# Export SQL Server database objects
<a name="export-sql-server-database-objects"></a>

For an offline source, you upload exported script files that describe your source database objects. You can export them using any available tool. The following tabs describe two approaches: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and SQL Server Management Objects (SMO).

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#### [ SSMS ]

1. In SSMS, in the Object Explorer, right-click the database to export. Choose **Tasks**, and then choose **Generate Scripts**.

1. Choose **Save as script file** to save the output to `.sql` files.

1. Choose the browse button (**...**) to specify a name and location for the files. We recommend creating a directory with the same name as the database.

1. For **Save as**, choose **Unicode text**.

1. Choose **Advanced** to open the **Advanced Scripting Options** dialog box.

1. Set the options according to the following tables.

1. Choose **OK**, and then choose **Next** to review the summary.

1. Choose **Next** to generate the scripts.

1. Choose **Finish** to close the wizard.

**Advanced scripting options**

Set the following options in the **Advanced Scripting Options** dialog box.


**General options**  

| Option | Value | 
| --- | --- | 
| ANSI Padding | False | 
| Append to File | False | 
| Check for object existence | False | 
| Continue scripting on Error | True | 
| Convert UDDTs to Base Types | False | 
| Generate Script for Dependent Objects | True | 
| Include Descriptive Headers | False | 
| Include Scripting Parameters Header | False | 
| Include system constraint names | False | 
| Schema qualify object names | True | 
| Script Binding | False | 
| Script Collation | True | 
| Script Defaults | True | 
| Script DROP AND CREATE | Script CREATE | 
| Script Extended Properties | True | 
| Script Logins | False | 
| Script Object-Level Permissions | False | 
| Script Owner | False | 
| Script Statistics | Do not script statistics | 
| Script USE DATABASE | True | 
| Types of data to script | Schema only | 


**Table/View options**  

| Option | Value | 
| --- | --- | 
| Script Change Tracking | False | 
| Script Check Constraints | True | 
| Script Data Compression Options | False | 
| Script Foreign Keys | True | 
| Script Full-Text Index | True | 
| Script Index | True | 
| Script Primary Keys | True | 
| Script Triggers | True | 
| Script Unique Keys | True | 

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#### [ SMO ]

SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) is a .NET API for programmatically managing SQL Server. You can use SMO with PowerShell or C\# to script database objects and generate DDL files for use with an offline source.

**Prerequisites**
+ Windows PowerShell 5.1 or later, or PowerShell 7\+
+ The `SqlServer` PowerShell module (install with `Install-Module SqlServer`)
+ .NET Framework 4.6.2 or later, or .NET 6\+ for cross-platform

**Key scripting configuration**

When you use SMO to export scripts for an offline source, configure the following scripting options:


**Required SMO scripting options**  

| Option | Value | 
| --- | --- | 
| ToFileOnly | True | 
| Encoding | Unicode | 
| AppendToFile | False | 
| IncludeHeaders | True | 
| IncludeDatabaseContext | True | 
| SchemaQualify | True | 
| AnsiPadding | True | 
| Default | True | 
| DriAll | True | 
| Indexes | True | 
| Triggers | True | 
| FullTextIndexes | True | 
| ExtendedProperties | True | 
| ScriptDataCompression | True | 
| ScriptDrops | False | 
| IncludeIfNotExists | False | 
| WithDependencies | False | 
| NoCollation | True | 
| Permissions | False | 
| ContinueScriptingOnError | True | 

