| title | Start a Trace | |
|---|---|---|
| titleSuffix | SQL Server Profiler | |
| description | Learn how to start a trace and locate its data after you have defined a new trace or created a template in SQL Server Profiler. | |
| author | rwestMSFT | |
| ms.author | randolphwest | |
| ms.date | 06/05/2025 | |
| ms.service | sql | |
| ms.subservice | profiler | |
| ms.topic | concept-article | |
| ms.collection |
|
[!INCLUDE SQL Server Azure SQL Managed Instance]
After you have defined a new trace or created a template by using [!INCLUDE ssSqlProfiler], you can start, pause, or stop capturing data by using the new trace definition or template.
When you start a trace and the defined source is an instance of the [!INCLUDE ssDEnoversion] or [!INCLUDE ssASnoversion], [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] creates a queue that provides a temporary holding place for captured server events.
When you use [!INCLUDE ssSqlProfiler] to access SQL Trace, a new trace window opens (if one isn't already open) when a trace is started, and data is immediately captured.
When you use [!INCLUDE tsql] system stored procedures to access SQL Trace, you must start a trace every time an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] starts for data to be captured. When a trace has been started, you can modify only the name of the trace.
When working with existing traces, you can view the properties, but you can't modify the properties. To modify the properties, stop or pause the trace.