Data Compare comes with a free add-in for SQL Server Management Studio that allows you to compare and synchronize databases (including versions from source control) right from Object Explorer of the SQL Server Management Studio.
Note
The Data Compare SSMS add-in comes bundled with the standalone Data Compare application. Both are installed simultaneously with the dbForge Compare Bundle or dbForge SQL Tools products. Upon installation, the Data Compare add-in automatically integrates with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
1. In Object Explorer, right-click the database you want to compare and select Data Compare > Set as Source.
Note
Select Recent Files to restore a previously saved comparison project file with the .dcomp extension. The .dcomp file contains all the data comparison and deployment settings configured earlier.
The dbForge Data Compare tab appears displaying the database you selected as the source in the left pane.
2. To select the target database, use either of the following options:
To swap the source and target databases, click Swap Source and Target Settings.
3. To start the comparison, click Start comparison.
Data Compare opens the New Data Comparison window where you can set up data comparison for your project.
Data Compare lets you compare and synchronize scripts folders.
1. On the dbForge Data Compare tab, select Scripts Folder as a type of a source or target for database comparison.
2. Under Database scripts folder, click < Browse > to specify a path to the scripts folder you want to add to the comparison.
3. To start the comparison, click Start comparison.
Data Compare opens the New Data Comparison window where you can set up data comparison for your project.
1. By default, the Source and Target tab display connections and names of the source and target databases. On the Source and Target tab, you can do the following:
Modify the source and target connections: Click Edit under the source or target connection respectively. In the Database Connection Properties that opens, change a database connection and click Ok.
Create a new source and target connection: Click New under the source or target connection respectively. In the Database Connection Properties that opens, change a database connection, and click Ok.
Change the source and target databases to be compared: In the Database field, select the database from the drop-down list.
Alternatively, you can click the drop-down arrow in the Connection field and choose the existing database or click Manage. In this case, the Connection Manager opens where you can create a new connection or modify the existing one.
For more information about how to start a new data comparison project, see Select data sources.
2. On the Options tab, select additional options for data comparison:
For more information about options you can set for data comparison, see Configure comparison options.
3. On the Mapping tab, select the objects to map columns and perform the following tasks:
Filter the list of columns for data comparison by objects.
View and edit mappings by clicking Show Schema Mapping Dialog.
In the Schemas Mapping dialog box that opens, set the correspondence between the source and target schemas.
To change the target schema, click the drop-down arrow, select the schema, and then click Ok.
To reset the mappings to the defaults, click Reset.
To unmap schemas, click the drop-down arrow and select < None >.
For more information about mapping columns and schemas, see Select tables and views.
4. To compare data, click Compare.