Copy Table Schema and Data From One Database to Another Database in SQL Server

Several times we need to copy SQL Server table schemas and data from one database to another database. In this article, I show how to do this using a query as well as graphically in SQL Server.

I have created two databases named databasefrm and databaseto. In database databasefrm, I have a table named Emp containing data like ID, Name, Address and so on. I want to copy the table Emp to databaseto. We can do this using various methods.

Method 1: Using Query

The query required here is:

Query Syntax: Select * into DestinationDB.dbo.tableName from SourceDB.dbo.SourceTable

Example

select * into databaseto.dbo.emp from databasefrm.dbo.Emp

This command only copies the table schema and data. If we want to copy objects, indexes, triggers or constraints then we need to generate Scripts (third method) that we will talk about later in this article.

If we want to copy a table in the same database then we need to first use our database then execute this query:

select * into newtable from SourceTable

Example
 

select * into emp1 from emp

We can also select only a few columns into the destination table.

Query Syntax

select col1, col2 into <destination_table> from <source_table>

Example

select Id,Name into databaseto.dbo.emp1 from databasefrm.dbo.Emp

Preview after executing this query:

Here we only copy Id and Name in table emp1 from the Emp table in the databasefrm database.

 

If we want to copy only the structure or the schema of the table then we need to use this query:
 

select *into <destination_database.dbo.destination table> from <source_database.dbo.source table> where 1 = 2

 

Preview after executing this query:

Method 2:

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio

2. Right-click on the database name then select "Tasks" > "Export data..." from the object explorer.

3. The SQL Server Import/Export wizard opens; click on "Next"

4. Provide authentication and select the source from which you want to copy the data; click "Next".

5. Specify where to copy the data to; click on "Next".

Method 3: Generate Script

By using the above two methods we are only able to copy the table schema and data but we are not able to copy views, functions, constraints, triggers and so on. We can copy all these things by generating scripts.

Let's see how to generate a script:

1. Right-click on the database name then select "Tasks" then click on "Generate Scripts". After that the Script Wizard opens. Click on "Next".
2. Select the Database you want to script.
3. Choose the object types. Click on "Next".
4. Select the tables.
5. Select the Output option for the script.
6. Change/Edit the database name to the name you want to execute this script for.

Let's see how to do it step-by-step: