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mjhessler
Starting Member
7 Posts |
 Posted - 2007-05-10 : 11:04:01
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| Does anyone have an opinion on specific “data comparison tools”? We are looking for something to use in our test or dev environments that will be able to compare snaps shots of the data in a database before verse after a test event.We have been able to record and compare data in specific tables but are learning that other tables were also being changed that we didn’t track. We want to be able to see all changes to a database. Michael |
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X002548
Not Just a Number
15586 Posts |
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mjhessler
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-10 : 12:33:20
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| Yes, we want to see what data added, deleted or changed in a 14 gig database with 545 tables. What tool or method do you what experience with? |
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X002548
Not Just a Number
15586 Posts |
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mjhessler
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-10 : 13:15:41
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| These tables do not have Add_Dt and Upd_Dt columns. This is an application with undocumented add-ons. We don't know all of the tables that get changed for each application process. There are more than one way that things get done, thru the modified app or thru a web add-on. I just want to see the resulting data changes and not ever line of code used to get there. As I said in my first post "We have been able to record and compare data in specific tables but are learning that other tables were also being changed that we didn’t track. We want to be able to see all changes to a database." |
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X002548
Not Just a Number
15586 Posts |
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Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-10 : 14:24:15
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| Brett: Do you think they might be able to manage with a "snapshot compare" - such as using the Compare tools from Red-Gate?Kristen |
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X002548
Not Just a Number
15586 Posts |
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Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-10 : 14:52:22
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"is it [Red-Gate Compare] GUI based"Yup"would you want to use it on 545 tables?"Nope  but there again I wouldn't build the system that way about.What I'm reading is the OP wants to know what the difference(s) are at some moment-in-time, perhaps as a result of QA / a Test Plan.That's a bit different to wanting to know the Complete HISTORY of changes from some Start Point to the Current State - which is more akin to what the Auditors want.Two different things, of course, and I'm not sure which of them the OP is looking for.Kristen |
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X002548
Not Just a Number
15586 Posts |
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Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-10 : 15:18:44
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Indeedie.However, if I do a QA test I'm usually happy to compare the final outcome against some "known state" - e.g. the value in a "known good" database.But during the process the value might have changed 10 times; if the final value is as-expected I probably don't care about the intermediate values.OTOH if I am an Auditor I probably care if any of the intermediate values are un-expected, regardless of whether the final value is correct, or not.In our QA tests we set a "checkpoint" [for testing purposes] wherever we feel the need - so we can audit that a mid-point of a calculation has the correct "working value", plus we can set a Check on the final value too. So we can prove that the working-method is the same as expected, as well as the end result.The choice depends, I think, on whether the calculation steps are White box or Black box.If the order that I put items into my Basket will influence the WAY in which Discount is calculated then I need to record each step of the calculation.OTOH if the Order is supposed NOT to matter I can just chuck all the items into my basket and THEN check that my Order Total is correct  Kristen |
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mjhessler
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-10 : 15:52:38
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| I want a gui app that the business process owners can use to QA and may be try to document which fields are changed by their actions in the app or in the web interface. I've been down the trigger path for them but I want something they can use with out loading me up with work. I am also trying to get rid of the un-used tables as only 285 of the 545 tables have any data. Of those that due much of it should be purged. Only 180 of the tables came with the app, the rest were added before I got here. Only some of those added tables are used. I need a way to sort them out and either document or purge them. This is the bigger problem. I'll look into Red-Gate Compare. Are there any other others or is this the best? Does anyone have any bad experiences with Red-Gate Compare? |
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mjhessler
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-10 : 16:47:19
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| How does red-gate "SQL Data compare" compare with Apex SQL Diff? Has anyone tried Apex SQL Diff or both of them or know why one might be better than the other? I want to know my options before I recommend a purchase. I haven't try either of them yet. |
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Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-11 : 04:25:59
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| I've only tried the Red Gate one, that worked quite nicely.Good idea to use a Data Diff tool to find out which tables are not updated.Kristen |
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elwoos
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
2052 Posts |
Posted - 2007-05-17 : 03:09:32
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| The red gate tools have a free trial period which may help.I've used them with few problems, and when there has been an issue the support is reasonably prompt IMEsteve-----------Don't worry head. The computer will do all the thinking from now on. |
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snSQL
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
1837 Posts |
Posted - 2007-08-08 : 14:30:52
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| There are pretty decent schema and data compare tools in the Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals. I haven't used the Red Gate tool, but I mention the VSTS option because some people will already have that available. |
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Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2010-04-08 : 09:31:16
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| @Faridz: ... you have free-loaded posting that link on several threads in this forum. I, for one, won't be using that product. |
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data compare tool