Delete Data or Log Files from a Database
This topic describes how to delete data or log files in SQL Server 2012 by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.
In This Topic
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Before you begin:
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To delete data or logs files from a database, using:
Prerequisites
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A file must be empty before it can be deleted. For more information, see Shrink a File.
Security
To delete data or log files from a database
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In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine and then expand that instance.
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Expand Databases, right-click the database from which to delete the file, and then click Properties.
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Select the Files page.
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In the Database files grid, select the file to delete and then click Remove.
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Click OK.
To delete data or log files from a database
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Connect to the Database Engine.
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From the Standard bar, click New Query.
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Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click Execute. This example removes the file test1dat4.
USE master; GO ALTER DATABASE AdventureWorks2012 REMOVE FILE test1dat4; GO
For more examples, see ALTER DATABASE File and Filegroup Options (Transact-SQL).
