How to truncate the SQL Server database file? (4351911)

How to truncate the actual SQL Server database file, therefore shrinking the file size?

Successful Log Backup would truncate the Logs inside the Log file.

DBCC SHRINKDATABASE command would shrink the actual size of the data file and log file of the database.
DBCC SHRINKFILE command would shrink the actual size of the data file or log file.

Syntax:

DBCC SHRINKDATABASE ( 'database_name' | database_id | 0 [ ,target_percent ] [ , { NOTRUNCATE | TRUNCATEONLY } ] ) [ WITH NO_INFOMSG ]
DBCC SHRINKFILE ( { 'file_name' | file_id } { [ , EMPTYFILE ] | [ [ , target_size ] [ , { NOTRUNCATE | TRUNCATEONLY } ] ] } ) [ WITH NO_INFOMSGS ]

Note: These commands are native SQL Server commands.

For additional information, please references:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms141819.aspx
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190488.aspx

 

NOTE: The syntax changed with SQL Server 2008

For Additional info, see:
Managing the Size of the Transaction Log File
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms365418(SQL.100).aspx
Transaction Log Physical Architecture
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms179355(SQL.100).aspx
Factors That Can Delay Log Truncation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345414(SQL.100).aspx