Convertor and Sync & Convert Wizard Comparison - IV
Hello,
Today we are going to publish the last part of the series comparing the Convertor dialog and new Sync & Convert Wizard. We will write about the alter script generation and model compare + alter report generation, and also mention the Model Update feature.
Generation of Alter Scripts
Generation of alter scripts belongs among the most valuable features for you, Toad Data Modeler users. Our aim was to make it more user-friendly and stable. What improvements can you find?
Look at the two following screenshots. The first one shows the old Convertor dialog, the second one the new Sync & Convert Wizard.
Try to reply to the following questions:
We are sure you can answer the questions with the new Sync & Convert Wizard much more easily.
And another question…
This was a little breakneck thing in the Convertor, wasn’t it… Now it is much clearer in the new wizard.
Flash movie on alter script generation in the new Sync & Convert Wizard is available at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=3029&categoryID=158
Compare Models and Generate Alter Report
In Convertor it was possible to generate HTML alter report directly. It is the same now. However, in the new Sync & Convert Wizard you can have a clearer overview of the differences. Moreover, for physical models, Toad Data Modeler 3.4 allows you to generate alter reports in the following formats: HTML,RTF and PDF.
Well, these have been all the actions you can perform in the new Sync & Convert Wizard.
There is another feature available in Toad Data Modeler (not in the new wizard) – model update.
Model Update
Model Update (accessible via Model | Model Update) is a feature that allows you to synchronize your existing model with the database. It allows you to connect to a physically existing database and compare your model with the database. During Model Update, after connecting to the database, NO model is loaded and so you are not able to make any modifications before you compare the models. So, use the Model Update feature when you want to update the existing model directly.
Another situation is the following: Let’s say that you want to update your existing model, but you prefer to connect to the database, load the model and make some changes (e.g. remove schema) prior to the comparison.
In this case, firstly you should do reverse engineering – a new model is loaded to Toad Data Modeler. Secondly, do the model merge in the Sync & Convert Wizard.
Convertor versus Sync & Convert Wizard - SUMMARY
The new Sync & Convert Wizard is now more user-friendly, stable, clearer, faster and easier to use and understand.
Unfortunately, the simplification of the GUI has brought some limitations.
1. If you want to perform two actions, e.g. update a model and also generate alter script, you have to use the wizard twice.
2. If you want to compare two models of a different database platform, you have to do model conversion first and then you can compare the two models, now of the same database platform.
3. If you want to compare a logical model with physical model, you have to convert the model to physical (or logical) and then compare two logical or two physical models.
In any case, we prefer a stable and clear wizard with less functions to unstable and complicated Convertor with many functions.
We do hope the new Sync & Convert Wizard helps you to make things faster and easier. Of course, any questions, suggestions and ideas are welcome. Please feel free to write us via our Modeling community forum at http://modeling.inside.quest.com/forumindex.jspa?categoryID=64.
Additional information:
PDF doc on the new Sync & Convert Wizard:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=3039&categoryID=159
Flash movies:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/kbcategory.jspa?categoryID=158
Have a nice day!
Regards,
Vladka + Vaclav