Comparing DBs with Windiff

I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text files using
WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files but Windiff said
they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone else had such a problem
with WinDiff?
Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around that
work?
Thanks,
G
GaryB wrote:
> I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text
> files using WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files
> but Windiff said they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone
> else had such a problem with WinDiff?
> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around
> that work?
> Thanks,
> G
Have you tried the command-line "fc.exe" that is bult into Windows. It
should be in the path, but on my XP system is located in the
WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder.
David Gugick
Imceda Software
www.imceda.com
|||Not with Windiff, but I've observed the problem with RedGate SQL Compare
where database objects show as the same but manual examination reveals
significant differences.
Michael D. Long
"GaryB" <gb@.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ubOAitAoEHA.2804@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text files
>using
> WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files but Windiff said
> they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone else had such a
> problem
> with WinDiff?
> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around that
> work?
> Thanks,
> G
>
|||Would you be able to post some segments of text that aren't comparing
properly? I'm very surprised -- and disturbed -- to hear that Windiff isn't
reliable; it's quite an old product at this point, and I use it extensively
to compare source code. So I'd really like to know if it has deficiencies.
"GaryB" <gb@.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ubOAitAoEHA.2804@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text files
using
> WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files but Windiff said
> they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone else had such a
problem
> with WinDiff?
> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around that
> work?
> Thanks,
> G
>
|||GaryB wrote:
> I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text
> files using WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files
> but Windiff said they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone
> else had such a problem with WinDiff?
> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around
> that work?
> Thanks,
> G
I think the problem is that WinDiff is not designed for use with binary
files. It's an ASCII comparison tool. I would use fc.exe instead.
See this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;159214
David Gugick
Imceda Software
www.imceda.com
|||"David Gugick" <davidg-nospam@.imceda.com> wrote in message
news:esqkY7FoEHA.1152@.TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> I think the problem is that WinDiff is not designed for use with binary
> files. It's an ASCII comparison tool. I would use fc.exe instead.
Last time I checked, SQL Scripts are just text files. But I guess the
OP could have had them Unicode encoded?
Anyway, if you want a better diff/merge program than WinDiff, I highly
recommend Beyond Compare... fc.exe is rather ancient and difficult to use in
this age of Graphical User Interfaces...
http://www.scootersoftware.com/moreinfo.html
|||Adam Machanic wrote:
> "David Gugick" <davidg-nospam@.imceda.com> wrote in message
> news:esqkY7FoEHA.1152@.TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Last time I checked, SQL Scripts are just text files. But I
> guess the OP could have had them Unicode encoded?
> Anyway, if you want a better diff/merge program than WinDiff, I
> highly recommend Beyond Compare... fc.exe is rather ancient and
> difficult to use in this age of Graphical User Interfaces...
> http://www.scootersoftware.com/moreinfo.html
I misread the OP. I thought he was comparing data files.
On another note, I use Beyond Compare as well and think it's a great
tool although I do find myself using FC.EXE on occasion for quick
comparisons.
David Gugick
Imceda Software
www.imceda.com
|||..sql files are text script files.
G
"David Gugick" <davidg-nospam@.imceda.com> wrote in message
news:esqkY7FoEHA.1152@.TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> GaryB wrote:
> I think the problem is that WinDiff is not designed for use with binary
> files. It's an ASCII comparison tool. I would use fc.exe instead.
> See this article:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;159214
>
> --
> David Gugick
> Imceda Software
> www.imceda.com
>
|||Sorry but it is a script of our entire database that is propritary. one
data base had many tables missing, views missing, some column differences,
and stored procedures missing. WinDiff just pops up a dialog saying
difference in blanks only. I'm using WinDiff 5.1. I'll try tht Beyond
Compare.
G
"Adam Machanic" <amachanic@.hotmail._removetoemail_.com> wrote in message
news:uxnwyoEoEHA.3628@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Would you be able to post some segments of text that aren't comparing
> properly? I'm very surprised -- and disturbed -- to hear that Windiff
> isn't
> reliable; it's quite an old product at this point, and I use it
> extensively
> to compare source code. So I'd really like to know if it has
> deficiencies.
>
> "GaryB" <gb@.nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:ubOAitAoEHA.2804@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> using
> problem
>
sqlsql

