How to Check Database Logs in SQL Server: View All Transaction Log

Author: Varun Pal

The article provides a complete practical guide for how to check database logs in an SQL server. This includes manual methods as well as automated method in case of manual methods do not work. This tip is useful if you want to understand what the transaction log file contains.

How to Check Database Logs in SQL Server Manually

The standard manual methods for viewing the SQL transaction log files

Method 1

View Transaction Log SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

  1. Install and Open the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) software.

  2. Now, connect to the SQL Server window, enter the Server's name and type of authentication, and enter connect.

  3. In the Object Explorer, visit the Management to check the log files.

  4. Now, move to SQL Server Logs Option

  5. Now, Right-click on SQL Server logs and select View>> SQL Log.

  6. Last, complete log details are viewed on the Log File Viewer window. We can select different logs like the SQL Server Agent and Database Mail in these.

Method 2

Use SQL Function fn_dblog to View SQL Transaction Log

The SQL function fn_dblog is used to take out information from the transaction log files.

Step 1 First, create the SQL database named "Emp_T". Preview the data records in it using a query.

SELECT * FROM Emp_T;

Step 2 Now, alter the records in the table using the UPDATE command.

UPDATE Emp_T SET DEPARTMENT = "Sales" WHERE Emp_Name = "Trump"

Step 3 Now, once again, review the table using the SELECT query. All the changes can be visible in it.

SELECT * FROM Emp_T

Step 4 Now, execute the fn_dblog function according to the requirement. Run the query to check the time of the updated operation.

Select [Begin Time], [Transaction Name] from fn_dblog(null, null) where [Transaction Name] = ‘Update’

Step 5 Analyze all the logs, such as Insert, Delete, and so on.

Select [Begin Time], [Transaction Name] from fn_dblog(null, null)

Cons of Manual Methods

  • The security concerns are foremost in the manual method, as there is no defensive layer in it.

  • The manual method required a good technical understanding of SQL commands for the process.

  • The procedure takes a lot of time to complete and does not give instance results of the data.

How to Check Database Logs in SQL Server Automatically

Sometimes, the manual method doesn't work. So the User needs a reliable and advanced solution to view SQL transaction logs. If you want to read and analyze the SQL Transaction log file, you can use SysTools SQL Log Analyzer. It is the best tool to check database logs on an SQL server. The software can read transaction log files of every MS SQL Server version.

Steps to view SQL transaction log

  1. Download, install, and launch the software at your workstation.

  2. Click to open and add the LDF file.

  3. Choose the Online or Offline DB option and input SQL Server information into the application.

  4. Now, preview all the files that you have selected.

  5. Export the data using options like SQL Server Database, SQL Server Compatible SQL Scripts, and CSV file format.

  6. Now, hit the Export button and save the file.

Salient Features for Suggested Software Using Automated Tool

  • The tool opens and analyzes all the operations of the SQL Transaction (LDF) file without MS SQL Server Database application.

  • The software analyzes the SQL transaction log (.ldf) file to discover crucial changes in the SQL records.

  • It supports all available versions of MS SQL Server like 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008, 2005, and 2000 LDF files.

  • It works on both online and offline SQL Server versions. Not only that, but it saves the scanned version of the transaction file in the system for later reuse.

  • The software allows exporting to a distinct table using different databases, such as Live SQL Server Database, SQL Server Compatible Script, and CSV file.

  • As it is, a window application, it supports all Windows operating systems like (11, 10, 8, 7, and XP) and also 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

  • The software provides the option of auto-sorting LDF file objects, such as transactions, table names, queries, transaction time, and transaction names.

  • The application gives the option to open, review, and read the whole log activity in the MS SQL Server database.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the manual technique for learning how to check database logs in an SQL server. If the manual method fails, use the expert's recommended software for a reliable and fast way to view the SQL transaction log.