SQL Database Converter Univik SQL Database Converter

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Microsoft SQL Server Built for Microsoft SQL Server databases

Convert Any SQL Server Database Without SQL Server

Univik SQL Database Converter reads your SQL Server database straight from disk and exports it to the format you need. It reads the primary MDF, the secondary NDF files and even BAK backups, so you convert the whole database with no SQL Server, no attach and no instance. Export to nine formats or restore the data into a live server.

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Starting from $99

*Free trial lets you load the database and preview every table. A license unlocks unlimited export, starting from $99.

  • No Server, No Instance: Open the database straight from disk. No SQL Server, no attach and no restore.
  • Reads the Whole Database: The primary MDF, the secondary NDF files and BAK backups, including the common compressed backup format.
  • Export to 9 Formats: CSV, Excel, SQL script, JSON, XML, Parquet or Access.
  • Corrupt or lost data? Use SQL Database Recovery to fix a suspect file and recover deleted rows.

Univik SQL Database Converter box

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Microsoft SQL Server

 Converts Every SQL Server Version

 Product Screenshots

See the Converter In Action

The app in action, from opening a database to sending every table out to your chosen format.

 Key Features

Why Choose Univik SQL Database Converter

For teams that need a whole SQL Server database out as files, with the schema intact and no server left running.

No SQL Server or Live Connection

Convert a detached or offline database straight from disk, with no SQL Server, no ATTACH and no live connection. You do not even need admin rights.

Reads the Whole Database

Not just one file. It reads the primary MDF plus every secondary NDF file and filegroup and reassembles data that spans several files.

Reads Backups Too

Open a SQL Server BAK backup directly and export the data, with no RESTORE. It reads the common compressed backup format as well, which most tools cannot.

Nine Export Formats

Save any table as CSV, Excel, SQL script, JSON, XML, Apache Parquet or Access. Parquet and JSON are ready for analytics and SQL scripts rebuild the data on any server.

Schema Accurate

Every column keeps its true data type, length and nullability. Dates, money, Unicode and large values all decode correctly.

Restore to Live SQL Server

Push the tables straight into a running SQL Server with CREATE TABLE and bulk copy, turning a file back into a working database.

Batch Export

Export one table or every table in the database in a single run, each to its own file, with a live progress report.

Read Only and Offline

The database is never changed and nothing leaves the machine. Safe for production data and suited to confidential and regulated work.

 Export Formats

Export SQL Server Data to 9 Formats

Convert SQL Server to CSV, Excel, SQL, JSON, XML, Parquet or Access. Pick the format your next tool needs.

SQL Server database files to nine export formats Your database files MDF primary NDF secondary BAK backup Univik SQL Database Converter Reads the file at page level No SQL Server needed Export or restore CSV Excel SQL script JSON XML Parquet Access SQL Server

CSV

One table or the whole database

XLSX

Excel workbook

SQL

Script with schema and data

SQL

Script schema only

JSONL

JSON Lines

JSON

JSON array

XML

Structured XML

PARQUET

Apache Parquet for analytics

ACCDB

Access database

Working with a single MDF file rather than a whole database? Use the MDF File Converter.

Your schema comes with the data

The SQL script export is a faithful copy of the database, not only its rows. It keeps the full structure and every programmable object, so nothing is lost in the conversion.

  • Primary and foreign keys
  • Indexes and check constraints
  • Defaults and rules
  • Views and stored procedures
  • Functions and triggers
  • Correct data types on every column

 How It Works

How the SQL Database Converter Works

Four steps from a database file to your data in the format you need.

Quick Start Guide

  1. Download and install: Install on Windows 10 or 11 with .NET Framework 4.8 or higher. No SQL Server required.
  2. Open the database: Select the MDF, NDF or BAK file. Every table loads with its record count.
  3. Choose tables and format: Check the tables you want and pick one of the nine formats.
  4. Export or restore: Save the files or restore the tables to a live SQL Server.

 Under the Hood

Engineered From the SQL Server File Format

Univik does not depend on SQL Server to read your data. It reads the database the way SQL Server does, at the page level, straight from the file. We studied the on-disk format in depth and tested every part of the reader in our own data recovery lab, so the data you export matches the source.

How Univik reads a SQL Server database file MDF or BAK the file on disk 8192-byte pages read directly System catalog sysschobjs, syscolpars, sysrowsets Tables and schema rebuilt
  • Page level reading: Parses the 8192 byte pages and the page types SQL Server uses, from data and index pages to allocation maps.
  • Reads the system catalog: Rebuilds the schema straight from sysschobjs, syscolpars and sysrowsets. It handles both the modern layout and the SQL Server 2000 layout.
  • Full type system: Decodes scale aware datetime2, time and datetimeoffset, sql_variant, the internal binary XML format and CLR types like hierarchyid, geography and geometry.
  • Large values and LOB: Follows the LOB b-tree to read text, image and max length columns that span many pages.
  • Compression: Decodes both row compression and page compression, including compressed large values.
  • Correct Unicode: Decodes text across collations and code pages, including SCSU compressed Unicode, so international text is never garbled.

