have any tips, suggestions, help, etc. for me to be able to
access this information? 

TIA as always!

-Roger Harness
-- 

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