Working with Projects

Whenever you compare data in two data sources, you set up a project. A project contains the information required to access a data source. A project also contains configuration details such as which tables or views are selected for comparison, mapping information, and which project options are set.

When you start SQL Data Compare, the Comparison Projects dialog box is automatically displayed; if SQL Data Compare is already running, click Comparison Projects.

The Comparison Projects dialog box displays a list of comparison projects that are saved in the folder in the Look in box. By default, the location is:

C:\Documents and Settings\<your user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Red Gate\SQL Data Compare 6.1

To change the folder, select a folder in the Look in box, or click to choose the folder.

To locate a comparison project on your computer, right-click the project, and click Locate on Disk. SQL Data Compare project files are saved with the extension .sdc. For information about opening .sdc files, see Starting SQL Data Compare with a Specific Project.

By default, projects are sorted by comparison date. To change the order in which projects are listed, click the appropriate column header.

You can provide a description for your project by clicking the Add a comment link; if the link is not displayed, the file may be read-only.

You can:

filter the list of projects
create or edit a project
delete a project
save a project
copy an existing project including its configuration

Filtering projects

To filter the projects that are displayed in the list, type your search criteria in the Filter box; the list of projects is filtered as you type each character. To select a recent search, click the Filter arrow button

When SQL Data Compare filters the list of projects, it searches all the details about your projects, including project file names, data source names, comparison dates, and comments.

SQL Data Compare displays the number of projects that do not match the search criteria as hidden projects, for example:

If there are no matches, the Filter box changes color.

To clear the Filter box and display all your projects, click the button.

Creating or editing a project

On the Comparison Projects dialog box, click New to create a project, or select the project that you want to edit, and click Edit.
Do the following:
- Set the data sources.
- Select the tables and views for comparison.
- Map the objects, if required.
It is recommended that you run the comparison and review the results before you change any project options.

To save your project, click Save or Save As.

If your comparison project requires a considerable amount of configuration, you may find it useful to try out different settings and save the settings in separate projects; to do this, use Save As.
Click Compare Now, or Done if you are editing the current project.
SQL Data Compare displays a message dialog box that shows the progress of the comparison.

If you select the Close dialog box on completion check box, SQL Data Compare closes this message dialog box automatically the next time that you run a comparison on a project.
If necessary, click OK to close the message box.
The comparison results are displayed in the main window.

Deleting a project

On the Comparison Projects dialog box, select the project that you want to delete, and click Delete.

SQL Data Compare deletes the project from your computer.

Saving a project

SQL Data Compare does not automatically save projects. To save a project, on the Project Configuration dialog box, click Save; alternatively, you can save a project when you are reviewing the comparison results by clicking Save Project on the File menu.

When there are unsaved changes, you will be prompted to save the current project if you create a new project and then you run the comparison on the new project, or when you close the application.

Copying a project

To copy a project, including its configuration:

Select the project that you want to copy, and click Edit.
On the Project Configuration dialog box, click Save As.

You can also copy a project when you are reviewing the comparison results; on the File menu, click Save Project As.