How to Recover/Restore a Single Table from SQL Database Backup?

Do you want to restore a single table from SQL backup? Well, this can be a lifesaver in situations where only specific data needs to be recovered. Even if the database is too large to restore entirely, you can backup individual table from SQL backup files. Therefore, here we will explore the correct procedure and the best SQL Database Recovery tool for the same. Go through the blog to learn the steps and recover specific tables from SQL backup.

Understanding SQL Database Backups

SQL Database Backup is a duplicate of a database’s data and transaction log files at a specific point in time. In case of hardware failures, software bugs, or human errors, it allows you to recover data at a prior state. SQL Server offers three types of backups- full, differential, and transaction log backups. However, each backup type plays a unique role in the backup and recovery plan.

Before you begin to restore a single table from SQL backup, here are the types of SQL Server Backup:

• Full backups save the complete database including data, indexes, and schema objects.
• Differential backups capture only the changes made to the database since the last full backup.
• Transaction log backups track changes at the transaction level for precise point-in-time recovery.

Furthermore, to restore specific table from SQL database backup file, you first need to extract the backup file containing the desired data. Depending on your backup strategy and storage location, you can retrieve backup files from disk, tape, or cloud storage. Let us proceed to the procedure section.

Note: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access and extract the backup file before restoring.

How to Recover Single Table from SQL Server Database File?

Multiple methods exist for restoring a single table from an SQL database backup file. However, two common manual approaches involve- SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Transact-SQL (T-SQL) commands. Apart from this, one of the most effective methods is using a professional tool for quick results. Further, we will dive deep into the procedure of all three methods respectively.

Restore a Single Table from SQL Backup- Manual Approaches

Hence, the following section discusses two methods that you can execute manually. Follow the mentioned steps carefully, to get accurate results.

Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Microsoft designed SQL Server Management Studio, or SSMS, as a fully integrated software. It is for the management of SQL Server databases, such as configuring, monitoring, and administering SQL Server instances, databases, and objects.

Follow the process below to recover specific table from SQL server database file, using SSMS:

1. Launch SQL Server Management Studio.
2. Connect to the appropriate SQL Server instance.
3. Go to the Object Explorer and locate the database where you want to restore the table.
4. Right-click on the database, select Tasks and then choose Restore.
5. In the Restore Database window, select From device and browse to the location of the backup file.
6. Once the backup file is selected, navigate to the Options page.
7. In the Restore Options section, deselect the checkboxes for all tables except the one you want to restore.
8. Click OK to initiate the restoration process.

Next, let us restore a single table from SQL backup using Transact-SQL (T-SQL) commands.

Using Transact-SQL (T-SQL) Query

This process involves several steps, as mentioned below:

• First, you need to know which backup file contains the table you want to restore.
• Use the RESTORE DATABASE command to restore the backup file into a new or existing database. This command replaces the existing database with the backup data.

RESTORE DATABASE YourDatabaseName FROM DISK = ‘C:\YourBackupFile.bak’ WITH REPLACE;

• Once the database is restored, identify the specific table you want to recover.
• Use the SELECT INTO or INSERT INTO statement to copy the data from the restored database into your target database.

SELECT * INTO YourTargetDatabaseName.dbo.YourTableName FROM YourRestoredDatabaseName.dbo.YourTableName;

Note: Replace YourTargetDatabaseName, YourTableName, and YourRestoredDatabaseName with the appropriate names.

1. Finally, verify that the table has been successfully restored by querying it in your target database.

Are you clear about the two manual procedures discussed to restore a single table from SQL backup? However, it has never been easy to backup individual table from SQL backup files. These procedures have certain limitations too that restrict users from effectively restoring tables from the SQL Server database.

Restrictions of Manual Process

• You need to recover the complete database backup to extract certain tables.
• The process may be time-consuming because of technical steps.
• Also, demands a significant amount of available space on the SQL Server.
• Moreover, if the backup file is damaged, data retrieval may not be possible.

So, how else can you restore specific table from SQL database backup file? A very simple answer to this is using a professional recovery tool. Let us explore more details about it.

Restore a Single Table from SQL Backup- Using a Dedicated Tool

You might have heard about SQL database recovery or backup recovery tools if you are an SQL expert or professional. Suggested here is among the most preferred choices, using SQL DB Recovery Tool by SysInfo. It is a fully-featured software to recover essential data from the database. Besides recovering a single table, you can easily recover other components, such as views, stored procedures, triggers, and programmability.

• It offers dual recovery modes: Standard and Advanced.
• Save MySQL database files as SQL Server database or Script compatible with SQL Server.
• Allows to preview the database information before saving it.
• No backup file size limitation to recover single table from SQL server database file.

Hence, this is the best method you will get to restore a table from the SQL Server Database file. Furthermore, if you are new to the technicalities of the tool, run a free demo tool to examine the proper functioning of the software. The free tool is featured as the premium version and is no less than the paid version.

Summing Up

Hopefully, you found the appropriate solution to restore a single table from SQL backup. Among the three methods discussed, users generally prefer the third option, which is the professional tool. Because the tool has a shorter procedure and does not require additional technical expertise. On the other hand, the manual process has to be operated under the proper technical guidance of DBA’s. Further, you can choose the suitable process accordingly.