copy a database within SQL Server Express?

Solution 1:

In SSMS 2008 you can do this:

1. Create a backup of the database you want to copy

2. In SSMS, right-click 'Databases' and select 'Restore Database'

3. Select the database you wish to copy from the 'From database' drop-down list in the 'Source for restore' section

4. Enter the name of the new database in the 'To database' field in the 'Destination for Restore' section - this cannot be the name of an existing database.

5. Click OK

You're done! :)

Solution 2:

In SQL Server Express 2012 you can do following steps:

1. Create a backup of the database you want to copy
2. right-click "Databases" and select "Restore Files and Filegroups"
3. Enter the name of the new database in the "To database" field.
4. Select "From device" and then select the file that you backuped in the first step
5. click "OK"

this will "clone" the Database with the correct table settings such as the "default value" and "auto increase" etc.

Solution 3:

SQL Express database has an export button, I just exported the database to a new database on the same server, it is copying the database. Just right-click on the database name.