<div>
is live_log the name of your database? &nbsp;If not, swap out your database name in there and try again.
</div>


<div>
Also check your logical and physical name of the log file. They could be different and this is why you are getting the error.
</div>


<div>
live_log is the transaction file. The database is just called 'live'. Are you suggesting I remove the '_log'?
</div>


<div>
Sorry, not sure of the difference between the logical and physical log file, or how to check it
</div>


<div>
run this on your database<br />
<br />
select file_name(2) as 'log name'
</div>


<div>
This showed the 'design_log'
</div>


<div>
No, I got the following message:<br />
<br />
<br />
Server: Msg 8985, Level 16, State 1, Line 1<br />
Could not locate file 'design_log' in sysfiles.<br />
DBCC execution completed. If DBCC printed error messages, contact your system administrator.
</div>


<div>
Just one other thing, I have read that it is OK to carry out the shrinking of the Transaction logs while users are working on the database. Can you confirm this before we go any further.
</div>


<div>
SQL used:<br />
<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE (design_log, 2) <br />
<br />
and <br />
<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE (design_log)
</div>


<div>
that is different than what you posted before....<br />
<br />
do this:<br />
<br />
select * From sysfiles<br />
<br />
take your log file name and put it in there instead.
</div>


<div>
This is true, apologies for confusing the issue. I have just run:<br />
<br />
BACKUP LOG design_log WITH TRUNCATE_ONLY<br />
<br />
and got the following:<br />
<br />
Server: Msg 911, Level 16, State 1, Line 1<br />
Could not locate entry in sysdatabases for database 'design_log'. No entry found with that name. Make sure that the name is entered correctly.<br />
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1<br />
BACKUP LOG is terminating abnormally.
</div>


<div>
See attachment 'SQL Query1' for the result from 'select * From sysfiles'<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2008/07_w29/42586/SQL-Query-1.pdf" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="SQL Query 1 (37 KB)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>SQL-Query-1.pdf</a>
</div>


SQL-Query-1.pdf

<div>
OK...lets try this again. &nbsp;For this statement:<br />
<br />
BACKUP LOG DATABASENAME WITH TRUNCATE_ONLY<br />
<br />
use the database name, NOT the log name<br />
<br />
for this statement:<br />
<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE ('LOG FILE NAME', 0)<br />
<br />
make sure you use the log file name
</div>


<div>
Used:<br />
BACKUP LOG live WITH TRUNCATE_ONLY<br />
<br />
the result:<br />
The command(s) completed successfully.<br />
<br />
So, in order to shrink the Transaction logfile, should I use the database name i.e.<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE (live)<br />
<br />
and is it OK to do this when users are connected?
</div>


<div>
Ignore the last question, I've just read you last comment correctly
</div>


<div>
should** be OK...as long as there isn't a heavy load.<br />
<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE ('design_log', 0)
</div>


<div>
I will use:<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE (live_log, 0)<br />
<br />
Can you confirm I can do this with users connected
</div>


<div>
It should be fine, but if you are nervous about it then wait until after hours.
</div>


<div>
Neither DBCC SHRINKFILE ('design_log', 0) or DBCC SHRINKFILE ('live_log', 0) worked. Got the following:<br />
<br />
Server: Msg 8985, Level 16, State 1, Line 1<br />
Could not locate file 'design_log' in sysfiles.<br />
DBCC execution completed. If DBCC printed error messages, contact your system administrator.
</div>


<div>
make sure you run that statement in the context of the live database:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
USE LIVE<br />
GO<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE ('design_log', 0) 
</div>


<div>
OR...try this:<br />
<br />
use live<br />
go<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE ('live_log', 0) 
</div>


<div>
Did just that and got:<br />
<br />
Server: Msg 8985, Level 16, State 1, Line 1<br />
Could not locate file 'live_log' in sysfiles.<br />
DBCC execution completed. If DBCC printed error messages, contact your system administrator.
</div>


<div>
and for :<br />
<br />
USE LIVE<br />
GO<br />
DBCC SHRINKFILE ('design_log', 0)<br />

</div>


<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
I am attempting to shrink a transaction log which is currently 15GB. The reason being, we only have 2GB of disk space left on the partition. Given my very limited knowledge of SQL, I have managed to understand the very basics of the DBCC Shrinkfile tool. However, when I attempt to execute the following command:<br />
<br />
BACKUP LOG live_log WITH TRUNCATE_ONLY<br />
<br />
I get the following error messages:<br />
<br />
Server: Msg 911, Level 16, State 1, Line 1<br />
Could not locate entry in sysdatabases for database 'live_log'. No entry found with that name. Make sure that the name is entered correctly.<br />
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1<br />
BACKUP LOG is terminating abnormally.<br />
<br />
Can anyone shed some light please<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2008/07_w29/42543/SQL-Error.pdf" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="SQL Msg 911 and 3013 (38 KB)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>SQL-Error.pdf</a>
</div>
</div>


SQL-Error.pdf

I am attempting to shrink a transaction log which is currently 15GB. The reason being, we only have 2GB of disk space left on the partition. Given my very limited knowledge of SQL, I have managed to understand the very basics of the DBCC Shrinkfile tool. However, when I attempt to execute the following command:

BACKUP LOG live_log WITH TRUNCATE_ONLY

I get the following error messages:

Server: Msg 911, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
Could not locate entry in sysdatabases for database 'live_log'. No entry found with that name. Make sure that the name is entered correctly.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
BACKUP LOG is terminating abnormally.

Can anyone shed some light please

Shrinking SQL Transaction Log

Databases are organized collections of data, most commonly accessed through management systems including schemas, tables, queries and processes that allow users to enter and manipulate the information or utilize it in other fashions, such as with web applications or for reporting purposes.

Databases

Microsoft SQL Server is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.SQL Server is available in multiple versions, typically identified by release year, and versions are subdivided into editions to distinguish between product functionality. Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning.