3. How it Works

How to View LDF Files Using SQL LDF Viewer


  1. In the Start menu, go to All Programs>> SQL LOG Analyzer>> SQL LOG Analyzer. A window like this will pop up on screen:
    Install SQL Log Analyzer Tool
  2. In the navigation bar at the top, click on 'Open' button to add LOG file for analysis.
    Click on Open Option
  3. Browse the LDF file to view SQL transaction log data.
    Browse LDF File
  4. Select the LDF file from system (at once only one LOG file can be selected). Click Open. Select LDF File
  5. If location of LDF and MDF file is same, the software will automatically detect the MDF file. Else, the user has to browse for the MDF file location.
    Automatically Detect MDF File
  6. The software will start scanning the selected LOG files and once scanning is done, a message about the same will be received on screen. Click OK.
    Complete Scanning
  7. A preview of log files with details like transaction type, time, table name, query etc will be displayed within SQL server log explorer panel.
    Preview
  8. From the left panel of software, a table can be selected and its corresponding LOG details will be available in right panel.
    Selecte the Table to View LDF Details
  9. The type of transaction can be sorted accordingly.
    Sort Elements According to Transactions
  10. The log file can be sorted according to Time when it was updated.
    Sort Elements According to Time
  11. The log file can be sorted according to table name also.
    Sort Elements According to Table Name
  12. The log file can be sorted according to the name of transaction.
    Sort Elements According to Transactions Name
  13. The row and details of the selected transaction can be viewed at bottom of right panel.
    Preview Selected Row
  14. The tool to open SQL log file gives the option to export the tables from Log file. Select the tables to be exported from left panel.
    Select Elements to Export
  15. Click on the 'Export' button from the navigation bar at the top to start exporting the log file tables.
    Export
  16. The tool gives three options to export the log tables. If 'SQL Server Database' is selected, the tables will be saved in an MDF file which can be directly saved on Server. Also, the 'Database Credentials' column has to be filled.
  17. Now you can create destination database.
  18. If 'SQL Server Compatible Scripts' is selected, chose a destination location on local machine where '.sql' file will be created.
  19. If 'CSV' file is selected, the details of selected LOG file will be exported into a CSV file.
    Export in SQL Server Database
  20. Select Record types which want to export.
    Select Record Types
  21. Filter & the records according datewise.
    Filter the Data According Datewise
  22. Browse for a location where SQL Server compatible scripts or CSV file has to be saved.
    Browse Location
  23. Select the location and click OK.
    Select location
  24. Click on Export button to start saving the log files.
    Click Export
  25. A status regarding the export process completion will be displayed on screen.
    Export Process
  26. Click OK when message regarding successful export is obtained on screen.
    Completed Export Process