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How do I maintain my SQLEXPRESS database?

If you're a smaller organization that's using the free version of SQLEXPRESS instead of using a paid version of Microsoft SQL Server Standard, you will need to do a little database maintenance to keep everything operating at peak performance.

How often do I need to clean up my SQLEXPRESS database? For optimal performance, you should perform this task every day.  

 

What if I use a paid version of Microsoft SQL Server Standard? You will use the tools in Microsoft SQL Server Standard to maintain the database, which means you do not need to use the Maintain Databases routine in Connect applications. See Microsoft SQL Docx to resolve index fragmentation by reorganizing or rebuilding indexes. 

 

Maintaining the database will clean up, organize, and optimize files to make it easier for Connect applications to find and retrieve information. Running database maintenance works a little like defragmenting a hard drive on your computer. When you're done, the physical location of the files in the database will match the logical ordering of the files. 

 

Before you get started

  • Back up the database. You should always back up a database before running a routine that modifies or deletes transactions. See How do I back up a database?

 

Cleaning up my SQLEXPRESS database

1. Open Connect System Management > System Tools > Maintain Databases. 

2. Click Select All. 

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Select All button

 

3. Click to select the Rebuild Index checkbox. 

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Rebuild indexes checkbox

 

4. Click to select the Shrink Database checkbox. 

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Shrink database checkbox

 

5. Click GO Image (CTRL+G). 

Connect rebuilds and shrinks the SQLEXPRESS database. This process may require additional time depending on the size of the database. 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2025 Caselle, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

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