Command Line Report with SQL Compare 14

Posted on June 28, 2021 by way0utwest

I wrote recently about the use of the command line in SQL Compare 14 to find differences for specific items. Now I want to actually see the changes to decide what to do.

This is part of a series I have on SQL Compare from Redgate Software. It’s an amazing piece of software that you should try if you haven’t. Download an eval today.

In the previous post, I saw the changes listed in the CLI, but not any details of what’s changed. In the SQL Compare GUI, we get a report and the option to see things. It’s nice, but slow. Sometimes I just want to get things going.

There is a switch that let’s me generate a report file. I need a path, and I have to remember that the SQL Compare install folder isn’t usually writeable for me interactively. I use the /report (or /r) switch to build the report.

Here’s the command line I used:

sqlcompare /server1:Aristotle\SQL2017 /server2:Aristotle\SQL2017 /database1:compare1 /database2:compare2 /report:C:\Users\Steve\Documents\comparereport2.html /reportType:classic

The default report is an XML report that doesn’t render well. It’s a PIA to read, so it’s nice to include the ReportType switch as well (or rt) to set this type to HTML. The new HTML report is nicer to read than the classic one. The Classic one is here:

2021-06-10 18_16_24-SQL Compare Report_

The newer HTML one is here:

2021-06-10 18_16_33-Changes - SQL Compare change report

This allows me to see a good view of what might be changed if I run the tool itself. I can use this to decide if I’m getting the object changes I want.

There are lots of options and ways to use SQL Compare, and I’d urge you to explore a bit as you look to improve your database deployments. If you don’t have it yet, download an eval and give it a try.

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Daily Coping 28 Jun 2021

Posted on June 28, 2021 by way0utwest

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to be kind to yourself. Start the week off by doing something for yourself.

It’s good to do something for yourself. For some of us, we can be busy trying to please our boss, our co-workers, family, neighbors, etc. We forget to take care of ourselves.

I fall into this trap regularly. Mostly it’s OK, as one of the things that gives me joy is helping others, especially family.

I am learning to also take time for myself, or do things for myself. One of the things I do regularly to give myself self-case is to go to the gym. It’s a priority in my life, and it sometimes gets in the way of other chores or responsibilities, but my partner and family try to understand.

I am the main cook in the house, but I sometimes run out of time. In this case, I stopped worrying, went to the gym, and then picked up some takeout for everyone. A bit of cost to the family budget, but something that helped me get through the day.

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Rejected for a Speaking Submission

Posted on June 25, 2021 by way0utwest

I got a speaking rejection today. Well, not today, but the day I wrote this.

Not really a big deal, but it was interesting that the event organizer included a note that they had a lot of sessions, hard decisions, etc., and they hope I respect their decision on the schedule.

I speak, or have spoke, a lot in my career. My speaking CV shows lots of events and sessions across the last decade. I had 20 sessions in 2020, a down year. The years from 2015-2020 have me delivering 197 sessions in those 6 years.

This isn’t to brag, but show that I have had lots of success submitting to, and getting into many events across time. I’m semi-popular, though I honestly don’t think many people come to my sessions unless they like the topic.

I don’t take rejections hard. It happens, and I know that my submission has to match up with what the organizers want from the event. Sometimes they might want me to speak because it helps with sponsorship or marketing, but mostly, they want sessions matching their idea of the event.

I’m fine with that, and I wish them the best of luck with their event. As much as I might want to attend and speak somewhere, I wouldn’t complain because they made a different choice. That’s happened in the past, and it’s disappointing, but fine with me.

I would love the chance to alter a session or change my submission to meet a conference agenda, but I also know this is asking a lot from organizers to work with speakers. A few of the larger conferences sometimes do this for certain people, but rarely for me.

It’s hard to be rejected, whether for a speaking slot, a job, a date, a sports team, or anything else. It happens, however, and usually it’s not a personal decision. It’s often that the match isn’t there.

If you get rejected, accept it, don’t complain, and submit to another event. Don’t get discouraged, but learn from it and move on.

If you want feedback from submissions, drop me a note on Twitter. Happy to give my thoughts.

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Daily Coping 25 Jun 2021

Posted on June 25, 2021 by way0utwest

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to do something playful today, just for fun.

I’m actually in Florida today, coaching a volleyball team at the AAU National volleyball tournament. The last one of the season, which is good for me. It’s been fun, but long. I need a break.

In any case, I’m writing this before I leave, so I’ll be in Florida for a week. Lots of coaching, but there should be some downtime. It’s summer, and hot, so outdoor activities are less fun at times. I do like to swim, but I often do laps.

However, I’m going to take some time to enjoy the pool. Splash around a little with my wife, hopefully with a cocktail, but definitely just enjoying some water time on a hot summer day.

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