Tag: sql server

How to Automate the Process of SQL Server Database Schema Synchronization

{coding}Sight
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The goal

Keeping two databases in sync is a task we often encounter when working on SQL database development and maintenance. One particular case is this – the versions of a database present on testing and development environments need to be consistently synchronized to make sure that tests are running on the most recent version. This should be done by detecting schema changes in the development version of a database and then automatically synchronizing them with the version from the testing environment on a scheduled basis.

How to achieve it

We’ll look into how automated synchronization of two SQL databases can be achieved by combining a schema comparison tool with PowerShell scripts and scheduling. Read More

Tutorial on SQL (DDL, DML) on the example of MS SQL Server dialect

{coding}Sight
Tutorial on SQL (DDL, DML) on the example of MS SQL Server dialect
5 (100%) 1 vote[s]

Introduction

This tutorial includes information about SQL (DDL, DML) that I have gathered during my professional life. This is the minimum you need to know while working with databases. If there is a need to use complex SQL constructions, then usually I surf the MSDN library, which can be easily found on the internet. To my mind, it is very difficult to keep everything in your head and, by the way, there is no need for this. I recommend that you should know all the main constructions used in most relational databases such as Oracle, MySQL, and Firebird. Still, they may differ in data types. For example, to create objects (tables, constraints, indexes, etc.), you may simply use integrated development environment (IDE) to work with databases and there is no need in studying visual tools for a particular database type (MS SQL, Oracle, MySQL, Firebird, etc.). This is convenient because you can see the whole text, and you do not need to look through numerous tabs to create, for example, an index or a constraint. If you are constantly working with databases, creating, modifying, and especially rebuilding an object using scripts is much faster than in a visual mode. Besides, in my opinion, in the script mode (with due precision), it is easier to specify and control rules for naming objects. In addition, it is convenient to use scripts when you need to transfer database changes from a test database to a production database. Read More

Automatic gathering of SQL Server configuration by using PowerShell

Prashanth Jayaram
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At present, the gathering of SQL Server configuration information is no longer a problem— the opportunities to add value through an update and to build a stable database environment exist permanently. Most of the third party tools provide the appropriate functionality in order to capture the software market. Through this guide, you’ll figure out the ways to capture few SQL Server configurations and manipulate the data by using PowerShell.

Moreover, you will get the answers to the following questions:

  • How to gather SQL Server configuration
  • How to automatically discover SQL instances
  • How to manually input the SQL Server instances to speed up the process
  • How to transform data by using PowerShell
  • And more…

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SQL Server Database Tables Export and Import Methods

Ahmad Yaseen
SQL Server Database Tables Export and Import Methods
4.5 (90%) 4 vote[s]

When working as a SQL Server database administrator or developer, you cannot live in your isolated SQL Server world without communicating with other data sources. For example, there is rarely a day when you won’t be requested to import data from an Excel, Access or CSV file into your SQL Server table. Or, conversely, export one of your SQL Server database tables to an external file in order for this table to be used in another database engine or to be analyzed externally by the corresponding team.

SQL Server provides us with a number of methods that can be used to export an existing SQL Server database table to an Excel or text file, and import data from an external data source to a new or existing SQL Server database table. In this article, we will gradually cover all these methods.

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Using Trace Flag 3226 to Suppress Log Backup Logging

Kenneth Igiri
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Introduction

Every backup operation in SQL Server is written to the SQL Server Error log. This includes Transaction Log Backups even when they occur as part of a Transaction Log Shipping Configuration. Sometimes logging the entire Log Backup can be a nuisance in the SQL Server Error Log and needs to be managed. Trace Flag 3226 is used to suppress such logging and we will demonstrate how this can be done in this article.

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Column-level and row-level tracking in merge replication

Ranga Babu
Column-level and row-level tracking in merge replication
4.5 (90%) 8 vote[s]

In this article, let us review row-level and column-level tracking options in merge replication and how these are used in detecting conflicts during merge replication.

Merge Replication: Merge replication is used to replicate data in both ways i.e. from the publisher to the subscriber and from the subscriber to the publisher.

The initial snapshot of objects is taken and applied to subscribers. Incremental data changes and schema changes are tracked using triggers and applied to subscribers when the subscriber synchronizes with the publisher.

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DBCC SHRINKFILE Overview

Mohammed Moinudheen
DBCC SHRINKFILE Overview
5 (100%) 3 vote[s]

Running DBCC Shrink commands is quite a controversial issue across the SQL Server community. In this article, we will review details about this command and provide a brief overview of its use and also warn you about the risks of running this command. As DBAs, a number of databases were handed over to from other teams or vendors, and it is not always we get to manage the databases which we created. As DBAs, whenever we are involved in migrations or new projects, we need to ensure that we carefully plan a smooth transition of the database to production and regular use. It is at this stage that we need to factor in the size of the database. Can you imagine, you set up a database application without considering the growth forecast for the first year or so. How about you create a SQL Server database with size so small that it needs to grow every other day raising capacity disk alerts in the middle of the night? It may sound silly, but in reality, the truth is this happens, and this sometimes may not be in your control.

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Automating SQL Database Maintenance Tasks using SQLCMD

Haroon Ashraf
Automating SQL Database Maintenance Tasks using SQLCMD
4 (80%) 2 vote[s]

This article is about automating SQL database maintenance tasks through SQLCMD utility which lets you run T-SQL commands directly from the command prompt without using SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio).

Typically, automating database tasks requires SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) for scheduling jobs that run these tasks, but in this article, an alternative approach is used to automate database tasks without having to use the much-needed SSMS.

The SQLCMD utility can be a real time saver for database developers and DBAs since they can immediately run the necessary SQL scripts from the command line, and automating database maintenance tasks with the SQLCMD utility is a plus.

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Exporting Data to Flat File with BCP Utility and Importing data with Bulk Insert

Amarendra Babu
Exporting Data to Flat File with BCP Utility and Importing data with Bulk Insert
4.1 (81.05%) 19 vote[s]

The BCP (Bulk Copy Program) utility in SQL Server allows database administrators to import data into a table and export data from a table into a flat file. The BCP utility also supports various features that facilitate the process of exporting and importing of the bulk data.

Now let’s get started with a business scenario. Read More

DBCC CheckDB Overview

Mohammed Moinudheen
DBCC CheckDB Overview
4.1 (82.86%) 7 vote[s]

Introduction

Regular database maintenance is an important part of a Database Administrator’s job which helps to ensure that critically important systems are running as per normal. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this will be to automate tasks related to DBCC CheckDB. No matter what version of SQL Server you are running, there will never be a database that requires no maintenance. You will have to plan the maintenance to occur regularly so that you can cover your back especially at the time of a real disaster scenario.

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