Generating a SQL Server database script involves creating a script(e.g procedure,view,table,trigger,user define datatype) that contains the SQL commands to recreate the database schema and optionally the data. This can be useful for backup, migration, or version control purposes. SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) provides a straightforward way to generate these scripts.
Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
Launch SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.
Navigate to the Database
In the Object Explorer, expand the server node, then expand the Databases node, and find the database you want to script.
Right-Click on the Database
Right-click on the database name, then go to Tasks, and select Generate Scripts....
Script Wizard Introduction
The Generate Scripts wizard will open. Click Next on the introduction page.
Choose Objects
Select the database you want to script. You can choose to script the entire database and all of its objects, or you can select specific objects such as tables, views, stored procedures, etc. After making your selections, click Next.
Set Scripting Options
In the “Set Scripting Options” page, you need to configure various options:
Save to file: Choose to save the script to a file, clipboard, or a new query window. If saving to a file, specify the path and filename.
Advanced Options: Click the Advanced button to configure detailed scripting options such as including data, indexes, triggers, and more. Key options include:
Review Summary
Review the summary of your selections and click Next to proceed.
Generate Script
Click Finish to generate the script. SSMS will generate the script based on your selections and either save it to the specified location or open it in a new query window.
Click on next :
Click on next :
Finally click on finish.
Important Considerations
Size and Performance: For large databases, generating scripts for both schema and data can be time-consuming and result in very large files.
Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to script the database objects.
Backup: Regularly generating scripts is a good practice for backup and disaster recovery planning.
By following these steps in SQL Server Management Studio, you can efficiently generate scripts for your SQL Server databases, ensuring you have the necessary SQL commands to recreate your database schema and data as needed
An identity column in SQL Server is a column that automatically generates a unique value for each row inserted into a table. This is typically used for primary key columns to ensure that each row can be uniquely identified. Here’s a detailed explanation of how identity columns work, how to create them, and some common use cases and functions associated with them.
Creating an Identity Column
When you create a table in SQL Server, you can define an identity column by specifying the IDENTITY property. The IDENTITY property takes two parameters:
Seed: The initial value for the identity column.
Increment: The value by which the identity column is incremented for each new row.
The identity column starts at 1 (Seed = 1) and at 100(Seed=100) and increments by 1 (Increment = 1) for each new row.
lets insert few rows in both table ( seed at 1,10) an identity column, you do not need to provide a value for the identity column. SQL Server automatically generates it.
You can see the in both table employees1 and employees2 ,first employee gets an ID value 1 and 100 each new records ID value gets an increment of one.
We have some Important Identity function that works with identity column .let’s explore identity function with example:
SQL @@IDENTITY Function
SQL SCOPE_IDENTITY() Function
SQL IDENT_CURRENT Function
SQL IDENTITY Function
SQL @@IDENTITY Function:
Returns the last identity value generated for any table in the current session, but not necessarily in the current scope.
Syntax:
select @@identity
We use SQL @@identity function to return max identity value from table in current session .once row get inserted in a table @@identity function genrate a unique id for next row that is auto incremental.when we run other query @@identity function return NULL value .We can not use on remote server and linked server.
Explanation:
We have max identity is 8 and 106 in both table.once we inserted record in both table its incremented by 1 .we can check max identity value is 8 and 106.For verifying last inserted @@identity we can use select @@identity .
SQL IDENT_CURRENT(‘TableName’):
IDENT_CURRENT is a function in SQL Server that returns the last identity value generated for a specified table in any session and any scope. This function can be useful when you need to retrieve the most recent identity value for a table, regardless of which session or scope generated it.
Syntax:
IDENT_CURRENT('table_name')
table_name: The name of the table for which you want to retrieve the last identity value.
IDENT_CURRENT is not limited by scope or session, meaning it retrieves the identity value generated by the last insert operation, regardless of where it occurred . A scope can be a module, trigger, function or a stored procedure.Let’s again insert rows in both Empoyees1 and Employee2 table and check max identity .
It does’nt metter where we running IDENT_CURRENT in current session or other session it always return max identity value from table if we run it before insertion it will return null value.
