Transferring Data

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

The Transfer class is a utility class that provides tools to transfer objects and data.

Objects in the database schema are transferred by executing a generated script on the target server. Table data is transferred with a dynamically created DTS package.

The Transfer object uses the SQLBulkCopy API to transfer data. Also, the methods and properties that are used to perform data transfers reside on the Transfer object instead of the Database object. Moving functionality from the instance classes to utility classes is consistent with a lighter object model because the code for specific tasks is loaded only when it is required.

The Transfer object does not support data transfers to a target database that has a CompatibilityLevel less than the version of the instance of SQL Server.

Example

To use any code example that is provided, you will have to choose the programming environment, the programming template, and the programming language in which to create your application. For more information, see Create a Visual C# SMO Project in Visual Studio .NET.

Transferring Schema and Data from One Database to Another in Visual Basic

This code example shows how to transfer schema and data from one database to another using the Transfer object.

'Connect to the local, default instance of SQL Server.
Dim srv As Server
srv = New Server
'Reference the AdventureWorks2022 database
Dim db As Database
db = srv.Databases("AdventureWorks2022")
'Create a new database that is to be destination database.
Dim dbCopy As Database
dbCopy = New Database(srv, "AdventureWorks2022Copy")
dbCopy.Create()
'Define a Transfer object and set the required options and properties.
Dim xfr As Transfer
xfr = New Transfer(db)
xfr.CopyAllTables = True
xfr.Options.WithDependencies = True
xfr.Options.ContinueScriptingOnError = True
xfr.DestinationDatabase = "AdventureWorks2022Copy"
xfr.DestinationServer = srv.Name
xfr.DestinationLoginSecure = True
xfr.CopySchema = True
'Script the transfer. Alternatively perform immediate data transfer with TransferData method.
xfr.ScriptTransfer()

Transferring Schema and Data from One Database to Another in Visual C#

This code example shows how to transfer schema and data from one database to another using the Transfer object.

{  
            Server srv;  
            srv = new Server();  
            //Reference the AdventureWorks2022 database   
            Database db;  
            db = srv.Databases["AdventureWorks2022"];  
            //Create a new database that is to be destination database.   
            Database dbCopy;  
            dbCopy = new Database(srv, "AdventureWorks2022Copy");  
            dbCopy.Create();  
            //Define a Transfer object and set the required options and properties.   
            Transfer xfr;  
            xfr = new Transfer(db);  
            xfr.CopyAllTables = true;  
            xfr.Options.WithDependencies = true;  
            xfr.Options.ContinueScriptingOnError = true;  
            xfr.DestinationDatabase = "AdventureWorks2022Copy";  
            xfr.DestinationServer = srv.Name;  
            xfr.DestinationLoginSecure = true;  
            xfr.CopySchema = true;  
            //Script the transfer. Alternatively perform immediate data transfer   
            // with TransferData method.   
            xfr.ScriptTransfer();  
        }   

Transferring Schema and Data from One Database to Another in PowerShell

This code example shows how to transfer schema and data from one database to another using the Transfer object.

#Connect to the local, default instance of SQL Server.  
  
#Get a server object which corresponds to the default instance  
$srv = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SMO.Server  
  
#Reference the AdventureWorks2022 database.  
$db = $srv.Databases["AdventureWorks2022"]  
  
#Create a database to hold the copy of AdventureWorks  
$dbCopy = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SMO.Database -argumentlist $srv, "AdventureWorksCopy"  
$dbCopy.Create()  
  
#Define a Transfer object and set the required options and properties.  
$xfr = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SMO.Transfer -argumentlist $db  
  
#Set this objects properties  
$xfr.CopyAllTables = $true  
$xfr.Options.WithDependencies = $true  
$xfr.Options.ContinueScriptingOnError = $true  
$xfr.DestinationDatabase = "AdventureWorksCopy"  
$xfr.DestinationServer = $srv.Name  
$xfr.DestinationLoginSecure = $true  
$xfr.CopySchema = $true  
"Scripting Data Transfer"  
#Script the transfer. Alternatively perform immediate data transfer with TransferData method.  
$xfr.ScriptTransfer()