To rename physical file name entries for a SQL Server database, take it offline, change the catalog with MODIFY FILE, rename the files in Windows and bring the database online. This post builds a demo, shows the error a missing file causes, and gives a way to undo the change.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
Rename Logical File Name of a SQL Server Database
To rename logical file name entries in SQL Server, use ALTER DATABASE with MODIFY FILE and NEWNAME. This post builds a demo database, renames both files and checks the result. It also covers names with dots and the two errors that stop a rename.
SQL SERVER – UDF – User Defined Function to Extract Only Numbers From String – Number Table Method
I rewrote my User Defined Function to extract only numbers from a string. The new one uses a numbers table, also called a Tally table, instead of a WHILE loop.
SQL SERVER – Unable to Attach Database Files – The PageAudit Property is Incorrect – Ransomware Attack
After a ransomware attack, a client could not attach database files and saw: The PageAudit property is incorrect. Here is what the error means.
SQL SERVER- High CPU and Transaction Type WorkFileGroup_fake_worktable and Workfile
Workfile and WorkFileGroup_fake_worktable were clues in a customer high-CPU investigation. I correlated them with queries and plan evidence.
SQL SERVER – How to DROP or DELETE Suspect Database?
A client’s production database was stuck in suspect state and they could not even drop it. Here is how I helped them drop the suspect database.
What Part of the SQLDump Suggest Database Corruption? – Interview Question of the Week #188
What part of the SQLDump suggest database corruption? A reader asked, and I show the DbccResults tag in the SQLDump text file that confirms it.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
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Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

