Listing Files in a Backup File/Device

Someone sends you a backup file to restore, what do you do next? How do you know what database it contains and what logical files so you can map them to the correct drives for your server? We can view the needed answers in Management Studio, or we can use RESTORE FILELIST ONLY or RESTORE HEADERONLY to quickly view the contents of the backup. You'll use this more than once in your career!

Andy Warren is a software trainer focusing on SQL Server, a member of the PASS Board of Directors, and a principal in this site - SQLShare.com.

Carol Green on 7/7/2010

I can't see it!

Tracie Arnold on 7/7/2010

this will come in very helpful.

Don on 7/7/2010

Good to know that there is a way to find out what is inside a backup without using the UI in SSMS. Thanks for the tip!

Kevin on 7/7/2010

Excellent. Thanks.

Ravi Raj on 7/7/2010

good one

Carla Wilson on 7/7/2010

So, if you want to use a script to run the restore, and you have multiple backups in the file, how would you specify which backup to use?

Charlie Bruno on 7/7/2010

I learned something new.

arshpreet on 7/7/2010

very useful for me..thanks for the video!

yeskay on 7/8/2010

learnt something new thanks andy...

Glenn Thompson on 7/8/2010

When I try to use Restore Headeronly from disk, I don't see the names of the files in the backup like when using the filelistonly command. I'm using SQL Svr 2008, Developer and the backup file I was reading was from SQL Svr 2005. Don't know if that makes a difference or not. Great presentation. Thanks a lot. glnn

Diana Dee on 7/12/2010

You might have shown HEADERONLY first, then for one of the full backups, show FILELISTONLY ... WITH FILE = 2.

Mahesh on 8/8/2010

useful