How to trim .bak file

[jieyin]

I have a database regularly backed up in a .bak file. Over time this file grows larger and larger taking up a lot spaces. I want to trim it down a little bit by getting rid of some earlier versions of backup within the .bak file. Can I do that and how?

Thanks

 

[ClaireHCM]

How to trim .bak file
thread183-616491

first execute
restore headeronly from disk = 'path_name or backup_device_name'

Execiuting the above query will give you a table with column name "position"
Then check which position you want to take.And then execute the restore like the following

restore database dbname from disk = 'path_name' with file =
1 or 2 or 3 or 4 (depends which one you choose)

 

[SQLBill]

Claire,

Interesting post. Your solution won't work. jieyin doesn't want to RESTORE any of the data at this time. He/She wants to get rid of some of the backup data.

Jieyin,

Can't do it. It's all or nothing. Here's a possible solution:

Let's say you only want to keep one months worth of backups.
-You backup daily to mybackup.bak.
-After two weeks, you rename that file (ex. mybackupold.bak). Then you will have two backup files, mybackupold.bak and mybackup.bak will be recreated with the next backup job.
-After another two weeks, you delete mybackupold.bak and rename mybackup.bak to mybackupold.bak.

-SQLBill

 

[jieyin]

Thanks, SQLBill. You got my point and I think your solution works fine for me. I will just periodically do this chore.