The following DLM Automation addon steps use SQL Compare to compare database schemas:

• Build (to validate the scripts folder against a temporary live DB created from it, before creating the package, and generate documentation from a temporary DB)
• Test (to build the live database used for running the tests)
• Sync (to build the target database)
• Create release (to generate the deployment script)
• Deploy from package (to generate the deployment script)
• Deploy from live database (to generate the deployment script)

SQL Compare has a range of options that allow you to configure what is compared between the schemas and modify certain other behavior of the comparison.

The DLM Automation addons use a set of sensible defaults for these options when they run a comparison. See Default SQL Compare options used by DLM Automation cmdlets.

Using the SQL Compare Options input

Each addon has a SQL Compare Options text box for input in these situations - often under Advanced Options. You can use this to turn off the default options or specify additional SQL Compare options.

Turning off a default option

Specify a default option you want to turn off, preceded by a minus sign - e.g. -ForceColumnOrder

Adding additional options

Use a comma-delimited list of options to specify additional SQL Compare options - including additional negative options if you wish.

e.g. IgnoreComments,-ForceColumnOrder,ObjectExistenceChecks

You can use the alias rather the full option name, for example ic for IgnoreComments

For a list of SQL Compare options you can include, see Options used in the command line (SQL Compare documentation).