Voice of the DBA

Tag: Redgate

  • SQL Change Automation v4 Puts Migrations in SSMS

    I’ve been waiting for this a long time. Over the years, as Redgate has improved and changed the SQL Change Automation product in Visual Studio, I’ve been wanting to see it in SSMS. After watching this take shape across the last year, I now see it live.

    2019-09-19 14_50_45-SQL Change Automation - Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio

    SSMS integration is finally here with SQL Change Automation v4. Kendra wrote a bit about how this allows collaboration on database projects that use migrations between both Visual Studio and SSMS (Management Studio). This gives you the flexibility to work in the environment that is most natural for you. You can share the same project in both IDEs. Watch Kendra introduce this in a video to see just how things work, and the value of migrations.

    I am definitely a migrations oriented developer. I like to track changes, and I like to customize scripts. To me, migrations is the best way to perform database development, though I certainly understand the attractiveness of the SQL Compare/state/model method of development.

    If you have never tried migrations, I urge you to give it a try on a PoC (Proof of Concept) project and see how you can control exactly what code is run when making changes to your databases. That’s important to me, especially when trying to minimize the risk and downtime of making changes. Even without working in a DevOps process, I like migrations.

  • The 2019 State of DevOps Report–Webinar

    Tomorrow I get to chat with another giant in the world of DevOps: Jez Humble. I actually met Jez years ago at a conference, and I was honored to shake his hand. If you haven’t read anything he’s written, you’re missing out. He has truly been someone that both works hard to build better software and teach others to do so as well.

    The Accelerate State of DevOps report 2019 is available from Google and might be useful in trying to convince others in your organization to adopt a process that improves software quality.

    You can also register and watch our webinar tomorrow. It will be broadcast at 4pm BST and 9am Mountain time, which are the main time zones I care about.

    You can ask us questions or just listen as we discuss some of the findings.

    Register today and we’ll be live tomorrow.

  • SQL in the City Sydney in Two Weeks

    It’s two weeks to our next SQL in the City Summit, this time in Sydney. I’m excited to be going back, though it’s a quick trip for me. Likely I’ll be fueled on lots of coffee for the two days I’m in Australia, so if I’m speaking a bit fast, remind me that the rest of you aren’t on a whirlwind, halfway around the world trip.

    2019-08-29 10_29_58-Redgate's SQL in the City Summit Sydney

    We had great reviews on our previous tour, and I was sad to miss Sydney, but we’re coming back on Sept 27. The schedule is slightly different, but we’re thrilled to have Damian Brady from Microsoft talking about their DevOps transformation.

    Anderson and myself will represent Redgate and deliver a few session on our tools, and we’ll have the amazing Hybrid DBA, Hamish Watson coming as well.

    Register today and come learn more about Compliant Database DevOps and Redgate solutions to help you write database code more efficiently.

  • Changing the SQL Data Masker Connection Target

    This post will explain how to change the connection in your masking set when using SQL Data Masker from Redgate.

    I’m writing this more for myself than anyone else. I find myself using Data Masker for different databases at times, and I keep forgetting this. I just spent more than the 2 minutes I’d expect on Google searching, so I’m adding a post in hopes that I’ll remember this.

    When you start creating a masking set, you’ll connect to a SQL Server and choose a database. Later, you might want to change this, or test the masking set elsewhere. Where is the connection string? I had thought it would be in the settings somewhere, but it’s not.

    It’s in the controller.

    The controller is usually at the top of the list, but there could be other ones. However, they are the most left displayed items.

    2019-09-02 14_28_27-SimpleTalk_Prod_Mask_ Data Masker for SQL Server

    Double click the controller, and you’ll see something like this.

    2019-09-02 14_29_14-Edit Rule Controller

    Here you can change the instance and database needed. To save the changes for your session ,click the “Update Rule Controller” on the right. To save the changes in the set, save the entire set.

    Hope this helps you, and hope it helps me remember how to do this.