Comparing DBs with Windiff

I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text files using
WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files but Windiff said
they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone else had such a problem
with WinDiff?
Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around that
work?
Thanks,
GGaryB wrote:
> I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text
> files using WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files
> but Windiff said they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone
> else had such a problem with WinDiff?
> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around
> that work?
> Thanks,
> G
Have you tried the command-line "fc.exe" that is bult into Windows. It
should be in the path, but on my XP system is located in the
WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder.
--
David Gugick
Imceda Software
www.imceda.com|||Not with Windiff, but I've observed the problem with RedGate SQL Compare
where database objects show as the same but manual examination reveals
significant differences.
--
Michael D. Long
"GaryB" <gb@.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ubOAitAoEHA.2804@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text files
>using
> WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files but Windiff said
> they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone else had such a
> problem
> with WinDiff?
> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around that
> work?
> Thanks,
> G
>|||Would you be able to post some segments of text that aren't comparing
properly? I'm very surprised -- and disturbed -- to hear that Windiff isn't
reliable; it's quite an old product at this point, and I use it extensively
to compare source code. So I'd really like to know if it has deficiencies.
"GaryB" <gb@.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ubOAitAoEHA.2804@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text files
using
> WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files but Windiff said
> they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone else had such a
problem
> with WinDiff?
> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around that
> work?
> Thanks,
> G
>|||GaryB wrote:
> I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text
> files using WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files
> but Windiff said they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone
> else had such a problem with WinDiff?
> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around
> that work?
> Thanks,
> G
I think the problem is that WinDiff is not designed for use with binary
files. It's an ASCII comparison tool. I would use fc.exe instead.
See this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;159214
David Gugick
Imceda Software
www.imceda.com|||"David Gugick" <davidg-nospam@.imceda.com> wrote in message
news:esqkY7FoEHA.1152@.TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> I think the problem is that WinDiff is not designed for use with binary
> files. It's an ASCII comparison tool. I would use fc.exe instead.
Last time I checked, SQL Scripts are just text files. But I guess the
OP could have had them Unicode encoded?
Anyway, if you want a better diff/merge program than WinDiff, I highly
recommend Beyond Compare... fc.exe is rather ancient and difficult to use in
this age of Graphical User Interfaces...
http://www.scootersoftware.com/moreinfo.html|||For tools, I would check out Innovartis DB Ghost
http://www.innovartis.co.uk/
Regards,
Nick Evans
>--Original Message--
>I scripted two versions of a database and then compared
the text files using
>WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files
but Windiff said
>they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone else
had such a problem
>with WinDiff?
>Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison
programs around that
>work?
>Thanks,
>G
>
>.
>|||Adam Machanic wrote:
> "David Gugick" <davidg-nospam@.imceda.com> wrote in message
> news:esqkY7FoEHA.1152@.TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> I think the problem is that WinDiff is not designed for use with
>> binary files. It's an ASCII comparison tool. I would use fc.exe
>> instead.
> Last time I checked, SQL Scripts are just text files. But I
> guess the OP could have had them Unicode encoded?
> Anyway, if you want a better diff/merge program than WinDiff, I
> highly recommend Beyond Compare... fc.exe is rather ancient and
> difficult to use in this age of Graphical User Interfaces...
> http://www.scootersoftware.com/moreinfo.html
I misread the OP. I thought he was comparing data files.
On another note, I use Beyond Compare as well and think it's a great
tool although I do find myself using FC.EXE on occasion for quick
comparisons.
David Gugick
Imceda Software
www.imceda.com|||.sql files are text script files.
G
"David Gugick" <davidg-nospam@.imceda.com> wrote in message
news:esqkY7FoEHA.1152@.TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> GaryB wrote:
>> I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text
>> files using WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files
>> but Windiff said they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone
>> else had such a problem with WinDiff?
>> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around
>> that work?
>> Thanks,
>> G
> I think the problem is that WinDiff is not designed for use with binary
> files. It's an ASCII comparison tool. I would use fc.exe instead.
> See this article:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;159214
>
> --
> David Gugick
> Imceda Software
> www.imceda.com
>|||Sorry but it is a script of our entire database that is propritary. one
data base had many tables missing, views missing, some column differences,
and stored procedures missing. WinDiff just pops up a dialog saying
difference in blanks only. I'm using WinDiff 5.1. I'll try tht Beyond
Compare.
G
"Adam Machanic" <amachanic@.hotmail._removetoemail_.com> wrote in message
news:uxnwyoEoEHA.3628@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Would you be able to post some segments of text that aren't comparing
> properly? I'm very surprised -- and disturbed -- to hear that Windiff
> isn't
> reliable; it's quite an old product at this point, and I use it
> extensively
> to compare source code. So I'd really like to know if it has
> deficiencies.
>
> "GaryB" <gb@.nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:ubOAitAoEHA.2804@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> I scripted two versions of a database and then compared the text files
> using
>> WinDiff. There were major differences in the two files but Windiff said
>> they were the same "except for blanks." Has anyone else had such a
> problem
>> with WinDiff?
>> Are there any good (free or cheap) file comparison programs around that
>> work?
>> Thanks,
>> G
>>
>

