SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Sarvesh Pandey
3 min readAug 28, 2021

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SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Introduction:

Schema Comparison is an important step in UAT and Production. This is useful method to compare your UAT and Production Database and Schema without running complex SQL Queries.

This article will help you to understand Azure Data Studio which a Database Management Tool by Microsoft is to manage On-premises SQL Server, SQL Server on Azure VM, Azure SQL Database and Managed Instance. Schema Comparison is feature provided in this toll which helps user to compare database present in On-premises or in Azure Cloud.

Azure Data Studio Compare Table, View, Stored Procedure, Functions, Logins, Users

Prerequisites:

1. Download and install Azure Data Studio — Azure Data Studio | Microsoft Docs

2. User must have “db­_owner” role to apply those changes.

3. Schema between the database should be similar/same.

4. SQL Server Authentication is recommended.

Step to Compare Schema:

Step 1: Download and install Azure Data Studio — Azure Data Studio | Microsoft Docs

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 2: Open the Azure Data Studio Tool -> Click on the Feature Icon

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 3: Search SQL Server Schema Compare and Click on Install

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 4: Connect to Azure SQL Server

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 5: Right on Source database (DB1) and click on Compare Schema

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 6: Choose target Server but click on ellipsis

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 7: Connect to Target Server and Provide Credentials -> Click on “OK”

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Note — You can compare a Dacpac with database or Dacpac with Dacpac

Step 8: Click on Compare Button to Compare Schema of database

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 9: You can see the comparison Table of two database.

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 10: Action column display which action its going to get performed on Destination

Delete — Respected object going to get deleted

Add — Respected object going to get added

Change — Respected changes to be made on object

Step 11: Click on Table with “Change” Action, you can see schema comparison between two tables.

SQL Server Schema Comparison using Azure Data Studio

Step 12: Click on “Apply” to reflected these changes on Destination Database.

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Sarvesh Pandey
Sarvesh Pandey

Written by Sarvesh Pandey

Hi Everyone, Let me give you my quick Introduction. I am Azure Data Engineer and Microsoft Certified Azure DBA and Trainer.