How to Retrieve Truncated Table in SQL Server Database with Data?

Basic SQL Server user queries are not that much tricky to answer. However, When we users dive deeper into a bit complex-looking operations, they struggle a lot. Similarly, to know how to retrieve truncated table in SQL database, users often face several challenges.

Due to this, we get plenty of emails regarding the same from the users. Thus, we are now, going to simply understand everything about the TRUNCATE command along with the solutions to how to recover data after truncate table in SQL. Rather than jumping straight to the solution, it’s a nice practice to go through the basics. Therefore, we’re going to understand about the commands & their differences.

Table of Content

• What is TRUNCATE & Difference of DROP Command
• TRUNCATE Command Working with Code & Example
• User Concerns With TRUNCATE Command
• All Ways to Retrieve Truncated Table in SQL Server DB
• Automated Tool & Features to Get Truncated Files Back
• Step by Step Procedure with Images to Restore Lost Data
• Precautionary Steps To Avoid Data Disasters
• Conclusion
• FAQs

What’s TRUNCATE & DROP Command in SQL Server & Their Difference

No, TRUNCATE & DROP are not the same. Both commands are different & used for users’ requirements. Therefore, to proceed further with how to recover data after truncate table in SQL, users must understand what is actually a TRUNCATE command and how it is different from the DROP or DELETE command.

• DELETE Command: There is no role of this command in learning how to restore table after truncate in SQL databases. This is because the DELETE command is what users can get help for removing specific data fields. It does not help in removing the overall data from a table at all.
• TRUNCATE Command: This command is used to remove all the table data with their rows as well. However, it does not remove the table structure. Moreover, it’s not possible to rollback this command. However, users can recover the truncated data using some ways.
• DROP Command: To learn how to recover truncated table in SQL Server, forget about the DROP command. This is because it deletes the entire table along with its table structure, indexes, triggers, constraints, etc.

Possible Concerns With the TRUNCATE Command in SQL Server

Even though the users are well aware of the functioning of the TRUNCATE Command in SQL Server, there are still a few things they miss, and further face bigger issues with the data residing in the database. Here, we will discuss a few of them and try to understand how to avoid such challenges. After understanding these challenges, we will find the best ways to resolve users’ concerns about ‘can we rollback after truncate’. 

• The major risk and issue with the TRUNCATE command in SQL Server is that it immediately removes the data from the table without any filtering or sorting options. This means that the users cannot select any specific row to be recovered after they have truncated the table and need to find the best solutions for how to retrieve truncated Table in SQL. 
• After using the TRUNCATE command, it also becomes impossible for the users to roll back data because the logging of individual rows isn’t done during this command. Additionally, the recovery in such cases becomes much complex until a healthy backup of the database exists.
• The ROLLBACK command is also least useful in such cases, as truncating a table is an irreversible process, and the data can only be retrieved by using a prior backup of the database. This makes the entire recovery process dependent on the backup file of the database.
• The built-in tools like the DMVs or the SQL logs, aren’t as helpful in such cases as well to restore the truncated data. 

These are all the concerns that can delay as well as affect the data recovery after the table is truncated in SQL Server. We will now move to the solutions that will answer the user’s concern of ‘how to recover data after truncate table in SQL’. 

Learn How to Retrieve Truncated Table in SQL Server with Its Working First

So, it is the foremost duty of users to go through the working of TRUNCATE command in case they are unaware of it. Evidently, in MS SQL TRUNCATE command can be rollbacked only on one condition. This condition is that it should be in a transaction due to not having an implicit commit there.

The example of the TRUNCATE command is given below:

CREATE TABLE Rooms (
id INT,
name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
genre VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
cost INT NOT NULL
);


INSERT INTO Rooms (id, name, genre, cost)
VALUES
(1, 'Room 1', 'Basic', 1000),
(2, 'Room 2', 'Basic Window', 1500),
(3, 'Room 3', 'Basic Balcony', 2000),
(4, 'Room 4', 'Dulux', 2100),
(5, 'Room 5', 'Dulux Window', 2500),
(6, 'Room 6', 'Dulux Balcony', 3000),
(7, 'Room 7', 'Luxury', 3100),
(8, 'Room 8', 'Luxury Jr Suite', 3500),
(9, 'Room 9', 'Luxury Sr Suite', 4000);


BEGIN TRANSACTION;
TRUNCATE TABLE Rooms;
ROLLBACK;


INSERT INTO Rooms 
VALUES (20, 'Room', 'Grand Villa', 5000);
SELECT * FROM Rooms;

Here:

1. First we created a table named Rooms.
2. After that, we added value to the table fields.
3. See how to recover data after truncate table in SQL here. TRUNCATE command is done & then Rollbacked.
4. Another row is added to the table that is retrieved from TRUNCATE.

