Comments on: Database Schema Compare & Upgrade

By: Ben Scheirman

Ben Scheirman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:02:22 +0000

The Database comparison tools in DB Pro really aren’t migrations. If you’re looking for that, check out my post comparing some .NET Migrations here:
.NET Database Migration Tool Roundup

The Schema Comparison tool cannot help you when you are deploying a volatile change, such as adding a new NOT NULL column to a table that has existing data. You have to customize the script. It doesn’t handle refactorings where you change the datatype of a column. Again you have to futz with the script.

Migrations capture the evolution of the database and applies these changes safely and in order.

Also I’d like to plug RedGate’s SQL Compare, which is far better than DB Pro’s Schema Comparison. It does cost money, but then again so does DB Pro.

By: Ben Scheirman

Ben Scheirman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:02:22 +0000

The Database comparison tools in DB Pro really aren't migrations. If you're looking for that, check out my post comparing some .NET Migrations here:
.NET Database Migration Tool Roundup

The Schema Comparison tool cannot help you when you are deploying a volatile change, such as adding a new NOT NULL column to a table that has existing data. You have to customize the script. It doesn't handle refactorings where you change the datatype of a column. Again you have to futz with the script.

Migrations capture the evolution of the database and applies these changes safely and in order.

Also I'd like to plug RedGate's SQL Compare, which is far better than DB Pro's Schema Comparison. It does cost money, but then again so does DB Pro.