How to Shrink a SQLExpress 2008 Database

A SQLExpress 2008 database usually comprises of a database and a log file with the extension *.MDF and *.LDF respectively. As time goes by, the LDF can grow dramatically and I have seen the LDF file being more than triple the size of the MDF !

So, how does one shrink the size of MDF and LDF ? It is really simple to do so using the Management Studio for SQL Express 2008

1. Launch Management Studio
2. Select the target database
3. Right-click and select All Tasks

4. Select Shrink Database

5. Check Reorganise files... as below :-

and click OK, That's it !