Freeing Packages and Plans

Over time, as a result of binding multiple DBRMs into multiple packages and plans, you might accumulate more data records and stored procedures in your SQL Server database than you need to run your application. In this case, you can use the Manage Packages and Plans tool to free (clean out) the packages and plans that you no longer need.

When you free a package, the Manage Packages and Plans tool removes associated system table data about the package and the stored procedure(s) associated with the package. You can remove all versions or a specific version of each package. You cannot restore a package that you have freed. Instead, you must bind the package again.

When you free a plan, the Manage Packages and Plans tool removes associated system table data about the plan and the stored procedure(s) associated with the plan. This includes removing all associations with packages bound into the plan. However, the packages themselves remain intact. Remember that a single package can be accessed individually and/or from any plan into which is has been bound. Therefore, even when you free a plan, its packages remain usable in those other contexts. If you want to also free the packages associated with a plan, you must free them separately.

You cannot restore a plan that you have freed. Instead, you must bind the plan again.