Create Duplicate SQL Database for Testing
I found this method to be most effective on SQL Server 2005 and 2008, Express Editions:
From the Microsoft Docs:
- Right click on the database you want to duplicate and choose Tasks->"Back Up..."
- Save the back up to a .bak file
- Right click on the "Databases" folder in the Object Explorer in SQL Server Management Studio
- Choose "Restore Database"
- As the source, select "File" and point to the .bak file you created earlier.
- Change the name of the database to restore to (this was the key step for me - you are not constrained to the options in the dropdown.)
SSMS will restore your .bak file to a new database, according to the name that you give it.
use copy database option in SQL server management studio