Free schema snapshot utility: SQL Snapper

[David Atkinson]

SQL Snapper is a free utility that creates a SQL Compare schema snapshot of a SQL Server 2000, 2005 or 2008 database. This snapshot can then be used as a database source in Red Gate's SQL Compare. You will find SQL Snapper useful when you have databases deployed at a customer's site, and you need to use SQL Compare to compare the schema of a remote databases with your reference database. If the remote database cannot be accessed from your machine, you can ask your customers to use SQL Snapper to create a SQL Compare snapshot of their database’s schema, and send the snapshot file to you. You can then load the snapshot into SQL Compare, and generate the appropriate upgrade script for the customer.

This release of Snapper generates SQL Compare snapshots that work with SQL Compare 7.0 or later.

SQL Snapper can be downloaded from ftp://support.red-gate.com/utilities/freetools/Old_Labs/Red%20Gate%20Labs%20-%20Stuff/RedGateSnapper.htm

David Atkinson
Red Gate Software

[Stefano Paparesta]

THANKS for this tool,
you have any plain to add the command line interface ?

Stefano Paparesta

[foths]

very usefull tool, ive been expecting it!

some more things we need:

-deployment:
--self extracting single zip exe file
-configuration of behaviour
--command line options
--config file

it would be nice for me to be able to send to the client 2 files:
-the single self-extracting zipped exe file for the deployment
-a .BAT file, with command line arguments, already there by me, so the client wont have to do anything at all, only double click the .bat file i will send to him (provided of course, i know at least the database name and server).

thanks!

[Stefano Paparesta]

Yes, for me too the config file and the command line is fundamental. I don't wont my client insert any config data (server name and db name), and i want integrate the generation of snapshot in a simple pipeline :
1 - Generate snapshot
2 - create email msg
3 - attach snapshot to email
4 - send email

for this operation i need a command line interface like SqlCompare Pro and xml file config.
Regards

Stefano

[aperregatturv]

when RedGate released 6.0. I created my own utility [SnapshotCreator] to create snapshot because of the same reason Red Gate created SQLSnapper for.

The only problem i have with this SQLSnapper utility is that when i send this utility to customers I want them to see the utility is created by us and not RedGate.

If its possible to add config file to Show/Hide the Image and of course a commandline interface will be a big help.

for deployment for such small utility i use Inno Setup [freeware installer]
which is almost like a Self extractor.
http://www.jrsoftware.org/isdl.php
If someone needs it i can send you the script file for it.


Thanks
Arun[/url]

[Stefano Paparesta]

Hi guys,
any news on command line interface for the snapper ?
Thanks

Stefano

[David Atkinson]

We're still waiting for more user feedback on SQL Snapper before considering what may go into the next version. So it's unlikely that we'll put any serious effort into it until that point.

Do you want a command line version or simply a UI version that is auto-populated based on values you've provided in a config file?

David Atkinson
Red Gate Software

[aperregatturv]

Top priority for me will be Commandline
SQLSnapper -sServer -dDatabase -uUser -pPwd -snp Snapshot path.

or even Config file will be great but i don't want to add user id or password in there.
I can create a utility to call SQLSnapper with command line parameters.


Thanks

[jerryhung]

I think I'll go for a Command Line option too, just so I can schedule it (and possibly download automatically to be used for comparison in DEV/UA/STAGING)

It is a great product though, I can compare a Production DB without actually download & restoring them
_________________
Jerry Hung
DBA, MCITP

[Stefano Paparesta]

For me Commandline version + xml config it's very important feature

Thanks

[elliotm]

We have had a number of requests to provide a command line for SQL Snapper. Below is the text of the help associated with the command line and I hope you can give feedback on whether this is appropriate for your needs…


Elliot Matthew

Red Gate Software


SQL Snapper V1.0.0.0
==============================================================================
Copyright Copyright © Red Gate Software Ltd 2008

RedGate.SQLSnapper.exe -

Options
=======

/database:<database> (Alias: /db)
The name of the database to create a snapshot of.

/username:<username> (Alias: /u)
The username for the database.

/password:<password> (Alias: /p)
The password for the database.

/server:<server> (Alias: /s) [Default: (local)]
The name of the SQL server.

/makesnapshot:<makesnapshot> (Alias: /mksnap)
Creates a snapshot of the database with the path specified.

[jerryhung]

Command line syntax help look good to me for our current usage
perhaps support Windows Authentication on top of user/password as well

now the question is when we can expect it
_________________
Jerry Hung
DBA, MCITP

[Stefano Paparesta]

For me this command line args it's ok...

[Stefano Paparesta]

Hi,
when you release the command line interface ??
Thanks
Stefano

[David Atkinson]

SQL Snapper with command line capability is now available from our labs page:

http://labs.red-gate.com/index.php/Red_Gate_Snapper

Please let us know what you think.

Thanks,

David Atkinson
Red Gate Software