Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Using ALTER DATABASE

The ALTER DATABASE option for moving user database files was added in SQL Server 2005. This option involves the following steps:

1. Take the database offline.

2. Manually move the file(s) to the new location.

3. Run the ALTER DATABASE command to set the FILENAME property to the new file location.

4. Bring the database online.

The following example uses the ALTER DATABASE command to move the log file for the AdventureWorks2012 database to the root of the C: drive.

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ALTER DATABASE AdventureWorks2012 MODIFY FILE (NAME = AdventureWorks2012_Log,  FILENAME = 'C:\AdventureWorks2012_log.ldf')

Caution

Use caution when specifying the FILENAME parameter to move a database log file. If the FILENAME setting ...