Database compare tools

Question

My company has a number of relatively small Access databases (2-5MB) that control our user assisted design tools. Naturally these databases evolve over time as data bugs are found and fixed and as the schema changes to support new features in the tools. Can anyone recommend a database diff tool to compare both the data and schema from one version of the database to the next? Any suggestions will be appreciated: free, open source, or commercial.

Answer 1

We never actually purchased it as we ended up using SQL Server 2005, but DBDiff seemed to do the trick: http://www.dkgas.com/downdbdiff.cgi

It works with any ODBC compatible DB.

Answer 2

I use ApexSQL Diff. It is an excellent tool for doing just what you're describing...compare schema, compare data, generate change scripts. It not free, but it works well.

NOTE: ApexSQL Diff only works with SQL Server.

Answer 3

I've used Total Access Detective in the past and it did the trick. It's a while ago though so you might want to investigate first...

Answer 4

I use Red Gate Sql Compare for comparing schemas. It also has an interesting feature that allows you to save a snapshot of the schema which you can then use in later diffs. for example compare the schema of today with the schema of a month ago.

Answer 5

If you're looking for a free alternative to Red Gate's most excellent SQL Compare, you might want to check SQLDBDigg made by SQLDBTools. It's what I used until I caved and bought SQL Compare.

Answer 6

It's not a perfect solution, but I often export both databases as txt/SQL files and then use a diff program, such as the one that comes with TortoiseSVN. You can then see all of the differences. It doesn't automatically create the SQL though to sync the dbs.

Answer 7

Zidsoft CompareData works with any ODBC data source including Access and MS SQL Server. Same application compares data and metadata