How to convert SQL Azure to SQL Server Express

Full Convert is designed for ease of use and reliability to make sure you get your job done as quickly and as simply as possible.

Source database is known as Azure, Microsoft Azure, SQL Azure, SQL Server Azure

Target database is known as SQL Server Express, Microsoft SQL Server Express, Microsoft SQLExpress, SQL Express, SQLExpress (related files: mdf, ldf, bak).

SQL Azure to SQL Server Express migration steps

When we start Full Convert, you will notice a welcome panel with links for common tasks. Let's start a new project.

1) Connect to your source database
2) Connect to your target database
3) Optional: Choose which tables you want to convert
4) Start the conversion

Connection to SQL Azure

List on the left shows all the databases which can be filled with your source database data. Select the one you need and fill-in required parameters.

We will choose SQL Azure from the list of available source database engines, as SQL Azure is just a special version of SQL Server.

To connect to SQL Azure, you will need to use your server URL in the Server field, and the rest is standard (username, password, database name). Just make sure to connect using SQL Server authentication instead of Windows authentication.

Connection to SQL Server Express

List on the left shows all the databases which can be filled with your source database data. Select the one you need and fill-in required parameters.

We will choose SQL Server from the list of available source database engines. Depending on your SQL Server setup, you will need to connect using Windows or SQL Server authentication.

For SQL Express, we need to specify the server\instance name, like this: servername\SQLEXPRESS

We have Windows authentication here, so all we need to do is select our desired database from the drop-down list.

Start the conversion

All source tables are selected for conversion by default. In case you only need some tables, simply deselect the ones you don't need - or deselect all, then select just the tables you do need.

Click the Copy your database button to get started.

Conversion

Conversion is highly-optimized to run as fast as possible, yet provides top-notch reliability. Huge tables are converted in small chunks at a time, preserving memory and ensuring that your computer stays fast and responsive.

Data is now in the target database

Use our built-in database browser to examine the copied data.

Of course, you can also examine the conversion in detail and see in-depth information for each table.