Compare tables from one server/database to another

Hello,
I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff tool).
Is there anything for MS SQL?
thanks
WilfridThere's no built-in compare tool that comes with SQL Server. You can script
objects and compare with a text file diff tool like Windiff or
BeyondCompare.
There are also third-party tools available like SqlCompare
(http://www.red-gate.com/products/sql_compare/index.htm). If you have
Visual Studio 2005, the CTP3 of the Team Edition for Database Professionals
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/teamsystem/products/dbpro/default.aspx)
has a schema compare feature, among others.
--
Hope this helps.
Dan Guzman
SQL Server MVP
"Wilfrid" <grille11@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:449bbb8e$0$31655$636a55ce@.news.free.fr...
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff
> tool).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid
>|||You could try ApexSQL's SQLCompare tool. Try the 30 day fully functional
evaluation version.
--
Arnie Rowland, YACE*
"To be successful, your heart must accompany your knowledge."
*Yet Another Certification Exam
"Wilfrid" <grille11@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:449bbb8e$0$31655$636a55ce@.news.free.fr...
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff
> tool).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid
>|||Wilfrid -- xSQL Software has a great and free comparison and
synchronization tool that you can get from
http://www.x-sql.com/download.aspx (the free edition supports smaller
databases) -- also an sdk that allows you to integrate the comparison
and synchronization functionality in your application is available.
CJK
Wilfrid wrote:
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff tool).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid|||Wilfrid,
The open-source SchemaCrawler tool will do what you need. SchemaCrawler
outputs details of your schema (tables, views, procedures, and more) in
a diff-able plain-text format (text, CSV, or XHTML). SchemaCrawler can
also output data (including CLOBs and BLOBs) in the same plain-text
formats. You can use a standard diff program to diff the current output
with a reference version of the output. SchemaCrawler can be run either
from the command line, or as an ant task. A lot of examples are
available with the download to help you get started.
SchemaCrawler is free, open-source, cross-platform (operating system
and database) tool, written in Java, that is available at SourceForge:
http://schemacrawler.sourceforge.net/
You will need to provide a JDBC driver for your database. No other
third-party jars are required.
Once you get familiar with SchemaCrawler's Java API, you can even write
plug-ins that will automatically generate the scripts that you need.
Sualeh Fatehi.

