Looking for a db schema read/write/synch tool

[Chad Smith]

Hello,

I'm relatively new to the database world so please forgive me in
advance for my ignorance. I have recently been tasked at my job with
finding a tool that will perform the following tasks: 1) extract
schemas from a db, 2) produce a difference report between schemas from
two databases, and 3) synchronize two schemas. The purpose is for
product upgrades during which an existing database schema will need to
be synchronized with a baseline schema.

The tool must support the following database vendors (versions given
in parenthesis): Oracle (8i/9i), Sybase (12.x), Informix (9.x), MSS
2000, and IBM DB2 (7/8).

I have spent the last several days downloading and researching a
variety of tools such as Aqua Data Studio, DbVisualizer, DBExplorer,
DBDiff, and AdeptSQL. I thought it would be a good idea to post a
message to a few database newsgroups and ask for any recommendations
database developers may have.

So if anyone has any recommendations on such a tool or software
package, I would greatly appreciate any information.

Thanks!
Chad Smith

[Gert van der Kooij]

In article <75**************************@posting.google.com >, Chad
Smith (it*****@comcast.net) says...

I have spent the last several days downloading and researching a
variety of tools such as Aqua Data Studio, DbVisualizer, DBExplorer,
DBDiff, and AdeptSQL. I thought it would be a good idea to post a
message to a few database newsgroups and ask for any recommendations
database developers may have.

Add Sybase Powerdesigner to the list. Ive done that with the
DataArchitect version but it might also work with PhysicalArchitect.

The last one is much cheaper.

[Daniel Morgan]

Chad Smith wrote:

Hello,

I'm relatively new to the database world so please forgive me in
advance for my ignorance. I have recently been tasked at my job with
finding a tool that will perform the following tasks: 1) extract
schemas from a db, 2) produce a difference report between schemas from
two databases, and 3) synchronize two schemas. The purpose is for
product upgrades during which an existing database schema will need to
be synchronized with a baseline schema.

The tool must support the following database vendors (versions given
in parenthesis): Oracle (8i/9i), Sybase (12.x), Informix (9.x), MSS
2000, and IBM DB2 (7/8).

I have spent the last several days downloading and researching a
variety of tools such as Aqua Data Studio, DbVisualizer, DBExplorer,
DBDiff, and AdeptSQL. I thought it would be a good idea to post a
message to a few database newsgroups and ask for any recommendations
database developers may have.

So if anyone has any recommendations on such a tool or software
package, I would greatly appreciate any information.

Thanks!
Chad Smith

Add Computer Associates All Fusion ERwin to the list.

--
Daniel Morgan
http://www.outreach.washington.edu/e...ad/oad_crs.asp
http://www.outreach.washington.edu/e...oa/aoa_crs.asp
da******@x.washington.edu
(replace 'x' with a 'u' to reply)

[Enor Mouspenis]

Daniel Morgan wrote:

Chad Smith wrote:

Hello,

I'm relatively new to the database world so please forgive me in
advance for my ignorance. I have recently been tasked at my job with
finding a tool that will perform the following tasks: 1) extract
schemas from a db, 2) produce a difference report between schemas from
two databases, and 3) synchronize two schemas. The purpose is for
product upgrades during which an existing database schema will need to
be synchronized with a baseline schema.

The tool must support the following database vendors (versions given
in parenthesis): Oracle (8i/9i), Sybase (12.x), Informix (9.x), MSS
2000, and IBM DB2 (7/8).

I have spent the last several days downloading and researching a
variety of tools such as Aqua Data Studio, DbVisualizer, DBExplorer,
DBDiff, and AdeptSQL. I thought it would be a good idea to post a
message to a few database newsgroups and ask for any recommendations
database developers may have.

So if anyone has any recommendations on such a tool or software
package, I would greatly appreciate any information.

Thanks!
Chad Smith

Add Computer Associates All Fusion ERwin to the list.

NO!!!!! Am finding erwin is crashing often, is not working well!!! Is
rubbish!!
--
--
Enor

[Brian Ceccarelli]

I also use Sybase PowerDesigner. I only use to translate schema from one
database to another. I don't use it to do differences, or to write
migration scripts. I write my own migration scripts.

Even for translating one database to another, you have to be smart about
picking your starting point. For instance, I write my overall physical
model using the Oracle physical model. I do that not because Oracle is a
good database. I do that because Oracle is the lowest common
denominator--the worst database. Oracle has the least amount of basic
design features and requires physical parameters that only Oracle needs
(because of Oracle's lack of doing things right in the first place.) When
I use PowerDesigner to translate the model to Sybase, MS SQL Server or
Postgres, it drops all the dross required by Oracle. If I started with
the Sybase model, there is no room for the dross required by Oracle.
PowerDesigner cannot add dross; but it can drop dross.

I also had to change PowerDesigner's XML datatype definition files for
Oracle--so that PowerDesigner will translate Oracle's number(10) to int,
number(5) to smallint, number(2) to tinyint.. Otherwise, you get
numeric(10), numeric(5), and number(2) You don't want numeric as a rule
because it is not the native IEEE integer datatype of the computer. IEEE
good. Oracle only supports the "number" datatype for numbers. "number" is
not IEEE. This is bad, a birth defect akin to a club foot. A big
performance hit. And in Oracle, there is no remedy for it. You have to
live with it.

Also remember, tools like PowerDesigner only translate table, index and view
definitions. They don't handle translating stored procedures. As far as
I know, nothing can do that. And I do not see how a product could possibly
do that.
Brian Ceccarelli
Talus Software
http://www.talussoftware.com

"Daniel Morgan" <da******@x.washington.edu> wrote in message
news:1084503930.7535@yasure...

Chad Smith wrote:

Hello,

I'm relatively new to the database world so please forgive me in
advance for my ignorance. I have recently been tasked at my job with
finding a tool that will perform the following tasks: 1) extract
schemas from a db, 2) produce a difference report between schemas from
two databases, and 3) synchronize two schemas. The purpose is for
product upgrades during which an existing database schema will need to
be synchronized with a baseline schema.

The tool must support the following database vendors (versions given
in parenthesis): Oracle (8i/9i), Sybase (12.x), Informix (9.x), MSS
2000, and IBM DB2 (7/8).