Data File size issue

Hello everyone,
I have a problem with the data files on one of my databases. I was trying
to manage the file size for a secondary data file (that had blown up on me
because there were no growth limits set initially) by trying something on a
hunch. It was probably a mistake to this, but I wanted to reduce the size o
f
this file by transferring only part of the data from this file to the other
files in the filegroup. Here's an illustration of what I did:
Original Scenario:
Used Space Free Space Total Space
-- -- --
File 1 18945 MB 0 MB 18945 MB
File 2 87052 MB 10.8 MB 87062 MB
I wanted to reduce the size of secondary data file File 2. So, I created
File 3 on a third Server hard drive (File 1 & 2 are on 2 separate drives),
set growth limits of 30000 MB each for File 1 and File 3, and decided to try
and empty the data from File 2. The theory behind this being that SQL Serve
r
would try to empty File 2, but will only be able to transfer up to the growt
h
limits set on Files 1 & 2. This way, I will have more evenly displaced usag
e
of data space. Well, here is what it now looks like:
Used Space Free Space Total Space
-- -- --
File 1 29854 MB 0 MB 29854 MB
File 2 46251 MB 40774 MB 87025 MB
File 3 29652 MB 0 MB 29652 MB
This is all fine and dandy except the fact that I am unable to shrink File
2. No matter what I try, I am unable to get the 40 GB of free space in this
file back to the Operating System. This is an extremely frustrating problem
,
and I would appreciate any advice. Please help!!
Thank you!What about creating two secondary files instead one and using "dbcc
shrinkfile (file_2, , EMPTYFILE)" so the data from file_2 is migrated to the
other files in the filegroup and then deleting file_2 using "alter database"
.
AMB
"Shishir Viriyala" wrote:

> Hello everyone,
> I have a problem with the data files on one of my databases. I was trying
> to manage the file size for a secondary data file (that had blown up on me
> because there were no growth limits set initially) by trying something on
a
> hunch. It was probably a mistake to this, but I wanted to reduce the size
of
> this file by transferring only part of the data from this file to the othe
r
> files in the filegroup. Here's an illustration of what I did:
> Original Scenario:
> Used Space Free Space Total Space
> -- -- --
> File 1 18945 MB 0 MB 18945 MB
> File 2 87052 MB 10.8 MB 87062 MB
> I wanted to reduce the size of secondary data file File 2. So, I created
> File 3 on a third Server hard drive (File 1 & 2 are on 2 separate drives),
> set growth limits of 30000 MB each for File 1 and File 3, and decided to t
ry
> and empty the data from File 2. The theory behind this being that SQL Ser
ver
> would try to empty File 2, but will only be able to transfer up to the gro
wth
> limits set on Files 1 & 2. This way, I will have more evenly displaced us
age
> of data space. Well, here is what it now looks like:
> Used Space Free Space Total Space
> -- -- --
> File 1 29854 MB 0 MB 29854 MB
> File 2 46251 MB 40774 MB 87025 MB
> File 3 29652 MB 0 MB 29652 MB
> This is all fine and dandy except the fact that I am unable to shrink File
> 2. No matter what I try, I am unable to get the 40 GB of free space in th
is
> file back to the Operating System. This is an extremely frustrating probl
em,
> and I would appreciate any advice. Please help!!
> Thank you!|||Did you try shrinking the file using dbcc shrinkfile?
AMB
"Alejandro Mesa" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> What about creating two secondary files instead one and using "dbcc
> shrinkfile (file_2, , EMPTYFILE)" so the data from file_2 is migrated to t
he
> other files in the filegroup and then deleting file_2 using "alter databas
e".
>
> AMB
> "Shishir Viriyala" wrote:
>|||I suspect you need to have some free swing space in another file to
accomplish the operation?
"Shishir Viriyala" wrote:

> Hello everyone,
> I have a problem with the data files on one of my databases. I was trying
> to manage the file size for a secondary data file (that had blown up on me
> because there were no growth limits set initially) by trying something on
a
> hunch. It was probably a mistake to this, but I wanted to reduce the size
of
> this file by transferring only part of the data from this file to the othe
r
> files in the filegroup. Here's an illustration of what I did:
> Original Scenario:
> Used Space Free Space Total Space
> -- -- --
> File 1 18945 MB 0 MB 18945 MB
> File 2 87052 MB 10.8 MB 87062 MB
> I wanted to reduce the size of secondary data file File 2. So, I created
> File 3 on a third Server hard drive (File 1 & 2 are on 2 separate drives),
> set growth limits of 30000 MB each for File 1 and File 3, and decided to t
ry
> and empty the data from File 2. The theory behind this being that SQL Ser
ver
> would try to empty File 2, but will only be able to transfer up to the gro
wth
> limits set on Files 1 & 2. This way, I will have more evenly displaced us
age
> of data space. Well, here is what it now looks like:
> Used Space Free Space Total Space
> -- -- --
> File 1 29854 MB 0 MB 29854 MB
> File 2 46251 MB 40774 MB 87025 MB
> File 3 29652 MB 0 MB 29652 MB
> This is all fine and dandy except the fact that I am unable to shrink File
> 2. No matter what I try, I am unable to get the 40 GB of free space in th
is
> file back to the Operating System. This is an extremely frustrating probl
em,
> and I would appreciate any advice. Please help!!
> Thank you!|||Yep, I have used both Enterpise Manager and Transact SQL (DBCC SHRINKFILE
method) to try and shrink this file. Nothing changes on the file however.
I
will try emptying File 2 into another data file and see what happens. Hope
it works. Thanks for the idea!
"Alejandro Mesa" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> Did you try shrinking the file using dbcc shrinkfile?
>
> AMB
> "Alejandro Mesa" wrote:
>|||Alejandro,
I tried to create additional data files, and then tried to empty File 2, but
nothing happened. In Enterprise Manager, I got a confirmation message sayin
g
the file was shrunk successfully, but the File remains at the same size.
Then I tried DBCC SHRINKFILE (EMPTYFILE), and again I didnt receive any
errors, but my file's size remains the same. Something is seriously wrong,
and I am not sure how to troubleshoot. Any ideas?
Thanks!
"Shishir Viriyala" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> Yep, I have used both Enterpise Manager and Transact SQL (DBCC SHRINKFILE
> method) to try and shrink this file. Nothing changes on the file however.
I
> will try emptying File 2 into another data file and see what happens. Hop
e
> it works. Thanks for the idea!
> "Alejandro Mesa" wrote:
>|||Jeff,
I managed to find just enough space on the disk to create a new data file
that could hold all of my problem data file. However, referring to my
previous post in this thread, the file has stopped responding to any shrink
attempts. Not sure what to do at the moment.....
Shishir
"Jeffrey K. Ericson" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> I suspect you need to have some free swing space in another file to
> accomplish the operation?
> "Shishir Viriyala" wrote:
>