SQL Data Compare

What's New in SQL Data Compare 9
SQL Data Compare 9.0 now supports SQL Azure databases.

SQL Data Compare 8.0 introduces the following features:

• The ability to store static data in scripts folders
  SQL Data Compare 8 allows you to store data scripts in a scripts folder, making it easier to keep databases under source control.
• The ability to share projects with SQL Compare
  To open a SQL Data Compare project in SQL Compare, on the Projects dialog box, select a project, right click, and click Launch in SQL Compare.
  Alternatively, to open the current project in SQL Compare, click the SQL Compare icon on the toolbar of the main window.
  You can open a SQL Compare 8.1 (or later) project in SQL Data Compare 8.0 or later.
  You can open a SQL Data Compare 8.0 (or later) project in SQL Compare 8.1 or later.
• Multiple transactions in the synchronization script
  In previous versions, the synchronization can be enclosed in a single transaction. This allows rollback, but can result in poor performance for large databases. In SQL Data Compare 8.0 you have the option to use multiple transactions. You can specify the amount of data included in each transaction using the Application Options.
• User interface refinements
  SQL Data Compare 8.0 includes many of the user interface improvements made for SQL Compare 8, bringing the workflow of the two products closer together.
• Command line changes
  The command line interface now supports column-level inclusion and exclusion. There are changes to the behaviour of some existing switches and options.
• Stability and performance improvements
  SQL Data Compare 8.0 addresses some known stability issues. There are now fewer Out of memory errors when comparing large databases.

SQL Data Compare is used for automating data migrations, analyzing corrupted data, restoring row-level data from backups and compiling audit trails of missing or changed data. It is one of the industry standard tools for comparing and synchronizing the contents of two databases because it is very reliable and also veryfast.

With SQL Data Compare's granular SQL change-scripts you can now restore damaged or missing data to a single row, without the need for a full database recovery, and that means you can fix database problems even faster.

With SQL Data Compare Pro, you can compare and synchronize SQL Server live databases with backups or simply compare two backups. With the command line interface you can automate tasks and schedule comparisons for easy compilation of an audit trail.

Find out when and how your data changed by comparing directly to backups. SQL Data Compare will save you many hours which you would otherwise spend copying, restoring and comparing databases with backups by hand; moreover, you can specify exactly which tables, rows, and columns from your databases you want to synchronize.

Some of the things SQL Data Compare can do for you:

• Verify the success of your data migration
• Create an audit trail by comparing backups
• Restore missing or damaged data at table, row or column level 
• Troubleshoot your replication issues
• Migrate data seamlessly between SQL Server 2000, 2005 and 2008
• Provide an essential QA and documentation tool
• Display row-data in columns (Pivot-view) for faster difference analysis
• Run automated backups before synchronization
• Optional compression of temporary files for improved performance

For comparing and synchronizing database schemas, check out SQL Data Compare's companion product, SQL Compare.

Feature list:

• Comparison and synchronization of Microsoft SQL Server databases (2000 - 2008), eliminating hours of tedious, manual work.
• Comparison with backups – native and compressed backup formats of SQL Server 2008 in addition to the backup files of SQL Server 2000 and 2005, and Red Gate's SQL Backup (Pro edition).
• Fast Row Level Restore of damaged or missing data (Pro edition).
• Full support for SQL Server 2008, including spatial, temporal and hierarchy data types, sparse columns, and new collations.
• Full support for SQL Server 2005, including string into XML or CLR data type transformations and CLR, DDL and DML triggers.
• Comparison on primary keys and unique indexesso you have the flexibility to define identical rows.
• Custom comparison keys so you can compare databases based on any field – and it doesn't even need to be unique!
• Support for indexed views so you can view data differences on views as well as tables.
• 'Pivot-view' difference navigation displays row data as columns for rapid identification and selection of data for synchronization.
• Comparison and synchronization of large databases– works on databases with thousands of tables and gigabytes of data.
• Simple to use and hides complexity from the user. Once the comparison has been completed, a script is automatically generated.
• Integrates with SQL Query Analyzer or SQL Server Management Studio.
• Option to transport CLR data types as text or binary for increased speed.
• Mapping allowing you to compare tables, views, or even whole schemas, with different naming allowing for total flexibility.

Purchasing a support contract provides you with free upgrades as well as support.

• Upgrades - For the duration of the support contract you will not need to pay for upgrades.
• Support - For the duration of the support contract, you will receive support on the use of the products by email and, if necessary, by telephone or video conference.