SQL Server database change management

Change control has become one of the main problems that IT professionals face in their everyday work. Change control aims at ensuring that all changes are assessed and approved by the management before their implementation. It is most commonly needed in software creation process to manage ongoing development of application source code, program modules and other items on which a group of developers is working. But change control is required not only for the application development. SQL Server database schema and data also need effective means of database change management, like any other part of IT infrastructure. Such elements of the SQL Server database scheme as tables, fields, indices, foreign keys, functions, triggers, views, and so on are not static and will continually evolve to meet the requirements of the organization's business processes logic.

Changes to a SQL Server database may be required for bug-fixing, database schema revision and performance optimization. Some changes are simply additions, such as new columns or tables, other changes are the result of complex conversions, data normalizations or transformations.

Therefore, in the absence of special software, database change management for SQL Server involves tedious, manual and costly processes that are error prone. Change management software can make the process of SQL Server database synchronization simpler and automate database deployment because it increases the task reliability and reduces risks of errors. Besides, each phase of SQL Server database synchronization, such as synchronization of the database structure or data synchronization, may require a separate software tool.

Synchronize SQL Server database structure

EMS DB Comparer for SQL Server is a powerful utility for SQL Server database and schema comparison and synchronization. It can help to discover differences and synchronize SQL Server database structure as a whole or for selected database objects only. The program visually represents the list of differences between SQL Server databases with details and modification scripts for different objects, so you can decide which objects need to be synchronized, and which do not. When using this tool, SQL Server database synchronization process becomes simple and intuitive, because there is no need for manual creation of complex scripts.

EMS DB Comparer synchronizes SQL Server databases according to the wide set of parameters and provides the ability to create preconfigured or custom defined reports with database differences, to save and load projects with all their parameters, to work with built-in SQL Script Editor with syntax highlight, to synchronize databases manually step by step or automatically and has a rich variety of synchronization options. The tool has a user friendly graphical interface with several languages available and supports the latest SQL Server versions. Whether you are initiating new database projects or simply maintaining existing databases, EMS DB Comparer for SQL Server noticeably eases SQL Server database change management.

Synchronize SQL Server database data

Alongside with the database schema synchronization task, there is always a need to synchronize data stored in the database tables which is also a challenge. EMS Data Comparer for SQL Server is an excellent and easy-to-use tool for SQL Server database data comparison and synchronization. Full customization of the data comparison and synchronization process will enable you to select SQL Server database tables and fields for comparison, assign comparison parameters and tune many other options. The program allows you to work with several SQL Servers at the same time, review, alter, or save synchronization script to a file, execute partial or complete data synchronization, export data comparison results to MS Excel sheets, set tables and fields correspondence and more. Many other features are implemented to make your SQL Server database data comparison process convenient and effective.

To automate SQL Server database schemas and data synchronization process you can use the helpful Console Application that is included in the installation package of EMS DB Comparer and EMS Data Comparer.

Preparing for database changes and implementing the proper tools, techniques, and procedures is one of the most important jobs undertaken by SQL Server professionals. You can solve this and many other tasks with the help of EMS SQL Management Studio for SQL Server - complete solution for Microsoft SQL Server database administration and development.