Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Copying Databases

SQL Database supports easy copying of existing SQL databases using the AS COPY OF clause of the CREATE DATABASE statement (keep in mind that you cannot copy the master database using this technique), shown in Listing 52.4. You can even use this syntax to create a copy of a database on a different SQL Database server (provided the source and target servers reside in the same geographical region) simply by prefixing the name of the source server to the name of the source database.

LISTING 52.4 Copying an Existing SQL Database Using T-SQL

Click here to view code image

CREATE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012_CopyAS COPY OF AdventureWorks2012;GOWAITFOR DELAY '00:02:00'; -- two-minute delay; allows time to copy dataDECLARE @DBID INT = ...