SQL Examiner: Not Just a SQL Server Comparison Tool

One of the most important features of the SQL Examiner is its ability to show you the details of the differences between the selected object types. The left pane lists the names of the different objects between the selected two sources. In other words, the left pane shows the summary of the comparison. Lists are displayed in different colors so that users can easily identify them. The legend for the colors is shown below.

The left pane has a filter option that you can use to filter the objects. When you select an object from the left pane, SQL Examiner displays both objects. For the same components it will display “=”, while for the different components “?” will be displayed. Two sets of T-SQL scripts will be listed in the tabs at the top of the screen, so that you can synchronize either database either direction. More importantly, object dependencies are honored in these scripts. Please note that synchronization scripts will not be generated for backups and detached databases. It generates them for live databases only.

Another important feature of this tool is the ability to synchronize between data sources. You can select the objects that you need to synchronize, and you have the option of synchronizing the first source to the second source, as well as the second source to the first source. It also has the option of synchronize the dependent objects of the objects that you are going to change. In addition, it has the option of creating a backup of the database which you are going to alter.

These synchronization scripts honor your data as well. For example, if your scripts are going to add NOT NULL setting for already NULL values containing data, SQL Examiner will throw out a warning for you.

At the warning, you are allowed to change data of the existing data using the following screen.

At the final step of the synchronization, you have the option of saving the generated script in a script file so you can load it into your favorite pet-tool, such as Query Analyzer, and run it from there. Before running them, SQL Examiner will give you a summary of the operation that it is going to carried out in the next step, or by the scripts.