By Enrique Lima (reproduced with permission
from http://geekswithblogs.net/enriquelima/archive/2011/05/02/what-do-you-use-for-database-source-control.aspx)
I have found myself using tools from Red
Gate Software more and more. In my
experience they have proven to be both effective and to the point.
Today I’m talking about the SSMS plug-in SQL
Source Control. It’s simple to use and makes adding a database to Change
Control easy, which really is the goal. Don’t get me wrong, Visual Studio is a
great tool, but it’s a developer’s tool. As a DBA or Database Developer
(referring to an individual who codes T-SQL) I want to launch SQL Server
Management Studio and be able to control my environment from there. This is
where SQL
Source Control shines as it integrates into SSMS. It allows me to enrol a
database into source control and control my resources.
Here is the step-by-step process I
followed:
First you will come to the Welcome Screen
and the status of the Database being enrolled.
Begin by linking a database to source control.
I am connecting mine to TFS, but it can connect to other environments as well.
Also important to note, SQL Source Control works really well with new and existing
databases.
In my scenario I used AdventureWorksLT.
The first thing I did was create a location
within my branching structure in TFS to store the DB Source.
There are two operating modes, dedicated or
shared. Again this will depend on the approach your developers take - the
dedicated method is where everyone has a copy of the database, the shared model
is where there’s a central database everyone works from.
Once the Link process has started, you will see an object enrolment process. When it completes you will see the DB icon turn green as a visual indicator stating the DB is now under source control.
If you right-click on the database and
select Commit Changes, you will get a list of the items that will be added. As
you click on the items in the list there will be a window displaying the
changes in T-SQL.
Click Commit.
Once the check-in completes you will notice
the blue dots are no longer on the folders, which means all items are
synchronized and current.
As I mentioned above, it’s a very straight
forward process and a great tool for Change Management to put in effect in your
DB environment.
Why not put your database under source
control now? It will only take 5 minutes and it could be the best 5 minutes you
spend this year. Find
more information and a free trial of SQL Source Control here.
