how to compare/validate sql schema

Question

I'm looking for a way to validate the SQL schema on a production DB after updating an application version. If the application does not match the DB schema version, there should be a way to warn the user and list the changes needed.

Is there a tool or a framework (to use programatically) with built-in features to do that? Or is there some simple algorithm to run this comparison?

Update: Red gate lists "from $395". Anything free? Or more foolproof than just keeping the version number?

Answer 1

Try this SQL.
- Run it against each database.
- Save the output to text files.
- Diff the text files.

/* get list of objects in the database */
SELECT name, 
       type 
FROM  sysobjects
ORDER BY type, name

/* get list of columns in each table / parameters for each stored procedure */
SELECT so.name, 
       so.type, 
       sc.name, 
       sc.number, 
       sc.colid, 
       sc.status, 
       sc.type, 
       sc.length, 
       sc.usertype , 
       sc.scale 
FROM   sysobjects  so , 
       syscolumns  sc 
WHERE  so.id = sc.id 
ORDER BY so.type, so.name, sc.name

/* get definition of each stored procedure */
SELECT so.name, 
       so.type, 
       sc.number, 
       sc.text 
FROM   sysobjects  so , 
       syscomments sc 
WHERE  so.id = sc.id 
ORDER BY so.type, so.name, sc.number 

Answer 2

I hope I can help - this is the article I suggest reading:

Compare SQL Server database schemas automatically

It describes how you can automate the SQL Server schema comparison and synchronization process using T-SQL, SSMS or a third party tool.