sp_create_removable (Transact-SQL)
Applies to: 
SQL Server
Creates a removable media database. Creates three or more files (one for the system catalog tables, one for the transaction log, and one or more for the data tables) and places the database on those files.
Important
This feature will be removed in a future version of SQL Server. Avoid using this feature in new development work, and plan to modify applications that currently use this feature. We recommend that you use CREATE DATABASE instead.
Transact-SQL syntax conventions
Syntax
sp_create_removable
[ [ @dbname = ] N'dbname' ]
[ , [ @syslogical = ] N'syslogical' ]
[ , [ @sysphysical = ] N'sysphysical' ]
[ , [ @syssize = ] syssize ]
[ , [ @loglogical = ] N'loglogical' ]
[ , [ @logphysical = ] N'logphysical' ]
[ , [ @logsize = ] logsize ]
[ , [ @datalogical1 = ] N'datalogical1' ]
[ , [ @dataphysical1 = ] N'dataphysical1' ]
[ , [ @datasize1 = ] datasize1 ]
[ , ... ]
[ , [ @datalogical16 = ] N'datalogical16' ]
[ , [ @dataphysical16 = ] N'dataphysical16' ]
[ , [ @datasize16 = ] datasize16 ]
[ ; ]
Arguments
[ @dbname = ] N'dbname'
The name of the database to create for use on removable media. @dbname is sysname, with a default of NULL.
[ @syslogical = ] N'syslogical'
The logical name of the file that contains the system catalog tables. @syslogical is sysname, with a default of NULL.
[ @sysphysical = ] N'sysphysical'
The physical name. @sysphysical is nvarchar(260), with a default of NULL. This value includes a fully qualified path, of the file that holds the system catalog tables.
[ @syssize = ] syssize
The size, in megabytes, of the file that holds the system catalog tables. @syssize is int, with a default of NULL.
[ @loglogical = ] N'loglogical'
The logical name of the file that contains the transaction log. @loglogical is sysname, with a default of NULL.
[ @logphysical = ] N'logphysical'
The physical name. @logphysical is nvarchar(260), with a default of NULL. This value includes a fully qualified path, of the file that contains the transaction log.
[ @logsize = ] logsize
The size, in megabytes, of the file that contains the transaction log. @logsize is int, with a minimum value of 1.
[ @datalogical1 = ] N'datalogical1'
The logical name of a file that contains the data tables. @datalogical1 is sysname, with a default of NULL.
There must be between 1 and 16 data files. Typically, more than one data file is created when the database is expected to be large, and must be distributed on multiple disks.
[ @dataphysical1 = ] N'dataphysical1'
The physical name. @dataphysical1 is nvarchar(260), with a default of NULL. This value includes a fully qualified path, of a file that contains data tables.
[ @datasize1 = ] datasize1
The size, in megabytes, of a file that contains data tables. @datasize1 is int, with a minimum value of 1.
Return code values
0 (success) or 1 (failure).
Result set
None.
Remarks
If you want to make a copy of your database on removable media, such as a compact disc, and distribute the database to other users, use this stored procedure.
Permissions
Requires CREATE DATABASE, CREATE ANY DATABASE, or ALTER ANY DATABASE permission.
To maintain control over disk use on an instance of SQL Server, permission to create databases is typically limited to a few login accounts.
Permissions on data and log files
Whenever certain operations are performed on a database, corresponding permissions are set on its data and log files. The permissions prevent the files from being accidentally tampered with if they reside in a directory that's open permissions.
| Operation on database | Permissions set on files |
|---|---|
| Modified to add a new file | Created |
| Backed up | Attached |
| Restored | Detached |
Note
SQL Server doesn't set data and log file permissions.
Examples
The following example creates the database inventory as a removable database.
EXEC sp_create_removable 'inventory',
'invsys',
'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Data\invsys.mdf',
2,
'invlog',
'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Data\invlog.ldf',
4,
'invdata',
'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Data\invdata.ndf',
10;