ApexSQL Decrypt

ApexSQL Decrypt is a SQL Server development tool that recovers the source code of encrypted database objects. When a stored procedure, view, function or trigger is created WITH ENCRYPTION, SQL Server hides its definition, so it cannot be viewed or scripted in SQL Server Management Studio. ApexSQL Decrypt is intended for database administrators and developers who have lost the original scripts of such objects or need to review and change them. It connects to one or more SQL Server instances, finds the encrypted objects and restores their original DDL without having to manually write complex T-SQL queries or use a dedicated administrator connection. The tool belongs to the ApexSQL family of SQL Server tools, which is now owned by Quest Software.

ApexSQL Decrypt Features:

It recovers the source code of SQL Server objects created WITH ENCRYPTION, in bulk and across multiple servers and databases.

- Decrypt stored procedures, functions, views, DML triggers and DDL triggers.

• Decrypt SQL objects from multiple databases located on different SQL Servers in one session.

• Preview the original DDL script of an encrypted object in the query window before decrypting it.

• Choose between CREATE and ALTER script types for the decrypted objects.

• Decrypt objects directly on the database, or create one SQL script for all objects or one SQL script per object.

• Preview the action plan to see the impact of the decryption script before it is run.

• Decrypt selected objects with a single click.

• Filter objects by type and state, and load either all objects or only the encrypted ones on startup.

• Start decryption from the Object Explorer in SQL Server Management Studio or the Server Explorer in Visual Studio through the right-click context menu.

• Use the decryption wizard with a built-in IDE to review the generated scripts.

• Customize the look of the application with interface themes.

• Connect to SQL Server instances with standard connection options, including a Trust server certificate setting.

• Keep the tool current with the ApexSQL Updater, which manages the updates of all installed ApexSQL products.

• Work with SQL Server 2005 and later versions, including SQL Server 2019.

• Read objects with limited SQL Server permissions (Connect, View Definition and Select); Control permission on the database is needed only to run the decryption script.

• Originally a free tool, it became part of the ApexSQL Fundamentals Toolkit bundle in 2020 and moved to subscription licensing in 2022; a free trial is available.