ApexSQL Data Diff FAQs

The minimum permissions required to compare SQL objects are:

• Public role membership on both the source and the destination SQL instances
• CONNECT
• VIEW DEFINITION and
• SELECT on both the source and the destination databases

In addition to the above:

• CONTROL has to be granted on the destination database, to execute the synchronization script

Both native and natively compressed full and differential database backups can be compared

Yes. The minimum permissions required to compare encrypted objects are:

• Public role membership on both the source and the destination SQL instances
• CONNECT and
• SELECT on both the source and the destination databases

In addition to the above:

• CONTROL has to be granted on the destination database to synchronize encrypted objects

Yes. Please note, though that using the tool while other processes are running in the background is likely to impact its performance

Microsoft SQL Server 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008, and 2005

ApexSQL Data Diff integrates into SQL Server Management Studio 17, 2016, 2014, or 2012
You can use the latest full-featured backwards compatible SQL Server Management Studio for free. Click here

Yes. ApexSQL Data Diff supports Azure SQL Database V12 and SQL Server on Amazon RDS

The tool can be used directly from SSMS alongside any other ApexSQL add-in

Yes. However, please note:

• This functionality is available in ApexSQL Data Diff Professional only
• The synchronization script will be compatible with the target SQL Server version. For instance, if you are synchronizing a SQL Server 2012 backup to a SQL Server 2005 database the synchronization script will not attempt to recreate FileTable data in the destination database, even if it's present in the backup itself

Yes. To do so navigate to the Actions region on the Home tab and in the Export drop-down menu click CSV data export

Yes. Please note that you will need to map those tables manually. To do so, specify the same database as both the source and the destination. In the project dialog, expand the Advanced options and navigate to the Object mapping tab. In the Tables tab, select the tables containing the data you want to compare and click Unmap. The source and destination pane at the bottom of the dialog will display the tables in question as unmapped – simply select the table for the source pane and the table from the destination pane which contain the data you want to compare and click Map to complete the process

In the project dialog, expand the Advanced options and navigate to the Object mapping tab. In the Tables/Views tab, select the tables/views containing the data you want to compare from the source and destination panes at the bottom of the dialog and click Map. Once the objects are mapped, click the down arrow under the Mapped columns column for each row, to make sure that the objects' columns are mapped and will be compared properly

Yes. Split the synchronization script into batches and provide the number of rows that will be processed in each batch by navigating to the Batching section in the project dialog's Options tab and specifying the appropriate value in the Batch every n rows option

No. There is virtually no limit to the number of objects or rows the tool can process

In the Data difference view pane, select the rows you want to synchronize and, in the Actions region of the ribbon's Home tab, click the Synchronize button