I have an sql database and I want to make a duplicate database and use it for the Dev copy.

For example my database might be Joel_Prod and that would make the actual data files joel_prod_data.mdf and joel_prod_log.ldf

Now I want a development version to work on. I create database joel_dev.

I then do a backup of Joel_prod, then open Joel_dev and try to do a restore, but it will try to restore to Joel_prod even though I have Joel_dev open.

Can I just copy the Joel_prod mdf & ldf then change their name?

Can I take a backup of Joel_prod and change the name of the backup to Joel_dev?

I want to same data and stored procedures in the dev version that are in the Prod version, but I do NOT want to mess up the PROD data.

It SOUNDS simple, but does not seem to work for me.