attaching from the portable mdf/ldf formats

In the MSSQLExpress Studio, 2005 Enterprise Manager, and 2003 Enterprise Manager, the process is the same. Some of the steps are different, but these instructions should cover all 3. Please email aschlaich@grouplink.net if you run into problems with any of these instructions. 

Make sure that you put the .mdf and .ldf files for the database in the same directory. We recommend the data directory under your server's SQL installation directory, where it puts all the other databases it creates using the interface. This saves time later.

Right click on 'Databases' after you've connected to your server in your SQL visual studios. The biggest difference between versions is how you get to the 'Databases' section in your GUI tools.

Click 'Add' and browse to the directory where your database is installed. It will start browsing for mdf files in your server's data directory, so if you didn't put your database there, you'll have to browse using the file structure to wherever it was put.

After selecting your database, hit 'OK' and things should fire up. If you have issues with this please email or contact our support team.