Univik SQL LDF ViewerOpen an .ldf transaction log and read every change inside it, with no SQL Server. See each insert, update and delete by table, log sequence number, transaction and time.
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Readable Log Properties
A Look Inside
See the Transaction Log In Action
Open an .ldf and the operations load in order, each mapped to the table and transaction behind it.
Log records in sequence order, each with its operation, table and transaction
Univik decodes each raw log record into readable fields you can sort, search and export
Key Features
Read a SQL Server transaction log without an instance. Follow every change by table, sequence and transaction, then export what you find.
Open an LDF Without SQL Server
Read a SQL Server .ldf transaction log straight from disk. No instance, no attach and no undocumented functions to wrestle with. The viewer decodes the log format on its own on any Windows computer, even one that never had SQL Server installed.
Read Every Log Operation
Each raw record is decoded into a plain operation: insert, update, delete and the page level actions behind them. Instead of a binary blob you get a readable list of what the database did.
See the Table Behind Each Change
Every operation is mapped back to the table and page it touched. A stream of log records becomes a clear picture of which tables changed, so you can filter to the one you care about.
Follow Changes by LSN
Records are laid out in log sequence order, the same order the server wrote them. That lets you see what happened first and trace a chain of changes as it unfolded across the database.
Group Operations by Transaction
Related operations are gathered under the transaction that ran them, so a single unit of work reads as one block. That makes it simple to see everything a given transaction changed.
Surface Recent Deletes
A delete is written to the log before its space is reused, so a recent one still sits in the .ldf. The viewer surfaces those delete operations for review. To rebuild the rows themselves, use SQL Database Recovery.
Forensic Report and Charts
A summary rolls up the operations by type and by table, with charts that show where the activity landed. Export it to CSV for an audit note, a case file or a report you can hand over.
Read Only and Always Safe
The .ldf opens read only and is never changed, which keeps the source clean for an audit or a chain of custody. Every export goes to a new file you choose, so you can run the viewer on your only copy.
Simple Steps
Four steps take you from a raw .ldf to a readable list of every change.
1. Install the Viewer
Download the free Univik SQL LDF Viewer and install it on Windows.
2. Open the LDF File
Point the viewer at your .ldf transaction log. No SQL Server is needed.
3. Read the Log
Operations load in sequence order, each with its table and transaction.
4. Filter and Export
Narrow by table or operation, then export the log or report to CSV.
The Interface
Three panels turn a binary log into something you can read at a glance.
Log Timeline
The main grid lists every record in log sequence order. Each row shows the operation, the table it touched and the transaction it belonged to, so the history reads top to bottom. Sort by any column or search for a value to jump to the change you need.
Operation Detail
Select a record to see its full detail: the operation type, the object and page it changed, the transaction and its log sequence number. The raw record sits behind a plain summary.
Filter Bar
Narrow the view by table, by operation type, by transaction or by a date and time range. Filter to a single table to see only what changed there. Filter to deletes alone to review what was removed.
Use Cases
Common jobs where reading the transaction log is the quickest way to an answer.
Audit Trail
See which operations ran against the database and in what order, without turning on any extra logging. A clear record of what changed and when.
Forensic Investigation
Trace a suspect change back to the transaction that made it. The viewer reads the log read only, so the source stays clean for a case.
Deleted Row Review
Read a recent delete that still sits in the log, so you can confirm what was removed. To bring the rows back, hand off to SQL Database Recovery.
Compliance Review
Produce a record of database activity for a report or a review. Export the operations to CSV for a note that stands on its own.
Debugging
Find the operation that put a table in a bad state. Reading the log shows the exact change, the table and the transaction that caused it.
Activity Monitoring
Understand the pattern of changes over a span of time. The report rolls up operations by type and table so trends stand out.
Which Tool Do I Need?
Read the change history with the Viewer. Rebuild damaged data with Recovery. Export healthy tables with the Converter.
| Task | LDF Viewer | SQL Recovery | MDF Converter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open an .ldf transaction log | Yes | No | No |
| Read insert, update and delete operations | Yes | No | No |
| Follow changes by LSN | Yes | No | No |
| Group operations by transaction | Yes | No | No |
| Forensic report of activity | Yes | No | No |
| Rebuild data from a damaged database | No | Yes | No |
| Recover deleted records and dropped tables | No | Yes | No |
| Export tables to CSV, Excel, SQL and more | Report to CSV | Via export | Yes |
| Price | Free | From $99 | From $99 |
Technical Details
System Requirements
| Operating System | Windows 11, 10, Server 2016 and later |
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster |
| RAM | 4 GB recommended |
| Disk Space | 100 MB for installation |
| .NET Framework | 4.8 or higher |
Software Information
| Version | 6.7 (Latest) |
| File Size | 15.6 MB |
| License | Freeware (100% Free) |
| Support | Email & Live Chat |
Supported Features
SQL Server Versions
Log Reading
Output
Customer Reviews
David M.
Database Administrator
"After a bad change slipped into production, I opened the .ldf and traced the exact update and the transaction behind it. No SQL Server, no guesswork."
Priya S.
Forensic Analyst
"I needed to show which operations ran against a seized database. The viewer read the log read only and gave me a report I could hand over."
Tomas K.
IT Auditor
"Being able to see inserts and deletes by table, without standing up a server, made an audit far easier to close out."
Help & Support
Yes. The Univik SQL LDF Viewer is free for personal and business use. There are no trial limits, no registration and no hidden cost.
No. The viewer reads the log file directly on any Windows computer, even one where SQL Server was never installed.
Each operation such as insert, update or delete, the table it touched, the transaction it belonged to and its place in the log sequence order.
Often yes. A delete is written to the log before its space is reused, so a recent delete can still be read from the .ldf.
The Viewer reads the change history held in the log. SQL Database Recovery rebuilds the data itself from a damaged MDF, NDF or backup. It also brings back deleted records and dropped tables.
Yes. The viewer opens the .ldf on its own and lists its operations. The MDF is needed only to rebuild the data behind those operations.
No. The file opens read only and is never modified. Every result goes to a separate export you choose.
Transaction logs from SQL Server 2000 through 2025 are supported. The version is read from the file automatically.
Yes. Export the log operations or the forensic report to CSV, ready to keep as a record or share with your team.
Ready to Read Your Transaction Log?
Download the free SQL LDF Viewer and open your .ldf to see every change inside it.
Need more than a look at the log?
The Viewer is free for reading a transaction log. To rebuild the data from a damaged database and bring back deleted records and dropped tables, use SQL Database Recovery. For a court-ready forensic report of the log, use the SQL Log Analyzer. New to the format? Start with the SQL LDF File Guide.
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