Reading SQL Server File

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OriginalGriff · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-26T22:02:00

Solution 1

Don't.

Seriously - don't do it. If SQL server is handling the file, leave it to it. All you will do is read changing or invalid data and cause problems. Access the data via SQL and all will be fine.

Posted 26-Mar-13 22:02pm

OriginalGriff

Comments

Hekmat90 27-Mar-13 4:10am

I only Want to read Tables No change them cause problem.
Is the way to do this?

OriginalGriff 27-Mar-13 4:51am

Doens't matter if you try to read or write - SQL will require an Exclusive lock on tehfile to write to it, and if you are reading then either the data you read will be changing while you read it, or SQL server will be unable to complete it's operation, so data may be lost.
Do not do it. Seriously!

**Zoltán Zörgő** · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-26T22:22:00

OriginalGriff is right: don't try do that. The mdf file structure is not simple, and first of all, not public. It is a proprietary format - and you newer know how much your really reverse engineered. But not at least, you will not be able to open the database file directly while the server is using it - not even for reading. It has an exclusive lock. You could only access it if you use VSS (Volume Shadow Copy).