SpurData Blog

I am a huge huge fan of Red Gate's SQL Source Control  and use it every day at work. On my side projects though I can't necessarily justify the $400 price tag (yet). So in the mean time, I am using the following somewhat painful process to source control my scripts against TFS. (Microsoft now has a hosted " Team Foundation Service " where you can host your code for free.) The current solution uses Visual Studio 2010, SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Management Studio, and WinMerge. Here's the process: Initial Load: In your TFS working folder, add a "DB" folder. For me this sits next to my Visual Studio Solution folder. Add the DB folder to Source Control. In SSMS, right-click on your database, choose Tasks > Generate Scripts and script out the entire database into your new DB folder. I create a file for each object. In Source Control, check all that in. You now have your database under version control, kinda. Add an additional sibling folder called DBC...

I remember one long day Not all that long ago    When versioning schema    Seemed like a dream-a And proved an elusive goal I was only able to bear Without pulling out my hair    Using video tips    On genning out scripts With the incomparable SQL Compare And yet I knew in my soul That my process still had a hole    When to my delight    On RedGate's new site They announced SQL Source Control This was a real game changer I could now be a TFS Ranger    With a folder called "\Code"    And another "\DB" All living in the same, uh, Manger Now I version my T-SQL gaily I commit all my changes daily    What once was all fragile    Is now beyond Agile And life is all smooth saily :^)