Also Read: All SQL Server Database Functions List with Their Respective Examples

Here, we saw how a TRUNCATE command easily works for users without any hassles at all. Now, let’s proceed further to know the ways by which users can retrieve the TRUNCATE command later and further resolve their queries regarding after truncate can we rollback.

Know How to Recover Truncate Table in SQL with All Best Ways

In case users delete the data using the TRUNCATE command & then forgot about it & did some other queries. They further might wonder ‘can we rollback after truncate?’. Now, we have three ways to get back the data that we lost using several ways. Here’s a look at it:

1. The very first way includes using a BACKUP file or a BAK file. Therefore, always make sure that you have the latest backup of your SQL Database. This helps in such cases for users by overwriting the existing database.
2. The second method to know how to recover data after truncate table in SQL Server is using logs carefully. Users need to recover the data using log entries. As we know that the TRUNCATE command deallocates the pages & keeps the information about the removed pages. If this data is still present in the LDF & MDF Files, user might be able to get the data back.
3. Last but not least, is the best automated solution option. Although it does the same thing as said above, it does not need to execute any command. It can execute everything on its own using a GUI & advanced features. One such tool is mentioned below for users.

Tool to Rollback & Learn How to Retrieve Truncated Table in SQL Statement

Well, in reality, the software also does not possess the capability to rollback the TRUNCATE command except one condition as it would violate the SQL Server principles. However, it offers users quite a comfortable method to recover the lost data back without errors. If users want to get rid of the struggle present in this process and efficiently resolve the ‘after truncate can we rollback’ issue, they should get the SysTools SQL Recovery Tool that is recommended by experts.

Download Now Purchase Now

Have a look at the features of the automated tool that can help users get the perfect solution for resolving their concerns for ‘can we rollback after truncate’ without any hassles at all.

• Repair as well as recover SQL Server all data objects like table, columns, rows, views, indexes, classes, stored procedures, triggers, etc.
• Users can get back deleted SQL Server data using the automated software within the least possible time.
• If users’ MDF file are damaged with malware, the tool can easily repair the files & remove the virus from its root through all legal procedures quickly.
• The software can recover the schema only as well as schema and data as per users’ preference.
• There are plenty of other features present here like interactive GUI, selective recovery, Quick & Advanced scan mode, etc.

It’s time that we proceed further and learn how to retrieve truncated table in SQL step by step using this software.

How to Recover Data After Truncate Table in SQL Step by Step Automatically?

Before starting, here are the Prerequisites that users must go through:

• Users must have an Active SQL Server.
• Users must launch the tool with admin privileges.
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or above should be installed on the system.

Step-1. Launch the Software & then Click on the Open button to Add MDF files.

Step-2. Browse the MDF Files from the system & Add to the software application.

Step-3. Select the Quick or Advanced Scan Mode as per the exact requirements.

Step-4. Now, select Destination Location as SQL Server, CSV file, or the Script file.

Step-5. Finally, Hit the Export/Save button to complete the recovery of Truncated table data.

Precautions to Take While Using the Truncate Command in SQL Server

Here are some of the prevention tips that will help users with the safer execution of the TRUNCATE command in SQL Server. 

• The first safety measure is taking a healthy backup of the database. As the TRUNCATE command is risky for the data to be recovered after, these backups will help the users keep their data safe. 
• Next, it is also crucial for the users to verify that the data they are going to truncate isn’t crucial, as recovery after the truncation might be too complex. 
• Archiving the entire data before truncating will help the users with recovery or reference in the future. 
• Documenting the entire process is also crucial, as it will help you with accountability in the future. 
• It is safer to use the TRUNCATE command on non-production environments to avoid the risk of crucial data loss in the database. 

Conclusion

How to retrieve truncated table in SQL is not a complicated query!! You all must be agreeing to me. After understanding the solutions as well as other aspects, users can do this with ease. Although they have to be careful while doing it.

Moreover, in order to get a smooth experience, users should rely on the automated solution as that is tested & even recommended by the experts. Rest, they are free to make up any decision that suits their business requirements.

Also Read: Recover Data After DELETE Command in SQL Server Database

FAQs

Q-1. Can we Use DROP & TRUNCATE command interchangeably?

Ans: No, It’s true that both the commands are there to remove data from the table. However, the DROP command permanently erases the data along with the table structure. However, in the TRUNCATE command, the system only deletes the ROWS within the table & leaves the table structure as it is.

Q-2. How to recover truncate table in SQL if there is no backup available for users & What is the ideal time for it?

Ans: Since, we are not recovering the entire data of a database, it should not take a long time. Evidently, users can execute their task at any time. Now, if we talk about restoring a truncated table without backup, the automated tool works the best so far.

Q-3. Is It possible to Rollback a TRUNCATE Command

Ans: No, We can not Rollback the TRUNCATE command. Although what we can do is just recover the truncated/deleted data back in SQL Server Database using the above mentioned techniques.