Database update utility

As we develop new versions of our software for our customers, we generate update scripts to update the customer databases. Over time, customer databases have gotten out of sync with where they should be. We are planning to write a utilitiy to remedy this problem, but I thought I would check to see if there are already a utilities out there that would meet our needs. Basically we would like something that compares things like tables, columns, column order, indexes, PKs, FKs, triggers, stored proceedures, etc. of a customer database against a certified valid database. The utility would then do the necessary updates to bring the customer database in line. We have used Erwin to do a database compare and generate update scripts, but that requires downloading the customer database to our site. We have also had problems with Erwin. -----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==---------- http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own

In article <7b6oil$jr4$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, joel_anderson@prosolution.com writes >As we develop new versions of our software for our customers, we generate >update scripts to update the customer databases. Over time, customer >databases have gotten out of sync with where they should be. We are planning >to write a utilitiy to remedy this problem, but I thought I would check to >see if there are already a utilities out there that would meet our needs. >Basically we would like something that compares things like tables, columns, >column order, indexes, PKs, FKs, triggers, stored proceedures, etc. of a >customer database against a certified valid database. The utility would then >do the necessary updates to bring the customer database in line. > >We have used Erwin to do a database compare and generate update scripts, but >that requires downloading the customer database to our site. We have also had >problems with Erwin. > Check www.iiug.org Special Software and look for dbdiff2 >-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==---------- >http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own -- David Williams

Heres an idea. Create a table called version. All it contains is a record which holds the database's version number. Then use a tool like PVCS or SCCS, RCS, ect to do management of your database scripts. Since you now know the version of the client, and the version of your latest revision, you should be able to update them, and know the differences that you kept checking in. Its simple and you don't need to keep doing dbdiff to see the differences. -Just a simple developers trick from Uncle Mikey. David Williams wrote: > In article <7b6oil$jr4$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, > joel_anderson@prosolution.com writes > >As we develop new versions of our software for our customers, we generate > [SNIP] > > Check www.iiug.org Special Software and look for dbdiff2 > > >-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==---------- > >http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own > > -- > David Williams