Export table data from one SQL Server to another

Question

I have two SQL Servers (both 2005 version).

I want to migrate several tables from one to another.

I have tried:

• On source server I have righ

Answer 1

Just for the kicks.

Since I wasnt able to create linked server and since just connecting to production server was not enough to use INSERT INTO i did the following:

• created a backup of production server database
• restored the database on my test server
• executed the insert into statements

Its a backdoor solution, but since i had problems it worked for me.

Since i have created empty tables using SCRIPT TABLE AS / CREATE in order to transfer all the keys and indexes I couldnt use SELECT INTO. SELECT INTO only works if the tables do not exist on the destination location but it does not copy keys and indexes, so you have to do that manualy. The downside of using INSERT INTO statement is that you have to manualy provide with all the column names, plus it might give you some problems if some foreign key constraints fail.

Thanks to all anwsers, there are some great solutions but i have decided to accept marc_s anwser.