Working with scripts folders
A scripts folder is a set of scripts that represent a database schema. The scripts folder can be used for:
- Version-controlling databases
- Comparing database schemas
- Comparing databases on unconnected SQL Servers
Creating a scripts folder
To create a new scripts folder via Schema Compare:
1. In the New Schema Comparison wizard, select Scripts folder either as a Source or a Target.
2. Click the New button.
3. In the Create Scripts Folder or Snapshot dialog box that appears, specify a type of the object, you create a scripts folder from, connection, the database name, the output file name, and the folder to save it to.
Note:
You can create a scripts folder from a database, a snapshot, or another scripts folder.
By default, Schema Compare decrypts encrypted objects. If you want to disable this option, click to unselect the checkbox next to this option. Enabling this option may result in slower performance.
Note:
If you create a scripts folder from a snapshot or another scripts folder, the decryption option is not available.
4. Click Create.
Comparing and synchronizing scripts folders
When comparing and synchronizing scripts folders either as a target or a source, a synchronization script is created. It can be saved to a file or opened in an internal browser.
When a scripts folder is selected as a source, you can select to execute the synchronization script directly target database.
When a scripts folder is selected as a target, you can select to update the scripts folder after synchronization.
Scripts folders synchronization issues
- Certificates, symmetric keys, and asymmetric keys are not supported when you use a scripts folder as a data source.
- When you select a scripts folder as a target data source, comments that are part of a table definition will be lost when the table is modified and the object creation script updated.
- CLR assemblies can not be compared and synchronized in scripts folders.