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Three Ways to Open an MS SQL Server Backup File (.BAK) in Excel

If you're looking for a secure way to open a SQL .bak file – a database backup file – in Excel, you've come to the right place. On this page, three reliable methods, provided by experienced SQL administrators, will assist you in effortlessly opening and examining your MS SQL .bak files in Excel. Among them, the most recommended is the MS SQL Recovery Tool, which possesses the capability to repair and recover corrupted MDF and NDF SQL Server databases.

Quick Navigation: How to Open a Bak File

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to open an SQL .BAK file in Excel: 1. **Backup File Explanation**: First, understand that an .BAK file is typically a backup file created by SQL Server, containing a copy of a database. It cannot be directly opened in Excel as it is not a spreadsheet format. 2. **Restore in SQL Server**: In order to access the data within the .BAK file, you need to restore it to a SQL Server instance. Follow these steps: - Launch SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). - Connect to your SQL Server instance. - Right-click on "Databases" in the Object Explorer and select "Restore Database." - In the "Source" section, choose "Device" and click on the ellipsis button (...). - Select the .BAK file you want to restore and click "OK." - Under "Destination," provide a new database name or select an existing one. - Review the settings and click "OK" to start the restoration process. 3. **Export Data to Excel**: Once the database is restored, you can export the data to Excel: - In SSMS, expand the restored database, then expand "Tables." - Right-click on the table you want to export and choose " Tasks" > "Export Data." - In the "Export Data" wizard, choose "Excel" as the destination and follow the prompts to specify the Excel file location and sheet name. - Map the data fields from the SQL Server table to the corresponding columns in Excel. - Finish the wizard and save the export configuration if needed. 4. **Open in Excel**: After completing the export, you can now open the Excel file you specified during the export process. The data from the SQL Server table will be present in the worksheet. Remember that this method is for transferring structured data into Excel. If the .BAK file contains complex structures or relationships, you might need to handle them separately or use more advanced tools for data extraction and manipulation.

Question 1: Does anyone know how to open an SQL .bak file in Excel? I'm new to SQL and not very familiar with SQL queries. It takes me ages every time I try to access an SQL file. Is there an easy way to open an SQL .bak file in Excel?

Question 2: Can I check the SQL .bak file when the SQL database is corrupted? Can I open it in Excel and then restore the .bak file to SQL?

Please provide the English content you would like translated, and I will promptly translate it into Chinese for you.

Solutions that Work	Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Convert SQL .bak to Excel	Locate the SQL .bak file on your local drive. Copy and save the .bak file to another secure device. Open File Explorer > View > Options...Full Steps
2. Restore .BAK to SQL Server	Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Right-click on Databases. Select "Tasks" > "Restore" > "Database"...Full Steps
3. Use a .BAK to Excel Conversion Tool	Utilize a third-party SQL .bak to Excel conversion tool to convert SQL to Excel and open the SQL .BAK...Full Steps

Most new MS SQL administrators feel that using SQL queries or SQL applications to check or open a specific SQL .bak file is complicated. Also, at times, the requirement of restoring the .bak file to SQL Server when the database is corrupt can baffle some novice administrators.

If you are one of these new administrators who encounter issues with opening a SQL .bak file in Excel, choose a reliable solution from the methods discussed in the following two sections to resolve your problem effortlessly.

Part 1: How to Open a SQL .BAK File in Excel (3 Methods)

Before we begin, locate the directory of the .bak file on your SQL Server machine. This is the default path where SQL Server saves the .bak files:

Program Files > Microsoft SQL Server > MSSQL 1.0 > MSSQL > BACKUP
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Backup

Here are three methods to open your SQL database backup file in Excel:

Method 1: Manually Convert SQL .bak to Excel

Note: This method is provided by a third-party website and serves as a quick way to convert your .BAK files to Excel.

You can try this method to open a SQL Server .bak file in Excel.

Let's begin.

Step 1: Locate the SQL .bak file on your local drive.

