Visual Studio 2010 - Database Project Compare

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Visual Studio 2010 - Database Project Compare

Matthew Orton

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January 10, 2012 at 9:10 am

#249316

Hi,
Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this question - I couldn't find a better fit.
Is there any way to compare (schema compare) two visual studio database projects? The standard compare tool GUI doesn't appear to. By this I mean two revisions (copies) of the same solution. We are trying to determine the difference between two revisions from our source control system (after merge hell!).
We have tried using the command line method from MSDN (click here) - Data.NewSchemaComparison sourceIdentifier targetIdentifier
But still no joy...
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Matt

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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Jason Selburg SSC-Insane Points: 24641 More actions · Answer 1

This may not be the optimal solution, but .....

Apply the project to two seperate database's then use Red Gate's SQL Compare on them.

______________________________________________________________________

Personal Motto: Why push the envelope when you can just open it?

If you follow the direction given HERE[/url] you'll likely increase the number and quality of responses you get to your question.

Jason L. Selburg

azdzn SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4128 More actions · Answer 2

- Can't you just get your 2 revisions as if they were separated projects and then use the GUI ?

- What do you mean by 'STill no joy ?'

It doesn't work at all ?

Matthew Orton SSC-Addicted Points: 434 More actions · Answer 3

Thanks for the suggestions Jason.

Yes I could create a database from one of the projects and use that as the source to compare against the remaining project using the GUI.

I haven't really looked at SQL Compare, we don't really want to purchase additional software if we can help it - but will take a look.

Also thanks for the comment azdnz. "Still no joy" - I simply meant that didn't work either.

The projects are distinct and separate - that is the point, I can't compare two projects using the GUI - do you know of a way to do this?

Jason Selburg SSC-Insane Points: 24641 More actions · Answer 4

Matthew Orton (1/10/2012)
Thanks for the suggestions Jason.
Yes I could create a database from one of the projects and use that as the source to compare against the remaining project using the GUI.
I haven't really looked at SQL Compare, we don't really want to purchase additional software if we can help it - but will take a look.
Also thanks for the comment azdnz. "Still no joy" - I simply meant that didn't work either.
The projects are distinct and separate - that is the point, I can't compare two projects using the GUI - do you know of a way to do this?

SQL Compare has a trial period of 2 weeks and is pretty easy to use. 🙂

______________________________________________________________________

Personal Motto: Why push the envelope when you can just open it?

If you follow the direction given HERE[/url] you'll likely increase the number and quality of responses you get to your question.

Jason L. Selburg

azdzn SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4128 More actions · Answer 5

Matthew

I don't have any Visual Studio 2010 available right now so I cqn't check but if I remember it well, it is possible to schema compare everything (db or project) with everything (db or project).

What version do you use ?

You can have a look at this too :

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd193250.aspx

Matthew Orton SSC-Addicted Points: 434 More actions · Answer 6

I might just download SQL Compare and take a look then 🙂

I am using Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate. Yes I thought it was possible as well, but for some reason we aren't able to. We don't have the option to select an external database project that isn't part of the open solution. Its strange, I am sure I remember seeing a comparison between two projects at some point in the past.

Cheers for your help.

azdzn SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4128 More actions · Answer 7

Can you compare your project with a dbschema file ?

If so, just create the dbschema file by building your first project, open your other solution and then try to compare your projet with the dbschema file you just created.

Matthew Orton SSC-Addicted Points: 434 More actions · Answer 8

I ended up simply doing a save as "projname_temp" on one of the database projects, making sure to maintain the underlying database name when doing the save (it prompts you).

I then added the temporary database (.dbproj) to the solution of the other project, and this allowed me to compare the two projects via the GUI.

Its a bit of a hacky work around, but might help somebody else who is having the same issue.

Thanks for your help guys.

roasdasdb 89asdasdasd013 SSC Veteran Points: 246 More actions · Answer 9

To use Schema Compare you will need Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate or Database edition.

Rob