Working with Data Models › How Complete Compare Works › Complete Compare Examples › Compare Two Databases

Compare Two Databases

You can use the Complete Compare Wizard to compare two databases. You accomplish this by first reverse engineering a database to a new model, then starting Complete Compare to reverse engineer a second database.

Note: This procedure also works with script files.

To compare two databases

1. To open the first database that you want to participate in the compare, click Reverse Engineer on the Tools menu.
2. The Reverse Engineer Wizard opens, where you select a template and set options for the reverse engineering. You can choose to reverse engineer from a database or script file. Depending on your choice, you are prompted to browse for the script file, or enter connection credentials for the database.

   When the reverse engineering process completes, your script file or database appears as an open model in the workspace.

3. Click Complete Compare on the Actions menu.

   The Complete Compare wizard opens, on the Right Model Selection pane.

4. Load your second script file or database using reverse engineering. Select Database/Script, then click Load... to start the Reverse Engineer Wizard.

   The Reverse Engineer Wizard opens, where you select a template and set options for reverse engineering the second database. You can choose to reverse engineer from a database or script file. Depending on your choice, you are prompted to browse for the script file, or enter connection credentials for the database.

   When the reverse engineering process completes, your script file or database appears as an open model in the workspace, and is selected as the "Right Model" in the Complete Compare Wizard.

5. Use the options in the Complete Compare Wizard to set the compare level and filter by objects for either model.
6. After you select the compare options, click Compare to start the compare process.

   The two models are compared and the Resolve Differences dialog opens.

7. Use features in the Resolve Differences dialog to compare and reconcile any detected differences between the models. You can also generate alter scripts to the databases at this point. Click the Right Alter Script/Schema Generation icon to open the Alter Script wizard.
8. Click Finish.

   You return to the Complete Compare Wizard. You can change any options in the wizard and begin the compare process again, or click Close to close the wizard.

   The wizard closes and you return to the main workplace.

Note: A default Advanced Option, "Auto-Dispose Database/Script Models" is selected by default. This means that the models reverse-engineered from databases are automatically closed without saving at the end of the Complete Compare session.

More information:

Complete Compare Wizard Summary