Documentation / SQL Server Compare / Getting Started

Getting Started — SQL Server Compare

Treat Source as the desired state and Target as the database you will update. Sync scripts always move target toward source — swap cards if you picked the wrong direction.

Getting Started

  1. Launch DBLenseCompare.exe (no installer required)
  2. Activate a license or start the free trial when prompted
  3. Connect a Source database (the desired state)
  4. Connect a Target database (the database to bring in line)
  5. Open Schema Compare, Data Compare, or Config Compare and run Compare

Setting Up Source & Target

Instances you add are saved on this PC and listed under Connections. Each row shows the display name, the server, and whether it is currently Source, Target, or both.

  1. Click ＋ Add Server (sidebar or File → Add Server…) if the instance is not listed yet. Test the connection, optionally set a display name, and save.
  2. On the Source card, open the connection dropdown and pick the saved instance. The closed dropdown shows that name (for example local), not an internal object name.
  3. Pick the source database from the database dropdown.
  4. Repeat on the Target card, or select the sidebar row and click Use as Source / Use as Target.
  5. Use the swap button between the cards if Source and Target are reversed. Click it again to swap back.

Edit or remove a saved instance from File → Manage Connections…. Removing it also clears that side if it was connected. File → Connect Source… and Connect Target… open the same dialog when you need a new instance. The button at the bottom of the sidebar collapses it to icons: Connections, Add Server, Use as Source, and Use as Target.

Supported authentication: Windows, SQL Server login, Azure Entra ID (password), and Azure Entra ID (MFA). Trust Server Certificate is available for lab and dev connections.

Source and target can be on different servers, different SQL Server versions, or a mix of on-premises and Azure SQL.