Online Documentation for SQL Administrator for SQL Server

Specifying shrink database options

This step of the wizard provides you with information on the allocated and free space, and allows you to specify the shrink action to be taken on the database. This step is available only if Shrink the entire database type was set on the second step.

If you have selected a single database to shrink on the first step, then the following window appears.

This window provides you with the information about the currently allocated space and the available free space values pertaining to the database being shrunk.

Reorganize data files by moving free space to the end of files

Check this option to recover space by moving pages of data from the end of the file to unoccupied space closer to the front of the file.

This can cause index fragmentation and can slow the performance of queries that search a range of the index. To eliminate the fragmentation, consider rebuilding the indexes on the file after shrinking.

Percentage of free space after shrinking

Specify the percentage of free space that will be left in the database file after the database is shrunk.

If you have selected several databases to shrink on the first step, then the step looks the following way:

This grid displays information about allocated and free space for each database.

You can set Move Free Space to End of File option for each database by selecting it in the list and setting the respective flag.

Specify the percentage of Free Space after Shrinking in the corresponding cells. This amount of free space will be left in the database file after the database has been shrunk.

Click the Next button to proceed to the Setting schedule options step of the wizard.