View and Analyze SQL Server Transaction Log Data

dbForge Transaction Log for SQL Server is a handy log reader and .ldf file viewer that provides detailed information about all changes in the data of your databases and allows reverting unwanted transactions on different levels.

  • Replay and roll back SQL Server database transactions
  • Revert selected tables to a specific point in time
  • Get detailed information about logins
  • View the data change history
  • Recover deleted records
  • Export transactions into SQL files
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Download the full dbForge SQL Tools bundle – 15 standalone tools and add-ins for SSMS and Visual Studio

All-in-one GUI tool for SQL Server
dbForge Studio for SQL Server
dbForge

Studio

Comprehensive IDE for SQL Server development, management, and administration

Features

Transaction visualization

SQL Server transactions are shown, grouped, and sorted in a convenient grid with advanced filtering options.

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Data recovery

Check the transaction log for deleted and damaged data in your SQL Server database. Revert inadvertent or malicious database transactions to repair data. Recover data affected by a specific issue or corruption without performing a full database recovery.

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Undo/Redo operations

Select one or all operations within a transaction to view and generate the corresponding replay or rollback scripts.

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Transaction isolation

Isolate specific SQL Server transactions by user, date, object, change type, and more. Utilize advanced grid search algorithms including regular expressions, transaction details, and row history search.

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Output export

Display transaction log data in a grid or export it to SQL scripts or bulk files, with the option to execute them directly against the required database at any given moment.

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Detailed login info

Identify the user who made any specific change, discover the login the user was under, as well as the time when those changes were committed—even if it had happened well before Transaction Log was installed. In-depth information is accessible for every operation and transaction recorded in the log.

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Editions and prices

View and analyze
SQL Server transaction log data

  • Replay and roll back SQL Server database transactions
  • Revert selected tables to a specific point in time
  • Isolate specific transactions
  • Recover deleted records
  • View the history of data changes
  • Utilize advanced search algorithms
  • Get detailed information about logins
  • Export transactions into SQL files

Full version

1-year subscription

$369.95
per year
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Get started with dbForge Transaction Log at no cost

Download a FREE trial version and start saving your databases from unwanted changes

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Practical benefits of dbForge Transaction Log

Data auditing

Data auditing

Transaction Log helps you get detailed information about changes in your SQL Server databases. You can track who committed the changes, what exactly was changed, and when these changes occurred. The complete history of data changes is also available—from the point at which this particular data was originally inserted to all of its subsequent updates or deletions.
Row-level recovery

Row-level recovery

Recovering entire databases or even individual tables can sometimes result in data loss, as unwanted changes may affect only small portions of your data. Transaction Log allows reverting changes with high precision, down to the row level. With this capability, you can secure data that might otherwise be lost during object-level recovery.
Disaster recovery

Disaster recovery

After successfully identifying unwanted changes, you can restore your database to the pre-change state. Identify and isolate rogue transactions and easily revert them to fix affected data and prevent further data loss on different levels.
Point-in-time recovery

Point-in-time recovery

With Transaction Log, you can revert the state of your SQL Server database to a specific point in time at which it was stable. You can also select specific tables for recovery so that other tables will not be affected by rollback scripts.
Processing of .mdf, .ldf, and .ndf files

Processing of .mdf, .ldf, and .ndf files

You can easily retrieve DML (Data Manipulation Language) operations like INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE from data files, secondary data files, and log files.
Export to SQL

Export to SQL

After the script is generated, you can either run it immediately or export it to an SQL file. Thus, you will be able to execute it later, whenever needed.

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Enjoy bulk discounts

We offer flexible purchasing options to meet your budget. Also, if you need multiple licenses, you will get a bulk discount.

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Need a hand?

If you need any help or have questions about our tools or purchasing options, feel free to get in touch with our team.

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FAQ

What permissions are required to read SQL Server transaction logs safely?

If you are using dbForge Transaction Log for this purpose, there are three modes you can choose from:

  • Online NTFS allows reading transaction logs with direct NTFS reading.
  • Online VSS allows reading transaction logs with the Volume Shadow Copy Service.
  • Offline allows reading transactions stored in the log files of the detached database.

Both online modes require a connection to a database under your credentials. The offline mode does not require any permissions; you only need to specify a file to read data from.

Can I recover a single row (or a set of rows) to an exact point in time?

Yes. Once you locate unwanted changes, you can restore your database to the pre-change state. You can identify and isolate unwanted transactions and roll them back with auto-generated undo and redo scripts.

How are undo and redo scripts generated and validated before execution?

dbForge Transaction Log auto-generates undo and redo scripts in T-SQL for single or multiple operations to roll back or recover data recorded in the transaction log. If you want to validate them before execution, you can easily open them in a new SQL Editor window.

Can I analyze detached or copied .mdf/.ndf/.ldf files offline?

Yes. dbForge Transaction Log has a special mode that allows reading files offline. Open the app, click New Transaction Log on the toolbar, go to the Offline tab, and specify the required file to view the data it contains.

What is the performance impact of scanning large logs on production, and how can it be minimized?

Scanning large transaction logs in a SQL Server production environment can have a significant performance impact, especially on high-traffic systems. The impact may include, among other things, I/O overhead, extra CPU consumption, disk space issues, and backup delays.

To prevent these issues, you can take the following precautions:

  • Use filtered, targeted log scanning (via time ranges, transaction IDs, and LSN ranges).
  • Use change data capture (CDC) or change tracking.
  • Schedule scans for off-peak hours.
  • Offload log scanning to a read-only replica.
  • Avoid long retention settings that prevent log truncation (e.g., long replication or CDC retention periods).