If you don't see the .bak file in those locations, run the following command in SSMS to find the directory where SQL database backup files (.bak) are stored:

Select DatabaseName = x.database_name

LastBackupFileName = x.physical_device_name

LastBackupDatetime = x.backup_start_date

FROM (SELECT bs.database_name,

bs.backup_start_date,

bmf.physical_device_name,

Ordinal = ROW_NUMBER() OVER(PARTITION BY bs.database_name ORDER BY bs.backup_start_date DESC)

FROM msdb.dbo.backupmediafamily bmf

JOIN msdb.dbo.backupmediaset bms ON bmf.media_set_id = bms.media_set_id

JOIN msdb.dbo.backupset bs ON bms.media_set_id = bs.media_set_id

WHERE bs.[type] = 'D'

AND bs.is_copy_only = 0) x

WHERE x.Ordinal = 1

ORDER BY DatabaseName

Step 2: Copy the .bak file and save it to another secure device.

Step 3. Open File Explorer, go to View > Options > uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types,” and click OK.

Show file extensions

Step 4: Right-click on the device that has the copied SQL database backup .bak file.

Step 5: Select “Rename” and change the .bak file extension to .xls or .xlsx.

Step 6: Double-click the renamed file to open it in Excel.

Then you can view the SQL .bak data in an Excel spreadsheet, and even edit the database to your heart's content.

Method 2: Restore the .BAK File to SQL Server and Export the Database to Excel

This process involves two steps: 1. restoring the .bak database backup file to SQL Server; and 2. exporting the restored database to Excel.

Here are some guidelines to follow:

# 1. Restore a .BAK file to SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio The steps to restore a .BAK file in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) are as follows: 1. Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to your SQL Server instance. 2. In Object Explorer, expand the "Databases" node. 3. Right-click on the database you want to restore to (if you're overwriting an existing one) or a blank area (if you're restoring to a new database), then choose "Tasks" -> "Restore" -> "Database". 4. In the "Restore Database" dialog box, make sure the "From backup set" option is selected. 5. Click the "Add" button to browse and select your .BAK backup file. You can locate it by browsing to its location or using the "Recently Used Files" list. 6. Once you've selected the backup file, you'll see its details. Verify that the source backup file is correct. 7. In the "Target" section, if you want to restore to a new database, select "New database" from the "Database" dropdown menu and enter the name for the new database. 8. Review the "Options" page to configure recovery options, such as recovery mode (Full, Simple, or Bulk-Logged) and a restore point (if you need to restore to a specific time or transaction). 9. After confirming all settings are correct, click "OK" to start the restoration process. This may take some time, depending on the size of the backup file and server performance. 10. When the restore is complete, you'll see the new database (if restored to a new one) or the updated existing database in the "Databases" list. Please note: Before performing this operation, ensure you have the appropriate permissions and understand the impact restoring a database might have on existing data. It's recommended to test in a non-production environment before applying changes in a live environment.

Please follow these steps to restore a .bak file using SQL Server Management Studio: 1. **Launch SQL Server Management Studio**: Open the application on your computer. 2. **Connect to your Server**: In the Object Explorer, click on "Connect" and select "Database Engine". Enter your server name and authentication details, then click "Connect". 3. **Right-click on Databases**: In the Object Explorer, navigate to the "Databases" folder and right-click on it. Select "Restore Database" from the context menu. 4. **Select Source for Restore**: In the "Restore Database" window, choose "Device" under "Source for Restore". Click on the ellipsis button (three dots) next to it. 5. **Select Backup File**: A new window will open. Click "Add" to locate your .bak file. Navigate to the folder where the backup is stored, select the .bak file, and click "OK" to close the window. 6. **Set Restore Options**: Under "Destination for Restore", ensure that the correct database name is displayed. If you want to change it, modify the "Database" field. You can also choose other options like "Overwrite the existing database" if needed. 7. **Check Point and Transaction Log**: In the "Options" tab, review the "Recovery state" and "Stop at" options if necessary. This is especially important if you're restoring to a specific point in time. 8. **Start the Restore Process**: Once all settings are configured, click "OK" to start the restore process. The progress will be displayed in the "Messages" tab. 9. **Wait for Completion**: The restoration may take some time depending on the size of the database. Do not close SQL Server Management Studio until the process is complete. 10. **Verify Restoration**: After the restore is finished, you can expand the "Databases" folder to verify that the restored database is visible and accessible. Remember, always make sure you have a proper backup before performing any restoration, as this operation can overwrite your current data.