Checked against ground truth. Each decoder is validated against known databases in our data recovery lab, so a value in the file and the value you export are the same. Because the reader understands the format at this level, the conversion stays faithful on real, complex databases, not only simple ones.

NR

Written and reviewed by

Nick Rogers Founder of Univik

Nick founded Univik in 2013 and leads the team that reverse-engineered the SQL Server on-disk format. He oversees the testing of every release against known databases in the Univik data recovery lab.

 Comparison

Univik vs Manual Export

See how it compares to scripting the export by hand.

Univik SQL Database Converter

  • Works Offline: Reads the database from disk with nothing running.
  • Nine Targets: Spreadsheet, script, analytics and Access files from one tool.
  • Reads Every File: MDF, NDF and BAK joined into one database.
  • One Pass: Every table exported together with a progress bar.
  • Faithful Types: Dates, money, Unicode and large values stay correct.

BCP, Scripts and SSIS

  • Server Must Be Running: Nothing exports while the database is offline.
  • Flat Output Only: BCP stops at text and SQL, with no Excel or Parquet.
  • You Build the Schema: Every table definition is typed by hand.
  • No Whole Database Pass: You handle each file yourself.
  • Heavy Setup: An SSIS package is a project in itself.

 Technical Data Sheet

Converter Specifications

Product details, system requirements and compatibility.

Software box
Product Name:Univik SQL Database Converter
Version:6.7 (Latest)
File Size:18.4 MB
License Delivery:Instant via Email
License Price:Starting from $99   Buy Now
Free Trial:Free Download
100% Safe & Secure

Export Engine

What It Exports To

  • CSV and Excel
  • SQL script and Access
  • JSON, XML and Parquet
  • Live SQL Server restore
  • SQL Server 2000 to 2025
Input
Input Files:SQL Server MDF (.mdf primary), NDF (.ndf secondary) and BAK (.bak backup, standard compressed or uncompressed). Collation detected automatically.
Output:CSV, Excel XLSX, SQL script (schema and data or schema only), JSON Lines, JSON array, XML, Apache Parquet, Access ACCDB or a restore to a live SQL Server.
Platforms
Platforms:
  • Windows: 11 and 10 (64-bit)
  • Server: 2016 and later
Prerequisites
Prerequisites:
  • .NET Framework: 4.8 or higher
  • No SQL Server: No SQL Server or SSMS needed
  • Access: Read access to the database files, nothing else

 Pricing

Converter Licenses Start at $99

Try it free, then unlock unlimited export starting from $99.

Free Trial

$0

  • Load any database file
  • Preview every table and its records
  • Evaluate before you buy
 Free Download

Most Popular

Personal License

$99

  • One PC, single user
  • Unlimited export in all 9 formats
  • Restore to live SQL Server
  • Free updates and support
 Buy Now

Business License

$199

  • Up to 5 PCs, commercial use
  • Everything in Personal
  • Batch export and priority support
 Buy Now

 Customer Reviews

What Our Customers Say

Feedback from DBAs, developers and data teams.

Marcus T.

Database Administrator

"The database was spread across a primary file and three NDF files. Univik pulled them together and exported every table in one pass, with no reattach and no server."

Elena V.

Data Engineer

"Our warehouse loads from Parquet. This wrote every table to Parquet with the correct types straight from the file, so I skipped the whole staging step."

Rahul M.

Software Developer

"A client handed me a compressed backup and no server to restore it on. Univik read the BAK on the spot and I had the tables in Excel in minutes."

 Help & Support

SQL Conversion Questions

Common questions about converting a SQL Server database.

Yes. Univik SQL Database Converter reads the database files directly from disk, with no SQL Server, no ATTACH and no instance. You only need read access to the files and .NET Framework 4.8 or higher on Windows.

There are nine targets. CSV and Excel for spreadsheets, a SQL script with data or schema only, JSON Lines and a JSON array, XML, Apache Parquet for analytics and an Access database. Each table can use a different one.

Yes. Export any table straight to an Excel workbook or a CSV file. You can export a single table or every table in the database in one run, with the correct data types kept.

Yes. It reads the primary MDF plus any secondary NDF data files and reassembles data that spans several files and filegroups, so you export the complete database, not just one file.

Yes. It opens native SQL Server backups directly and lists the databases and files inside, without running RESTORE. It reads the standard compressed backup format as well as uncompressed backups, which most third party tools cannot do. Backups that use ZSTD compression or a non standard transfer size are detected and you are guided to restore them first.

It converts databases from SQL Server 2000 through 2025, including 2005, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022. The version and collation are read from the file so text stays in the right code page.

Yes. Export a SQL script with schema and data to run on any server. You can also use the built in restore tool to push the tables straight into a live SQL Server database.

It reads healthy databases for export. To repair a corrupt or suspect file and bring back deleted records and dropped tables, use Univik SQL Database Recovery, which runs the same engine with recovery turned on.

The database files open in read only mode and are never modified. All output goes to new files you choose, which makes the tool safe for production data and for forensic work.

Still have questions? Contact support or Live Chat

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