Question : MS-SQL (msde) backup, restore, import, export questions

I have an application that is using the MSDE database and I am not clear on how the backup and restore process works.

Basically, I know that I can backup the msde database with the command:
backup database test to disk='c:\test.bak'
GO

and I can restore the database with the command:
restore database test
from disk='c:\test.bak'
with recovery, replace,
move 'test' to 'c:\DB\test.mdf',
move 'test_log' to 'c:\DB\test_log.ldf'
GO

but what I am not sure is...  what if I wanted to do something more like an import/export in which case I want to export the data to a file as a backup which I would then perform an update on the database to the new version and if the data was corrupted how would I import the data back into the new database version without going back to the original database before the update?

Maybe these are the same and I have not had time to do all the testing in this area...  And possibly what I am asking is not possible... I'm looking for your experience in this area and trying to cover all the angles.

Thank you!
John

Answer : MS-SQL (msde) backup, restore, import, export questions

>in the case which the user didn't do a backup
always a big error. You have to perform a full backup of ANY system when you are just before an upgrade.
this is not only for SQL Server or databases, but any system.
Also, upgrades should be tested, best with a copy of a (or more) prod database.

>is there a way to merge the data?
Yes, by writing "complex" scripts, which depend on the "corruption", there is not automated way to do these things.