Step 1: Open SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio), right-click on the database where you want to restore the .bak file, and choose Tasks > Restore > Database.

Open .bak File

Step 2. Tap on the three dots button next to 'From Device' and browse to select the .bak file saved on your local drive.

View the content of .bak file

Step 3: Click “Add” to specify the exact location where you saved the .bak file, select it, and then click “OK” to confirm.

Add .bak File to Recovery

Step 4. Check both “Full Database Backup” and “Transaction Log Backup,” then click “OK.”

Restore .bak File to SQL Database

When the restore is complete, click OK to finish.

Note: If the .bak file contains a backup of an SQL database, this entire process can also be used to restore a damaged SQL Server database from a backup.

# 2. Export the restored .bak file - SQL Database to Excel

By using SQL Server Management Studio and its Import and Export Wizard, you can export a restored .bak file (SQL database) to Excel.

Please note the steps to manually export an SQL database:

Step 1: Open SQL Server Management Studio and log in with an administrator account.

Step 2: In Object Explorer, right-click any database you want to open in Excel, and choose Tasks > Export Data....

Export to Excel

Step 3: The SQL Server Import and Export Wizard opens. Click Next to continue.

Step 4. Choose the data source you want to copy data from, as shown below, and click “Next” to continue:

Data Source - SQL Server Native Client 11.0
Server Name - The SQL Server where the data needs to be replicated
Authentication - Use Windows Authentication for the data source connection
Database - Select the database to which the .bak file will be restored

Choose the database to export.

Step 5: Select a destination to save the database data to Excel and click “Next” to proceed:

Target - Microsoft Excel
Excel File Path - Specify the destination location to copy data from a SQL Server data source
Excel Version - Indicate the version of Excel you have installed on your computer

Choose a recovery target.

Step 6. Specify Table Copy or Query – Select “Copy data from one or more tables or views,” then click Next to continue.

指定要还原的特定数据库。

Step 7: Select tables and views – Choose the specific tables and views you want to open in Excel, then click “Next” to proceed.

You can also select a specific sheet and click “Preview” to check your data in advance.

Open SQL database in Excel

Step 8: Select Run package immediately, and then click Next to continue.

Finish the export process.

Step 9: Click Finish on the Finish Wizard screen.

Step 10: Click the “Report” dropdown and choose “Save Report As File…” to proceed.

Open the restored SQL database in Excel.

Step 11: Choose Excel as your target file, and then you can open the exported SQL database in Excel.

Method 3: Using a Third-Party SQL .BAK to Excel Converter Tool

On some open-source sites, developers have also generated third-party tools to convert SQL .bak files to Excel.

Converting a SQL .bak file to Excel is a straightforward and practical process. If you'd like to try this tool, you can search online for something like "SQL to Excel converter."

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Part 2: Repairing Corrupted SQL Database without .BAK File (Database Backup)

Restoring a .bak file to SQL Server through SSMS, as outlined in Method 1, can help recover a damaged or deleted database to SQL.

However, what would you do if you accidentally delete records from an SQL database, or the database gets corrupted due to some reason? How would you recover the deleted records or repair the corrupted database? Fortunately, professional SQL recovery tools come to the rescue. The tool MS SQL Recovery, with its robust features, can effectively restore your lost database records.

Please follow this comprehensive guide to effortlessly repair a damaged SQL Server database:

Step 1: Select the corrupted database to be restored

• Launch the MS SQL Recovery tool. • Click on “Browse” (two dots) or “Search” to select the corrupted database file. • After selecting the file, click on the “Repair” button to initiate the analysis process.

Note: You must stop the SQL Server service before you use this utility.

Step 2: Repair the damaged database

The software displays all recoverable items in a tree-like structure. These items are shown in the left pane.
Select the components that you want to restore. In the window, click the Export button.

Select Database Objects

Step 3: Export to a database or script

Select whether to export database objects to a database or to export the project as a script.
If you select Export to Database, enter the required information and select the target database.

A window will appear, asking for the credentials to connect to the server and where to save the recovery project. Click OK to start the repair process.

Note Before you click OK, you must restart the SQL Server service.