**Example PowerShell script**

The following script exports all database objects to individual `.sql` files. Each file contains one `CREATE` statement for a single database object.

```
# Export SQL Server database objects using SMO
# Usage: .\Export-Database.ps1 -Database "MyDB" -OutputDir "C:\export\MyDB"

param(
    [string] $ServerInstance = "localhost",         # SQL Server instance name
    [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Database,     # Database to export
    [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $OutputDir,    # Output directory for .sql files
    [switch] $TrustServerCertificate               # Skip certificate validation
)

$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"

# Load the SqlServer module (includes SMO assemblies)
Import-Module SqlServer -ErrorAction Stop

# Connect to SQL Server
$srv = New-Object Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server($ServerInstance)
$srv.ConnectionContext.EncryptConnection = $true
if ($TrustServerCertificate) {
    $srv.ConnectionContext.TrustServerCertificate = $true
}

# Get the database
$db = $srv.Databases[$Database]
if (-not $db) { Write-Error "Database '$Database' not found."; exit 1 }
if (-not (Test-Path $OutputDir)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $OutputDir -Force | Out-Null }

# Configure scripting options for offline source compatibility
$scripter = New-Object Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Scripter($srv)
$opts = $scripter.Options
$opts.ToFileOnly             = $true       # Write directly to files
$opts.Encoding               = [System.Text.Encoding]::Unicode  # Unicode encoding
$opts.AppendToFile           = $false      # One object per file
$opts.IncludeHeaders         = $true       # Add descriptive headers
$opts.IncludeDatabaseContext = $true       # Add USE [database] statement
$opts.SchemaQualify          = $true       # Use schema.object format
$opts.AnsiPadding            = $true       # Include ANSI_PADDING settings
$opts.Default                = $true       # Include default constraints
$opts.DriAll                 = $true       # Include all constraints and keys
$opts.Indexes                = $true       # Include indexes
$opts.Triggers               = $true       # Include triggers
$opts.FullTextIndexes        = $true       # Include full-text indexes
$opts.ExtendedProperties     = $true       # Include extended properties
$opts.ScriptDataCompression  = $true       # Include data compression settings
$opts.ScriptDrops            = $false      # CREATE only, no DROP statements
$opts.IncludeIfNotExists     = $false      # No IF NOT EXISTS wrapper
$opts.WithDependencies       = $false      # Do not script dependent objects
$opts.NoCollation            = $true       # Omit collation clauses
$opts.Permissions            = $false      # Omit permissions
$opts.ContinueScriptingOnError = $true     # Skip errors, continue with next object

# Define which object types to export
$collections = [ordered]@{
    "Schemas"               = "Schema"
    "Tables"                = "Table"
    "Views"                 = "View"
    "StoredProcedures"      = "StoredProcedure"
    "UserDefinedFunctions"  = "UserDefinedFunction"
    "Sequences"             = "Sequence"
    "Synonyms"              = "Synonym"
    "UserDefinedDataTypes"  = "UserDefinedDataType"
    "UserDefinedTableTypes" = "UserDefinedTableType"
    "UserDefinedTypes"      = "UserDefinedType"
    "UserDefinedAggregates" = "UserDefinedAggregate"
    "XmlSchemaCollections"  = "XmlSchemaCollection"
    "Rules"                 = "Rule"
    "Defaults"              = "Default"
    "PartitionSchemes"      = "PartitionScheme"
    "PartitionFunctions"    = "PartitionFunction"
    "Assemblies"            = "SqlAssembly"
    "FullTextCatalogs"      = "FullTextCatalog"
    "FullTextStopLists"     = "FullTextStopList"
    "SearchPropertyLists"   = "SearchPropertyList"
    "SecurityPolicies"      = "SecurityPolicy"
    "ExternalDataSources"   = "ExternalDataSource"
    "ExternalFileFormats"   = "ExternalFileFormat"
}

# System schemas to skip
$sysSchemas = 'dbo','guest','INFORMATION_SCHEMA','sys',
    'db_owner','db_accessadmin','db_securityadmin','db_ddladmin',
    'db_backupoperator','db_datareader','db_datawriter',
    'db_denydatareader','db_denydatawriter'

# Export the CREATE DATABASE statement
$dbScripter = New-Object Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Scripter($srv)
$dbScripter.Options.ToFileOnly = $true
$dbScripter.Options.Encoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::Unicode
$dbScripter.Options.IncludeDatabaseContext = $true
$dbScripter.Options.FileName = Join-Path $OutputDir "$Database.Database.sql"
$dbScripter.Script($db)

# Export each object to a separate .sql file
foreach ($colName in $collections.Keys) {
    $col = $db.$colName
    if (-not $col -or $col.Count -eq 0) { continue }

    foreach ($obj in $col) {
        # Skip system objects
        if ($obj.PSObject.Properties['IsSystemObject'] -and $obj.IsSystemObject) { continue }
        if ($colName -eq "Schemas" -and $obj.Name -in $sysSchemas) { continue }

        # Build the output file name: schema.objectname.type.sql
        $schema = if ($obj.PSObject.Properties['Schema']) { $obj.Schema } else { "" }
        $safeName = $obj.Name -replace '[\\/:*?"<>|]', '_'
        $fileName = if ($schema) { "$schema.$safeName.$($collections[$colName]).sql" }
                    else { "$safeName.$($collections[$colName]).sql" }

        $opts.FileName = Join-Path $OutputDir $fileName
        $scripter.Script($obj)
    }
}
```

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