I have a lot of views and tables connected in Microsoft SQL Server. I want to check all the useless columns I have in the native tables. Is there a way to perform an automatic check if a column in a table is used or not in other tables?
Create a database diagram in SQL Server Management Studio. From here you can analyze how the tables/columns are related or not. Info here
Do a business model analysis and see which values are used, which are deprecated and start from there.
If you do any changes on the database, these changes have to be projected in any code connecting to that database.
Do not remove columns in tables just by looking at a database diagram. You would destroy any object-relational mapper.
Related
I have a SQL Server 2016 database with in-memory tables. I'd like to use the database diagram feature to create a graphic to match.
Running SSMS 18.3.1. When I start a new diagram, the in-memory tables are not shown in the drop down. Is there another way to get them on the diagram?
Note: In the official documentation these are called memory-optimized tables. See Introduction to Memory-Optimized Tables
You can't add OLTP object in Database Diagram, not in even in SQL Server 2019.
I thought there should be a way to modify [definition] column in [dbo].[sysdiagrams] but it is HexString of unknown file type. (I tried many formats but its obviously an internal Microsoft type)
Unfortunately, there is no reference to mention that is a not-supported feature. (I send a comment to this page )
OLTP is not supported for database diagram. You do not have access to in-memory tables in the diagram because the diagram does not recognize the essence of a in-memory tables as a table, in fact SQL Server generates a DLL for each created Memory-Optimized Table Type that includes the functions required
for accessing the indexes and retrieving data from the related Memory-Optimized Table Variable
If you run the SQL Profiler tool you'll see there is a column name IsMemoryOptimized in the table data result set that is returned for the memory-optimized table. I think since the Database Diagrams functionality is older (since mssql 2000) and not updated regularly it does not support viewing the newer memory-optimized tables.
more info here:
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/71aa7b6e-c281-4417-8149-2eb6f3830110/sql-server-2016-memory-optimized-tables-not-visible-in-database-diagrams?forum=sqlinmemory
I have exported a number of Microsoft Access database tables to a SQL Server 2012 using ODBC. Subsequently, I have linked to the data sources by creating linked tables.
Now here's the issue.
When I verify the tables in SQL Server itself, I notice only the database tables, columns and their respective datatypes are present. There are no key or indexes to be found. Still, in my Access database they were all defined. Also, I noticed that Access requests to choose a field(s) that uniquele identify each record to ensure data integrity and to update records. These then become the Primary Keys I understand, but why not use the PK that are already present?
What would be the easiest and most efficient way to also migrate the other field properties like indexes, keys, constraints? As otherwise, I would need to define all those manually and this would be very time-intensive.
Many thanks for your help!
As you have discovered, the keys and indexes and not copied over if you simply export an Access table to SQL Server using External Data > Export > More > ODBC Database:
However, the indexes, keys, and relationships are copied over to SQL Server if you use the "Upsizing Wizard", which is invoked via Database Tools > Move Data > SQL Server:
Note: The "Upsizing Wizard" was removed from Access 2013, so users of Access 2013 (and newer) will need to use the "SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access" instead. For more information look here.
I am attempting to keep a table in Sql server updated from an access table. Any time a change is made in the access table I would like that change reflected in the sql server table. The two tables can be identical. I have created an ODBC connection from access to sql server and can export the table to sql server; I just don’t know what must be done to keep that table updated. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Should this be implemented from within Access or within sql server?
Can you just add the SQL Server table to the Access database as a linked table? (Useful article on how to add linked tables)? That way users (let's hope there's not many!) of the Access database are in effect editing the SQL Server table directly.
If this isn't desirable then how about creating another table in the SQL Server database, and adding this to the Access database as a linked table. Then, add a trigger so that when an insert/update/delete is made to this table the same operation is done on your main table.
I think setting up a Linked Server in SQL Server could be easier to implement than an automatic export of data from Access.
According to the MSDN page,
Many types OLE DB data sources can be configured as linked servers, including Microsoft Access and Excel.
Server-on-SQL-2005-Server/
Access has no "event" that occurs when a row is updated/inserted/deleted that I know of. as JeffO points out data macros that could do what you want.
You could also periodically synch them. There are several techniques to periodically do the synch task (SQL Server Agent, Windows Service, Windows Scheduler, a timer in an application etc.), but still have to deal with all the problems that exist with synchronization if both tables can be modified, the worst being data conflict resolution. There is no easy solution for that.
Perhaps if you explained the problem you have that you are solving with synching data in SQL server and Access someone might be able to point you in the direction of a solution that doesn't have these problems.
Background
I have a production SQL Server 2005 server to which 4 different applications connect and make changes.
There are no foreign keys and in some cases no primary keys.
Unfortunately throwing the whole thing out and starting from scratch is not an option.
So my solution is to start migrating each of the applications to a service layer approach so that there is only one application directly connecting to the database.
However there are problems that need to be fixed before that service layer is written and all the applications are migrated over.
So rather than make changes and hope they don't break any one of the 4 badly written applications (with no way of quickly testing all functionality) my solution is to start auditing the database
Problem
How do I audit what stored procedures, tables, columns, views are being accessed/updated/called by each user on SQL Server 2005.
I can find out which tables are being updated but I have no idea which columns and by what users.
I also don't know if certain tables are being accessed only through stored procedures/views.
I know that SQL Server 2008 has better auditing features but if I could do this without spending money that would be great. That said if the best solution is to upgrade or buy software that's also an option.
Check out SQL Server 2008's CDC feature. You can't use this directly in 2005 but you can write a trigger for each table to log all data changes to a new audit table. i.e. you'd have an audit table for each table in your db, with all the same columns plus some additional columns saying what the operation was and when it occurred.
If the nature of your applications means you can get user information and/or application information from CURRENT_USER and APP_NAME() you could include that information in the audit table too.
And check out this answer for more goodness.
There is a table in my database containing 100 columns. I want to create a trigger to audit the modification for every update operation.
What I can think is to create the update clause for all columns but they are all similar scripts. So is there any elegant way to do that?
Check Change Data Capture
Update
CDC provides tracking of all details of changes. Available since SQL Server 2008.
(Change data capture is available only on the Enterprise, Developer, and Evaluation editions of SQL Server.
Source: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb522489.aspx)
More lightweight solution is Change Tracking (Sync Framework), the one code4life mentioned before, available since SQL Server 2005.
Update2:
Related questions (with a lot of sublinks):
History tables pros, cons and gotchas - using triggers, sproc or at application level
History tables pros, cons and gotchas - using triggers, sproc or at application level
Suggestions for implementing audit tables in SQL Server?
Suggestions for implementing audit tables in SQL Server?
Are soft deletes a good idea?
Are soft deletes a good idea?
How do I version my MS SQL database in SVN?
Versioning SQL Server database
Thomas LaRock. SQL Server Audit: Magic without a Wizard
http://www.simple-talk.com/sql/database-administration/sql-server-audit-magic-without-a-wizard/
There's this resource on MSDN which you might find helpful:
Tracking Changes in the Server Database (including SQL Server 2008)
I'm not sure if you're using SQL Server 2008 though.
Code generation?
Have you looked at the techniques which http://autoaudit.codeplex.com/ uses?
Theoretically, you can use 1 trigger and check COLUMNS_UPDATED() to know which columns has changed.
(not be tested)
See more here