How to Recover Data from the SQL Server Transaction Log

Summary: SQL Server is the specially designed programming language that handles the data of a relational database management system (RDMS). Every SQL Server Database contains a transaction log that keeps track of all the transactions ever made. However, there are some reasons why users won’t be able to open the SQL Server Transaction Log File, like system failure and database objects being deleted. Due to all these, it is also possible that your Transaction Log file (.ldf) gets corrupted or damaged. In this blog, we will discuss the different methods to recover data from the SQL Server Transaction Log File, whether it is corrupted or inaccessible. But if the manual procedure won’t work for you to recover data from the Translation Log file, try the Aryson SQL Server Transaction Log Analyzer. It allows you to recover or restore Data from SQL Server Transaction Log files and save them into SQL Server Database and SQL compatible Script.

What is the Main Purpose of the Transaction Log File?

Every SQL Server database has its Transaction Log file, which mainly works to store the log records produced during the logging process in a SQL Server database. It is the main part of the database, which works when your SQL Server database has server failures, corruption, disasters, data loss, etc. Once you edit or modify your database, the log record of the transaction log file is itself generated in the database.

Method to Recover Data from the SQL Server Transaction Log

There are multiple processes to recover data from the SQL Server Transaction Log file, and they are simple to perform but do not assure you of data privacy and recovery. So, we suggest a professional solution that allows users to recover data from the Transaction Log file in the SQL Server.

This Best SQL Log Analyzer Tool is the best and finest utility for all SQL Server users to recover data from the corrupt or healthy Transaction log file(.ldf). It is competent enough to retrieve all the data from the Transaction log file and restore them into the SQL Server Database and SQL-compatible Script. In addition, it also shows the details of the added Transaction Log files, like table details and others.

How to Recover Data from a Transaction Log file in SQL Server? 

Here are the steps to recover data from the Transaction Log file in the SQL Server database. Follow the procedure correctly to use your recovered Transaction log file data again:

1. Download and Run SQL Log Analyzer Tool on your PC.
2. Click the Browse button to add the Transaction Log file in the software wizard.
3. Click Next to start the scanning process.
4. The software shows the details of the added Log file like SQL file version, Collation, and others.
5. Select the tables that you want to restore and click the Save button.
6. Choose the saving option: Save in SQL database or Save as SQL script.
7. Here, we perform the procedure by selecting SQL Server Authentication.
8. Enter the required details and click the Test Database Connection button.
9. Click the Ok button to start the saving process of SQL tables.
10. Once the process is completed, you will find a confirmation message Saving Process is Completed. Click Ok.

Some Efficient Features of the Software

• Scan the LDF file for SQL Server Transaction Log Analysis.
• Recover Data from the SQL Server Transaction Log file with ease.
• Successfully performs recovery of the corrupt transaction log.
• Select the LDF and the MDF file to fix the corrupt log of the SQL database.
• Take a preview of SQL logs like Transaction, Table Name, Time, Name, & Query.
• Auto-display feature to show details of SQL files like file version and SQL file collation.
• Successfully recover transaction queries like Insert, Update, and Delete.
• Save the recovered data as a new SQL database or as a script.
• Save table constraints like Primary key, foreign key, super key, etc.
• Offers data filtering within a date range through the Date Range Filter option.
• Supports Unicode (collation) data tables after the export process.
• No need for any technical expertise to operate the tool for recovery.
• Perform recovery of SQL LDF files created by version 2005 and later on.

Restore SQL Server Database from a Transaction Log File

The transaction log file keeps track of all the transactions that have occurred before the last backup. It also lets the users restore SQL Server Database until the last error happens. Transaction files work in the form of a chain. To restore data, transaction files will be read in a sequence. The method to restore SQL Server Database from the transaction log file is as follows:

• Use RESTORE LOG to apply transaction log backup
• Next, specify the name of the database to which you will apply the transaction log
• After that, enter the name of the backup device that contains the transaction backup log files
• At last, the NORECOVERY clause must be mentioned

The syntax for the same is:

RESTORE LOG database_name FROM < backup_device > WITH NORECOVERY

In the example below, first of all, the RESTORE LOG command is used. This command lets users restore all the transaction log backups up to a certain point.

Here, the full database backup method is used in the database DreamLit2020 that is saved in the backup device DreamLit2020_1. After that, transaction log backup is applied to the backup device DreamLit2020_log one by one.

Conclusion

Even though there are various means to recover Data from the SQL Server Transaction Log, but if the log files are corrupted, then the methods will not work. Then, the only software that will come to help you is the Aryson SQL Transaction Log Analyzer. It allows users to view the SQL Server log file data and restore it into the SQL Server database. This software will provide the best results in all the different SQL versions, like 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008, 2005, and 2000.

Frequently Asked Questions

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