https://documentation.red-gate.com/sdc14

About SQL Data Compare

With SQL Data Compare, you can compare and deploy the data in two Microsoft SQL Server databases.

You can also compare a backup with a database, a scripts folder, or another backup.

Selecting tables and views

When you create a project and you have selected your data sources, you can specify which tables, views, and columns to compare.

SQL Data Compare automatically maps tables and views with the same name and schema (owner).

The Tables & Views tab enables you to:

SQL Data Compare lists the tables and views in the source and target.

Tables and views with identical or similar names are displayed side-by-side:

sql data compare

The upper pane displays tables and views that are fully Mapped or have Partial mapping. The lower pane displays Unmapped tables and views.

Selecting the comparison key

To match rows in the two data sources, SQL Data Compare requires a comparison key for each table or view.

SQL Data Compare automatically selects a comparison key when:

tables contain a matching primary key, unique index, or unique constraint
views contain a matching unique clustered index

For more information, see What's a comparison key?

Selecting the tables and views

Select the tables and views you want to compare by selecting or clearing the appropriate check boxes in the Compare column.

By default, the first time that you run a project all tables and views with identical or similar names are selected for comparison.

If the structure of the data sources you are comparing has changed while you are working on the project, click sql data compare Refresh to update the Tables & Views tab. For example, if a table has been added to the database, click Refresh so that you can include the new table in the comparison.