How to get history of table structure change in SQL Server - sql

I have a table in SQL Server 2012. The table has few columns. Now I need to check for which column and what is the DDL script has been executed on this table. Or if it is possible to get what is the latest ALTER has been executed for this table.
Thanks in advance.

You cannot achieve this if you do not have a historical or archive table that store this data (using a DDL Trigger) or using a source control.
OR
You have to use a third-party log reader (if log is not shrinked) like ApexSQL LOG

Related

Need to update the Destination table when Source tables updates

I have a report which uses some tables with large data. We Wrote a stored procedure to get the required data from the tables and prcoess the report output table. Since the data volume is large, we dont want to call the procedure to call entire source tables data whenever any updates happened in them. We need to update only the 'updated/changed rowsin source table into destinationtable.
what is best way to do this in Sql Server?
Thanks for the Help.
You can definetely use table triggers
Please check SQL Server Trigger Example to Log Changes
There is also a solution called CDC (Change Data Capture) in SQL Server
You can also investigate CDC

How can I copy and overwrite data of tables from database1 to database2 in SQL Server

I have a database1 which has more than 500 tables and I have database2 which also has the same number of tables and in both the databases the name of tables are same.. some of the tables have different table definitions, for example a table reports in database1 has 9 columns and the table reports in database2 has 10.
I want to copy all the data from database1 to database2 and it should overwrite the same data and append the columns if structure does not match. I have tried the import export wizard in SQL Server 2008 but it gives an error when it comes to the last step of copying rows. I don't have the screen shot of that error right now, it is my office PC. It says that error inserting into the readonly column xyz, some times it says that vs_isbroken, for the read only column error as I mentioned a enabled the identity insert but it did not help..
Please help me. It is an opportunity in my office for me.
SSIS and SQL Server 2008 Wizards can be finicky tools.
If you get a "can't insert into column ABC", then it could be one of the following:
Inserting into a PK column -> when setting up the mappings, you need to indicate to overwrite the value
Inserting into a column with a smaller range -> for example from nvarchar(256) into nvarchar(50)
Inserting into a calculated column (pointed out by #Nick.McDermaid)
You could also get issues with referential integrity if your database uses this (most do).
If you're going to do this more often, then I suggest you build an SSIS package instead of using the wizard tooling. This way you will see warnings on all sorts of issues like the ones I've described above. You can then run your package on demand.
Another suggestion I would make, is that you insert DB1 into "stage" tables in DB2. These tables should have no relational integrity and will allow you to break the process into several steps as follows.
Stage the data from DB1 into DB2
Produce reports/queries on issues pertinent to your database/rules
Merge the data from stage tables into target tables using SQL
That last step is where you can use merge statements, or simple insert/updates depending on a key match. Using SQL here in the local database is then able to use set theory to manage the overlap of the two sets and figure out what is new or to be updated.
SSIS "can" do this, but you will not be able to do a bulk update using SSIS, whereas with SQL you can. SSIS would do what is known as RBAR (row by agonizing row), something slow and to be avoided.
I suggest you inform your seniors that this will take a little longer to ensure it is reliable and the results reportable. Then work step by step, reporting on each stages completion.
Another two small suggestions:
Create _Archive tables of each of the stage tables and add a Tstamp column to each. Merge into these after the stage step which will allow you to quickly see when which rows were introduced into DB2
After stage and before the SQL merge step, create indexes on your stage tables. This will improve the merge performance
Drop those Indexes after each merge, this will increase the bulk insert Performance
Basic on Staging (response to question clarification):
Links:
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/173918/How-to-Create-your-First-SQL-Server-Integration-Se
http://www.jasonstrate.com/tag/31daysssis/
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/andreasderuiter/archive/2012/12/05/designing-an-etl-process-with-ssis-two-approaches-to-extracting-and-transforming-data.aspx
Staging is the act of moving data from one place to another without any checks.
First you need to create the target tables, the schema should match the source tables.
Open up BIDS and create a new Project and in it a new SSIS package.
In the package, create a connection for the source server and another for the destination.
Then create a data flow step, in the step create a data source for each table you want to copy from.
Connect each source to a new data destination and set the appropriate connection and table.
When done, save and do a test run.
Before the data flow step, you might like to add a SQL step that will truncate all the target tables.
If you're open to using tools then what about using something like Red Gate Sql Compare and Red Gate SQL Data Compare?
First I would use data compare to manage the schema differences, add the new columns you want to your destination database (database2) from the source (database1). Then with data compare you match the contents of the tables any columns it can't match based on names you specify how to handle. Then you can pick and choose what data you want to copy from your destination. So you'll see what data is new and what's different (you can delete data in the destination that's not in the source or ignore it). You can either have the tool do the work or create you a script to run when you want.
There's a 15 day trial if you want to experiment.
Seems like maybe you are looking for Replication technology as is offered by SQL Server Replication.
Well, if i understood your requirement correctly, you need to make database2 a replica of database1. Why not take a full backup of database1 and restore it as database2? Your database2 will be exactly what database1 is at the time of backup.

Get query of the table with all the records in it in SQL

HI I have a table in SQL. I want to create that table into another machine and get the DATA inside that table as well.
I don't wanna use the backup method because I have existing Stored Procedures in the other machine. I just want to get one table with all the records in it. ANy idea on how to do it?
Can you create a linked server on the target database and query the source database from the target?

Move data from one table to another every night SQL server

I have this scenario i have a staging table that contains all the record imported from a XML file .Now i want to move this data based on verification like if the record is already in the other table update the record other wise insert the new record. i want to create a job or scheduler in SQL Server that do this for me every night without using any SSIS packages.
Have you tried using the MERGE statement?
SSIS really is an easy way to go with something like this, but if necessary, you can set up a a SQL server agent job. Take a look at this MSDN Article. Basically, write your validation code in a stored procedure, then create a job with a TSQL job step which calls that stored procedure.

Move selected data from one server to another sql server 2008

I need to move selected data from 800+ tables in one database to the same 800+ tables in another database in another server. The data I select is based on date fields of every table. So, if I say table 1 date from 01/01/10 to 01/15/10, then only that data I want to be copied into the other server's database table specified.
I hope I am not confusing anyone. What is easiest way to do this?
Look into SSIS. What you're talking about is very easy using it. Here is a page that talks about using variables in SSIS.
If this is a one time solution and the destination database is going to be a brand new one. I would restore a backup from the source database and then delete all the records outside of the date range I want in the new database.
If this is a one time solution and you need to move the data to an existing database you can use the export/import wizard in SQL Server Management Studio (This is not in Express edition). Right click on the database go to task and select export data. Then you can use a query to select the data based on the date range from the source table.
You can also link the servers and just run an insert into Server1.database.dbo.table1 to Server2.database.dbo.Table2.
If you will be moving data everyday I would recommend you to create an SSIS package. You can use the Export Wizard and save the SSIS package at the end. Then you can modify the SSIS package using Visual Studio.