Have you ever wondered what changes have been made to your SQL Server databases? Do you need to audit database activity without the use of triggers or other mechanisms that require overhead? Look no further than ApexSQL Log, a powerful tool that allows you to passively review the contents of database transaction logs and transaction log backups.

ApexSQL Log, formerly known as Log Navigator, is a product from ApexSQL that is designed to work on both SQL Server 7.0 and SQL Server 2000. It can be installed on both clustered and named instances of SQL Server. The installation process is simple, but it’s important to select the appropriate components depending on whether you’re installing on a workstation or a server.

Once installed, ApexSQL Log provides a user-friendly GUI interface for viewing transaction logs. You can select an online log or a transaction log backup to review. The tool retrieves and displays up to 1000 log entries by default, but you can choose to show more rows if needed. You can easily navigate through the log entries and view the details of individual commands such as INSERT and DELETE.

One of the key features of ApexSQL Log is its ability to audit changes after the fact. As long as the database is in Full Recovery mode, the tool can retrieve information stored in the transaction log and provide auditing information such as who performed an action and when it happened. This can be invaluable in situations where other auditing mechanisms were not in place.

ApexSQL Log also offers the option to export the log information in XML or SQL script format. This allows you to process the exported data using other tools or scripts to extract the information you’re looking for.

Overall, ApexSQL Log is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for exploring SQL Server transaction logs. It provides valuable insights into database activity and allows for efficient auditing of changes. While there are a few limitations, such as the inability to display the contents of text fields, the tool’s ease of use and effectiveness make it a valuable asset for database administrators and developers.

If you’re interested in trying out ApexSQL Log, you can download a two-week full-feature trial from the vendor’s website. After the trial period, a registration key is required to continue using the product.

For more information and to download ApexSQL Log, visit the vendor’s product page.

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