SQL Server 2005, how to copy a Database Diagram to another server

Question

Is there a way to copy a SQL Server Database Diagram to another server?

I found this and modified it sightly to copy only one diagram:

INSERT INTO dbB.dbo.sysdiagrams 
SELECT [name],[principal_id],[version],[definition]
FROM dbA.dbo.sysdiagrams
Where name = 'MyDiagramName'

But I need to copy it to another Server (Development to Production).

I don't want to create a linked server to do this. ( Updated explanation ) The reason behind that is that I want to include the diagram in a upgrade script. I made changes to the database to support a new version (new tables, etc) and I want the diagram be be part of the upgrade script. so it's best if i could put that in a SQL script. If a got a separated file to manually import afterward, it could do the job, but it not the best.

So i need to 'save' the diagram definition to a file somehow to restore it on the other server.

Answer 1

Just found this solution .

In this article, There's the code to create the Stored Procedure that generate a SQL Server Script to recreate the diagrams. So you just save the output of the Stored Procedure in a .SQL file and run it on the other server.

The problem is to convert Varbinary To a String (Varchar) in Hex in order to be able use it in a insert/update query. But it's well explained in the link...

Answer 2

First : Create one Link Server From Source Server inside Destination Server .

For create Link Server use this Link

Second : Use This

USE DestinationDatabase

DELETE  sysDiagrams
WHERE   name IN ( SELECT    name
              FROM      <LinkServerName>.SourceDatabase.dbo.sysDiagrams )

SET IDENTITY_INSERT sysDiagrams ON

INSERT  sysDiagrams
    ( name ,
      principal_id ,
      diagram_id ,
      version ,
      definition
    )
    SELECT  name ,
            principal_id ,
            diagram_id ,
            version ,
            definition
    FROM    <LinkServerName>.SourceDatabase.dbo.sysDiagrams

SET IDENTITY_INSERT sysDiagrams OFF

Answer 3

This tutorial/example will explain it

http://www.sharpdeveloper.net/content/archive/2008/04/19/copy-a-database-diagram-to-another-database.aspx