SQL SCOPE_IDENTITY() function:
The SCOPE_IDENTITY() function in SQL Server is used to retrieve the last identity value inserted into an identity column in the same scope and session. It is particularly useful when you need to obtain the identity value generated by an INSERT statement in the current session and scope, ensuring that it was generated within the same batch, stored procedure, or trigger.
Syntax:
select SCOPE_IDENTITY()
In the following example, we see that both the @@IDENTITY and SCOPE_IDENTITY() return the same value in the current session and similar scope.
Let’s understand the difference between SCOPE_IDENTITY() and @@IDENTITY in other way get to know well about same scope and current session.
we can see that both the @@IDENTITY and SCOPE_IDENTITY() return the same value in the current session and similar scope.
Let’s consider we have two tables Employees1 and Employees2 table. We can create an dynamic insert query and one similer insertion query as we have done earlier. Once we insert any row on Employees1 and Employees2 by using dynamic query .
In the current session, we inserted data into the Employees1 table. It generates an identity in this table. The identity seed value is 1 for the Employees1 table and insert value in the Employees2 table. The identity seed value is 100 .
We get the output 110 for the SELECT @@IDENTITY function
SCOPE_IDENTITY function returns identity value under the current scope only. It gives output 14 for this function
--Before insertion
select MAX(employeeid) as max_employee1 from Employees1
select MAX(employeeid) as max_employee2 from Employees2
INSERT INTO Employees1 (FirstName, LastName, Email)
VALUES ('Naren7', 'Dahiya7', 'nsdahiya8040@gmail.com');
select SCOPE_IDENTITY() as 'scope_identity' --same session
select @@IDENTITY as 'identity' --same session
declare @query nvarchar(max)='INSERT INTO Employees2 (FirstName, LastName, Email)
VALUES (''Naren7'', ''Dahiya7'', ''nsdahiya8040@gmail.com'');'
exec (@query)
select SCOPE_IDENTITY() as 'scope_identity'--in current scope max inserted identity is 13
select @@IDENTITY as 'identity' --in current session max inserted identity is 109
SQL IDENTITY Function:
In SQL Server, the IDENTITY property is not a function but a column property used to automatically generate unique values for new rows in a table. This property is typically used for creating primary key columns that auto-increment. Below is a detailed explanation of the IDENTITY property and how it can be used.
Syntax:
column_name data_type IDENTITY(seed, increment)
column_name: The name of the column.
data_type: The data type of the column, usually INT or BIGINT.
seed: The initial value for the first row.
increment: The value to be added to the seed for each subsequent row
Creating a Table with an IDENTITY Column
CREATE TABLE Employees ( ID INT IDENTITY(1,1) PRIMARY KEY, FirstName NVARCHAR(50), LastName NVARCHAR(50),emailid nvarchar(100),mobno nvarchar(15) );
Inserting Data into a Table with an IDENTITY Column
When you insert data into a table with an identity column, you do not need to provide a value for the identity column. SQL Server will automatically generate it:
By understanding and using the IDENTITY property in SQL Server, you can efficiently manage auto-incrementing primary key columns and ensure unique identifiers for your table rows.
Resetting the identity column:
inserted row starts with a specified value. This can be particularly useful when you want to reset the identity column after deleting rows from a table or for testing purposes. Here’s how you can reset the identity column using the DBCC CHECKIDENT command.
Let’s understand by example assume that we have Employee1 table with seed 1 meaning next row automatically increment by 1 ,let’s insert two row.
If you want to reset the identity column so that the next inserted row starts at a specific value, use DBCC CHECKIDENT. For example, to reset it to start at 10 .This means the next inserted row will have EmployeeID11.
Reset to 0: If you want the next inserted row to start at 1, you can reset the identity to 0:
DBCC CHECKIDENT ('Employees', RESEED, 0);
Reset After Deleting All Rows: If you delete all rows from a table and want to reset the identity column:
DELETE FROM Employees;
DBCC CHECKIDENT ('Employees', RESEED, 0);
If we want to insert deleted identity then we can use identy_insert on and off property to insert missing identity make sure query dont take much time unless performance issue can occure on table.
Syntax:
By understanding and using the IDENTITY property in SQL Server, you can efficiently manage auto-incrementing primary key columns and ensure unique identifiers for your table rows.
Naren 
