Using the Command Line Interface

The command line interface provides access to the functionality provided by SQL Data Compare. For example, using the command line interface you can:

automate the comparison and synchronization of data
perform scheduled comparisons and synchronizations
synchronize multiple databases

You invoke the command line either from a script, such as a batch script or VBScript, or by using the facilities provided by compiled languages such as C++ and C#.

This online Help provides a description of basic command line features and examples illustrating how you can use the command line interface. To display full help on all of the switches that are available for the command line, at the command prompt enter:

SQLDataCompare /help /verbose

where /help displays the help message and can be used in conjunction with verbose for more detailed information. To output the help in HTML format, use the /html switch, for example:

SQLDataCompare /help /verbose /html > filename.htm

If you specify any other switches, they are ignored.

Licensing

To use the command line interface, you must have:

a SQL Data Compare Pro, or SQL Bundle Pro, or SQL Toolbelt license
If you do not have a license, you can use the command line for 14 days. To redistribute the command line, you need a SQL Toolkit license.
.NET framework version 1.1 or later
This is required to run the command line interface, but it is not required when you develop applications and scripts that use the interface. You can therefore use legacy versions of Microsoft® Visual Studio® (such as Visual Studio 6) to develop such applications if the .NET framework is installed.
MDAC 2.8 or later

For information about distributing the command line interface with your application, see Integrating the Command Line with Applications.