Configure data generation

This topic describes how to configure data generation settings and populate database tables with random data.

Tip

Before proceeding, back up the database you want to populate.

To configure data generation:

1. Open the Data Generator Project Properties wizard in one of these ways:

On the menu bar, select Database > Tasks > New Data Generation.
In Database Explorer, right-click the required database or server connection and select Tasks > New Data Generation.
On the Start Page, select Data Pump > New Data Generation.

2. On the Connection page, select the server and database, then click Next.

Specify connection details

3. On the Options page, set data generation options.

Note

To save your data generation settings to a .bat file, click Save Command Line.

To return to the previous step and review or change your settings, click Back.

Set data generation options

The table provides a detailed description of data generation options.

Name	Group	Description	Default value
By specified number of	Row distribution mode	Sets the number of rows to populate.	1000 rows
By proportion of existing data in volume of	Row distribution mode	Specifies the percentage of rows to populate.	10%
By generation of data by time	Row distribution mode	Specifies the time period in seconds during which data will be generated for each table.	10 sec
Truncate data from table before generation	Row distribution mode	Determines if existing data in the target table should be removed before generating new test data. When selected, the table is truncated, and all existing rows are permanently deleted. When cleared, new data is appended to the existing table.
Random by timestamp	Value distribution mode	Populates every subsequent data generation with new random numbers.
Random by seed	Value distribution mode	Generates values based on a specified seed. Repopulating the column will generate the same set of values each time.	1
Sequential	Value distribution mode	Generates new random numbers for each subsequent data generation.
Set values to be unique	Column properties	Generates unique values.
Include NULL values % of rows	Column properties	Specifies the percentage of `NULL` values to generate.	10%
Include empty values % of rows	Column properties	Specifies the percentage of empty values to generate.	10%
Country-specific data	Column properties	Applies data conventions of a specific country to the generated data.	United States

4. Click Open to open a data generation project (.dgen).

Data generation project

5. Under Tables and columns to populate, select the tables and columns you want to populate.

Tip

To generate data for all tables and columns in a database, select the database.

6. Configure table settings:

6.1. Under Tables and columns to populate, select the table you want to populate.

6.2. Under Table generation settings, configure table generation settings.

7. Configure column settings:

7.1. Under Tables and columns to populate, select the column you want to populate.

7.2. Under Table generation settings, configure column generation settings.

Note

If dbForge Studio for SQL Server encounters columns with unsupported data types, it can’t assign a generator to those columns. You can still include columns with unsupported data types in data generation; however, this might cause unpredictable behavior or unexpected results.

Tip

To review or update the data generation project settings, click .

8. Optional: To configure general settings for data generation:

8.1. On the menu bar, select Tools > Options.

8.2. In the Options dialog, select Data Generation.

8.3. Under General, specify a folder for data generation cache files.

By default, the cache folder is set to Windows Temporary Folder.

To specify a custom location for cache files, select Custom Folder, click the ellipsis (…), then select the folder.

8.4. Under Formatting, define how generated data is formatted before it is populated into the table.

Data type – Select the data type for which you want to configure formatting. The available options are: Date, DateTime, and DateTimeOffset.
Predefined formats – Select a formatting option for the selected data type. The available options are: Short date, Long date, Full date/time (short time), Full date/time (long time), General date/time (short time), General date/time (long time), General date/time (long time with microseconds).

Note

If you select Date for the data type, available options are: Short date, Long date, Month day, Year month.

Preview format – View the resulting format for the selected data type.
Test Input – Review how the selected format applies to a sample value.

8.5. Under Population, select a SQL Editor for data population.

By default, the built-in editor is used. To use a different SQL editor, select the required SSMS version from the list.

The available options depend on the SSMS versions installed on your system.

8.6. Click OK.

Configure general settings

The configuration results appear in the Preview area in real time.

Configure the data generation project

9. Click .

The Data Population Wizard opens, where you can configure the data population settings.

10. Click Generate.