Windows Azure SQL Database Import Export Code Examples

Project Description

The Windows Azure SQL Database Import/Export Service supports creating bacpac files from Azure.

This site contains information on using the service programmatically.

You will need to create a client application that performs the import/export action.  Your application should also include exception handling and retry logic for certain error codes.  The retry logic should retry a finite number of times and building an increasing delay in between retries may help in the case of throttling and timeouts.

Here are some of the options available to create your client application.

1)  Use the Data-Tier Application Framework (DACFx) client tool - sqlpackage.exe

Example for import
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DAC\bin\sqlpackage.exe" /a:Import /tdn:"your database to create" /tp:"your password here" /tsn:"yourserver.database.windows.net" /tu:"yourdbuser" /sf:"bacpac on local disk"

Example for export
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DAC\bin\sqlpackage.exe" /a:Export /ssn:yourserver.database.windows.net /sdn:"your database to export" /su:"yourdbuser" /sp:"your password" /tf:"bacpac file to create on local disk"

You can download the latest version of the Data-Tier Application Framework here and find sqlpackage documentation here.

2)  Use the Data-Tier Application Framework (DACFx) public API

Add a reference to Microsoft.SqlServer.Dac 

Create a DacServices instance, call appropriate method to import (ImportBacpac) or export (ExportBacpac).

You can download the latest version of the Data-Tier Application Framework here and find the DACFx public API documentation here.

Link to code samples.

3)  Use the Import/Export REST Endpoints

Create a service reference to one of the following service endpoints (depending on your datacenter).

Use the appropriate methods to import, export, selective export, and check status.

Link to Code samples.

For questions and community support, please use the Windows Azure SQL Database Forums.

FAQ

Technet DAC Import Export FAQ has the complete FAQ.