Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Using BACPAC Files for Backup and Restore

Database administrators tasked with deploying databases to remote servers can use data-tier applications (DACs, introduced with SQL Server 2008 R2) to rapidly and reliably create the schemas, tables, views, and other objects that make up application databases to any number of target environments.

DACs rely on backup package (BACPAC) files that contain all the logic necessary to re-create a database and its dependencies. The BACPAC functionality provided out-of-the-box in SSMS enables you to easily transfer databases into and out of SQL Database as a simple means of backup and restore.

Creating BACPAC Files

To export a complete database from SQL Database to a local file, complete the following steps: ...