SQL Server DBCC Commands: DBCC PAGE

SQL Servers DBCC PAGE command is a powerful tool that allows users to view the contents of a database page at the physical level. This command is particularly useful for troubleshooting issues related to data corruption, as it provides a detailed view of the data stored in a specific page of the database.

To use the DBCC PAGE command, you must first connect to your SQL Server instance and then execute the command using the following syntax:

DBCC PAGE (database_name, file_id, page_number, print_option);

The database_name parameter specifies the name of the database in which the page resides. The file_id parameter specifies the ID of the data file that contains the page, and the page_number parameter specifies the page number within the file. The print_option parameter determines the level of detail that is returned in the output.

For example, to view the contents of page number 5 in the AdventureWorks database, you could use the following command:

DBCC TRACEON(3604);
GO
DBCC PAGE ('AdventureWorks', 1, 5, 3);

This command will return a detailed view of the contents of page number 5, including the page header, row offset array, and the data stored in the page.

It’s worth noting that the DBCC PAGE command is a powerful tool, but it should be used with caution. Modifying the data displayed by the command can potentially corrupt your database, so it is important to only use it for troubleshooting purposes and to consult with a database administrator before making any changes.

Overall, the DBCC PAGE command is a useful tool for understanding the physical structure of a database and troubleshooting issues related to data corruption. It provides a detailed view of the data stored in a specific page of the database and can be a valuable resource for database administrators and developers.