database detach/attach

An original database (eg A.mdf) is imported/exported to a different server as named B.mdf. The detach of A.mdf was unitentionally not done. It seems that both the database were updated.

A.mdf - 123000KB 25/12/2003
A_log.ldf - 14000KB 25/12/2003
B.mdf - 67000KB 25/12/2003
B_log.ldf - 1024KB 25/12/2003

In this case, which mdf & ldf should be the correct database?
If I I remove A.mdf database by "detach", will B.mdf database work?

SQL server 2000 and SP3 installed.

Assistance is appreciatedyou are exporting a database file and getting different sizes .. seems strange

sp_helpdb 'database_name'

on both servers

Copy and paste results over here

That might help|||The original database (eg A.mdf) is export/imported into a different server and the database is named as B.mdf. The 'detach' command from of the original database (A.mdf) was unintentionally
not done. As I have unintentionally did not do a 'detach' of the old database, both the database seems to be updated (as indicated from the date stamp) AFTER I use the application (VB6 business application) a day or two.

Once an import/export is done, is the detach of the old database compulsory?. In SQL Server Enterprise Manager->(Select say, A database)->All Task-> Detach database

A.mdf - 123,000KB, 2/1/2004 1142am
A_log.ldf - 10,000 KB, 2/1/2004 0133pm
B.mdf - 67,000KB, 2/1/2004 0902am
B_log.ldf - 1024KB, 2/1/2004 0902am

Exporting of the database is ok before the I started using the application.

How can I correct this? Advise is appreciated.

Regards,
Brian

Originally posted by Enigma
you are exporting a database file and getting different sizes .. seems strange

sp_helpdb 'database_name'

on both servers

Copy and paste results over here

That might help|||Are both databases supposed to be active - please describe more as to why you have 2 ? Where are you retrieving the database sizes ? Use sp_spaceused and post the results. Is the real question, what has changed between the 2 databases and how to find those records ?|||Originally posted by rnealejr
Are both databases supposed to be active - please describe more as to why you have 2 ? Where are you retrieving the database sizes ? Use sp_spaceused and post the results. Is the real question, what has changed between the 2 databases and how to find those records ?

the A.mdf and its log is the active database. 2 databases are active as 1 is live/production environment and the other is test/QA environment. the database sizes is seen from the window explorer.|||What needs to be corrected ? You keep mentioning detaching the A database - but why ? Is A production or test ? You need to run the stored procedure sp_spaceused to determine actual space used. Are you concerned that there might be activity on both databases - and you are not sure why ? Are you exporting the data from the production to the test periodically ? Since your log file for B does not appear to have grown, it appears that either minimal or no user activity is occuring on the B database (unless you are backing up the database/transaction log for B).|||Originally posted by rnealejr
What needs to be corrected ? You keep mentioning detaching the A database - but why ? Is A production or test ? You need to run the stored procedure sp_spaceused to determine actual space used. Are you concerned that there might be activity on both databases - and you are not sure why ? Are you exporting the data from the production to the test periodically ? Since your log file for B does not appear to have grown, it appears that either minimal or no user activity is occuring on the B database (unless you are backing up the database/transaction log for B).

if I were to remove (detach) the test/QA data (denotes by B.mdf and its log), will this cause any problem with production (denotes by A.mdf and its log) database?. I noted that the date/time has been updated on the same day even though my ODBC (live application) uses production database which is A.mdf.

What happen if a detach is not done after import/export from production to test/QA environment?. Do the production database get updated (by right it should since ODBC points to production) along with the test database?. I am concern that activities may be updated in the test environment - yes, I am not sure and I would like some feedback.|||There should be no connection between your A database and your B database (unless you have triggers/replication between the 2) - other than the fact that you exported the data from A to B. What method did you use to export the data from A to B ? Several activities can cause the date/time to change on B, but since the log is only 1 meg (the minimum) I would suspect that nothing has really changed on B. But if you are really concerned - dump the test database and copy the database from prod back to test.|||Originally posted by rnealejr
There should be no connection between your A database and your B database (unless you have triggers/replication between the 2) - other than the fact that you exported the data from A to B. What method did you use to export the data from A to B ? Several activities can cause the date/time to change on B, but since the log is only 1 meg (the minimum) I would suspect that nothing has really changed on B. But if you are really concerned - dump the test database and copy the database from prod back to test.

I agree with you. All I did was to simply import/export. no DTS used.
The strange thing I noted was that after the import/export from production to test (and no "detach" was done on test database), I ran the application and did the update. I found was that the test database time/date was updated AND the data went into production and the mdf and log of production did not change (seen from explorer).

Thanks for your feedback.|||It was probably just coincidence ... or a poltergeist (oooohhhhhh - supposed to be a spooky sound)