Save deadlock graphs (SQL Server Profiler)
Applies to: 
SQL Server
This topic describes how to save a deadlock graph by using SQL Server Profiler. Deadlock graphs are saved as XML files.
Save deadlock graph events separately
On the File menu, select New Trace, and then connect to an instance of SQL Server.
The Trace Properties dialog box appears.
Note
If you select Start tracing immediately after making connection, the Trace Properties dialog box fails to appear, and the trace begins instead. To turn off this setting, on the Tools menu, select Options, and clear the Start tracing immediately after making connection check box.
In the Trace Properties dialog box, type a name for the trace in the Trace name box.
In the Use the template list, select a trace template on which to base the trace. If you don't want to use a template, select Blank.
Do one of the following:
To capture the trace to a file, select the Save to file check box. Specify a value for Set maximum file size.
Optionally, select the Enable file rollover and Server processes trace data check boxes.
To capture the trace to a database table, select the Save to table check box.
Optionally, select Set maximum rows, and specify a value.
Optionally, select the Enable trace stop time check box, and specify a stop date and time.
Select the Events Selection tab.
In the Events data column, expand the Locks event category, and then select the Deadlock graph check box. If the Locks event category isn't available, select the Show all events check box to display it.
The Events Extraction Settings tab is added to the Trace Properties dialog box.
On the Events Extraction Settings tab, select Save Deadlock XML Events Separately.
In the Save As dialog box, enter the name of the file where you want to store the deadlock graph events.
Select All Deadlock XML batches in a single file to save all deadlock graph events in a single XML file. Or select Each Deadlock XML batch in a distinct file to create a new XML file for each deadlock graph.
After you save the deadlock file, you can open the file in SQL Server Management Studio. For more information, see Open, view, and print a deadlock file (SQL Server Management Studio).