Sometimes, you need to move SQL Server databases around but can’t easily get them onto the same machine to compare them side by side. Fortunately, there are several great tools that can help you make sure you aren’t missing anything in the transfer and even help you find any problems that may have been introduced into your database during the transfer process.
This list of four of the best tools to compare SQL Server databases gives you insight into each one so that you can choose the right one for your needs.
SQL Delta
The tool is lightweight and easy to use. It’s designed to compare two databases, so you can see what changes occurred between one point in time and another. The output is in a table format that is easy to read. The tool lets you filter out all but the changed objects, making it much easier to track down specific changes or differences.
When comparing databases that are more than 500 MB each, SQL Delta may not be your best option because the file size limitations on GitHub limit it to 500MB files per download. If this is an issue for you, then take a look at dbDeltaXtreme instead. like renaming objects or copying entire schemas. There is also a side-by-side mode that allows the comparison of rows in both tables at once.
ApexSQL Diff
A nice feature of ApexSQL Diff is that it supports incremental data comparison, which means that you don’t need to compare your entire database when you’re just looking for differences. You can also save an incremental update script for a later time and use this script to update the databases whenever needed. • You can sort tables by any column by clicking on its header. For instance, if you want to see only the records with a particular value in a column, click on that column’s header.
XQueryPad
XQueryPad lets you compare two XML files and find changes between them quickly and easily. To do so, first open both files in XQueryPad and then press the Compare button located in the toolbar at the top of the screen. The program will show all of the changes made since the last saved version.
If there are no differences, you will see a message saying No Changes Detected instead of showing each line as they were changed. If you want to find out how many lines have been changed since the last saved version, uncheck Hide Differences and select Show Unchanged Lines as well; this way all lines that haven’t been altered since your last save will be visible in green while those with differences or new ones will appear red.
Redgate SQL Data Compare
If you need to compare two databases and find out what has changed between them, Redgate SQL Data Compare is a great tool. It can help you find differences in tables, indexes, stored procedures, triggers, views, and more. With this tool you can create scripts for replication or migration. And it runs on Windows and Linux. The best feature of the software is that it notifies you about which objects have changed since last comparison, so you know where to focus your efforts first.
AutoGrow Systems SQL Explorer
If you are looking for a different solution and don’t mind paying for software with limited functionality, then AutoGrow Systems SQL Explorer may be worth considering. You import database files into the application and use its tools to examine database structures, data comparisons, index analysis, schema verification, etc. But if you want to export data from SQL Server Database there’s no way – unless you export text files via SSMS or some other 3rd party tools (see how here). Support is also very limited as there’s only one way of contacting developers – through an online form.
GitLab-Hudson – Database Compare Tool
If you’re looking for a tool to compare 2 databases side by side, then GitLab-Hudson might be just what you’re looking for. Importing .sql and .bak file formats is supported by the application. What I really like about this product is that the interface looks similar to popular project management tools such as Jira or Bitbucket Pipelines.
In addition, there’s no need to install any additional software on the machine because all you need is a browser. In terms of pricing, it depends on whether you’re an individual developer or part of a team – with personal licenses costing $249/year and group licenses costing $499/year.
Idera SQL Comparison Toolset
Idera offers a range of tools for comparing databases across different versions, editions, and platforms. Its flagship product is SQL Comparison Toolset, which enables you to compare two or more databases at any point in time in order to find differences between them. The tool will highlight changes such as additions, deletions, modifications, etc., and also provides a comparison report highlighting these changes.
The data comparisons are graphical and interactive with one-click drill-downs on specific differences highlighted by color codes on nodes that make up the schema trees. The tool also supports comparisons across different editions (Enterprise/Developer) and platforms (SQL Server vs Oracle). For example, if you want to compare an Enterprise Edition database on SQL Server with a Developer Edition database on Oracle, then this software can help do it.
It’s worth noting that there is no charge for use of the trial version. If you’re looking for some kind of magic bullet to quickly solve all your data problems, this isn’t it. But when you need a solution that really works, this powerful and professional package might be what you’re looking for. Since it’s still early days for Idera, they don’t have many reviews but they have enough to give them a 4.5-star rating on Capterra. Check out their website and download their free trial now!