Compare tables from one server/database to another

There's no built-in compare tool that comes with SQL Server. You can script
objects and compare with a text file diff tool like Windiff or
BeyondCompare.
There are also third-party tools available like SqlCompare
(http://www.red-gate.com/products/sql_compare/index.htm). If you have
Visual Studio 2005, the CTP3 of the Team Edition for Database Professionals
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/t...ro/default.aspx)
has a schema compare feature, among others.
Hope this helps.
Dan Guzman
SQL Server MVP
"Wilfrid" <grille11@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:449bbb8e$0$31655$636a55ce@.news.free.fr...
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff
> tool).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid
>Hello,
I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff tool).
Is there anything for MS SQL?
thanks
Wilfrid|||There's no built-in compare tool that comes with SQL Server. You can script
objects and compare with a text file diff tool like Windiff or
BeyondCompare.
There are also third-party tools available like SqlCompare
(http://www.red-gate.com/products/sql_compare/index.htm). If you have
Visual Studio 2005, the CTP3 of the Team Edition for Database Professionals
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/t...ro/default.aspx)
has a schema compare feature, among others.
Hope this helps.
Dan Guzman
SQL Server MVP
"Wilfrid" <grille11@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:449bbb8e$0$31655$636a55ce@.news.free.fr...
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff
> tool).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid
>|||You could try ApexSQL's SQLCompare tool. Try the 30 day fully functional
evaluation version.
Arnie Rowland, YACE*
"To be successful, your heart must accompany your knowledge."
*Yet Another certification Exam
"Wilfrid" <grille11@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:449bbb8e$0$31655$636a55ce@.news.free.fr...
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff
> tool).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid
>|||You could try ApexSQL's SQLCompare tool. Try the 30 day fully functional
evaluation version.
Arnie Rowland, YACE*
"To be successful, your heart must accompany your knowledge."
*Yet Another certification Exam
"Wilfrid" <grille11@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:449bbb8e$0$31655$636a55ce@.news.free.fr...
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff
> tool).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid
>|||Wilfrid -- xSQL Software has a great and free comparison and
synchronization tool that you can get from
http://www.x-sql.com/download.aspx (the free edition supports smaller
databases) -- also an sdk that allows you to integrate the comparison
and synchronization functionality in your application is available.
CJK
Wilfrid wrote:
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff tool
).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid|||Wilfrid -- xSQL Software has a great and free comparison and
synchronization tool that you can get from
http://www.x-sql.com/download.aspx (the free edition supports smaller
databases) -- also an sdk that allows you to integrate the comparison
and synchronization functionality in your application is available.
CJK
Wilfrid wrote:
> Hello,
> I know for mysql there is a tool that compares tables (like a windiff tool
).
> Is there anything for MS SQL?
> thanks
> Wilfrid|||Wilfrid,
The open-source SchemaCrawler tool will do what you need. SchemaCrawler
outputs details of your schema (tables, views, procedures, and more) in
a diff-able plain-text format (text, CSV, or XHTML). SchemaCrawler can
also output data (including CLOBs and BLOBs) in the same plain-text
formats. You can use a standard diff program to diff the current output
with a reference version of the output. SchemaCrawler can be run either
from the command line, or as an ant task. A lot of examples are
available with the download to help you get started.
SchemaCrawler is free, open-source, cross-platform (operating system
and database) tool, written in Java, that is available at SourceForge:
http://schemacrawler.sourceforge.net/
You will need to provide a JDBC driver for your database. No other
third-party jars are required.
Once you get familiar with SchemaCrawler's Java API, you can even write
plug-ins that will automatically generate the scripts that you need.
Sualeh Fatehi.|||Wilfrid,
The open-source SchemaCrawler tool will do what you need. SchemaCrawler
outputs details of your schema (tables, views, procedures, and more) in
a diff-able plain-text format (text, CSV, or XHTML). SchemaCrawler can
also output data (including CLOBs and BLOBs) in the same plain-text
formats. You can use a standard diff program to diff the current output
with a reference version of the output. SchemaCrawler can be run either
from the command line, or as an ant task. A lot of examples are
available with the download to help you get started.
SchemaCrawler is free, open-source, cross-platform (operating system
and database) tool, written in Java, that is available at SourceForge:
http://schemacrawler.sourceforge.net/
You will need to provide a JDBC driver for your database. No other
third-party jars are required.
Once you get familiar with SchemaCrawler's Java API, you can even write
plug-ins that will automatically generate the scripts that you need.
Sualeh Fatehi.