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Introduction

Database administrators need to compare database structures. Using WinMerge on SQL database structure files, it is difficult to compare because a lot of differences appear, whereas only a few of them are meaningful. DBReport shows only (and all) significant information that makes sense for daily administrator work.

Features

Tables, fields and table relations (links) are displayed
Field types and (if available) default values are displayed
Table and field description are displayed, if available
Index and links are sorted and displayed (nobody needs to care about index order)
Update and delete rules for relationships are displayed, if they are different from the default RESTRICT mode

Example With the Classical Northwind Database

Database report
---------------
 
Login    : root
Server   : localhost
Database : northwind
Indexes  : Sorted
 
categories
  CategoryID (tinyint(5) unsigned) (autonumber)
  CategoryName (varchar(15))
  Description (mediumtext)
  Picture (varchar(50))
    Index   : CategoryID, Primary, Unique
    Index   : CategoryName, Unique
 
customers
  CustomerID (varchar(5))
  CompanyName (varchar(40))
  ContactName (varchar(30)) (Unknown)
  ContactTitle (varchar(30))
  Address (varchar(60))
  City (varchar(15))
  Region (varchar(15))
  PostalCode (varchar(10))
  Country (varchar(15))
  Phone (varchar(24))
  Fax (varchar(24))
    Index   : City
    Index   : CompanyName
    Index   : PostalCode
    Index   : Region
    Index   : CustomerID, Primary, Unique
 
employees
  EmployeeID (int(10) unsigned) (autonumber)
  LastName (varchar(20))
  FirstName (varchar(10))
  Title (varchar(30))
  TitleOfCourtesy (varchar(25))
  BirthDate (datetime)
  HireDate (datetime)
  Address (varchar(60))
  City (varchar(15))
  Region (varchar(15))
  PostalCode (varchar(10))
  Country (varchar(15))
  HomePhone (varchar(24))
  Extension (varchar(4))
  Photo (varchar(50))
  Notes (mediumtext)
  ReportsTo (int(10) unsigned)
    Index   : LastName
    Index   : PostalCode
    Index   : ReportsTo
    Index   : EmployeeID, Primary, Unique
 
orders
  OrderID (int(10) unsigned) (autonumber)
  CustomerID (varchar(5))
  EmployeeID (int(10) unsigned)
  OrderDate (datetime)
  RequiredDate (datetime)
  ShippedDate (datetime)
  ShipVia (int(10) unsigned)
  Freight (double) (0)
  ShipName (varchar(40))
  ShipAddress (varchar(60))
  ShipCity (varchar(15))
  ShipRegion (varchar(15))
  ShipPostalCode (varchar(10))
  ShipCountry (varchar(15))
    Index   : CustomerID
    Index   : EmployeeID
    Index   : ShipVia
    Index   : ShipPostalCode
    Index   : ShippedDate
    Index   : OrderID, Primary, Unique
 
order_details
  ID (int(10) unsigned) (autonumber)
  OrderID (int(10) unsigned)
  ProductID (int(10) unsigned)
  UnitPrice (double unsigned) (0)
  Quantity (smallint(5) unsigned) (1)
  Discount (float unsigned) (0)
    Index   : ProductID
    Index   : ID, Primary, Unique
    Index   : Uidx_OrderID_ProductID, Unique, 2 fields :
      field : OrderID
      field : ProductID
 
products
  ProductID (int(10) unsigned) (autonumber)
  ProductName (varchar(40))
  SupplierID (int(10) unsigned)
  CategoryID (tinyint(5) unsigned)
  QuantityPerUnit (varchar(20))
  UnitPrice (double) (0)
  UnitsInStock (smallint(5) unsigned) (0)
  UnitsOnOrder (smallint(5) unsigned) (0)
  ReorderLevel (smallint(5) unsigned) (0)
  Discontinued (enum('y','n')) (n)
    Index   : CategoryID
    Index   : SupplierID
    Index   : ProductName
    Index   : ProductID, Primary, Unique
 
shippers
  ShipperID (int(10) unsigned) (autonumber)
  CompanyName (varchar(40))
  Phone (varchar(24))
    Index   : ShipperID, Primary, Unique
 
suppliers
  SupplierID (int(10) unsigned) (autonumber)
  CompanyName (varchar(40))
  ContactName (varchar(30))
  ContactTitle (varchar(30))
  Address (varchar(60))
  City (varchar(15))
  Region (varchar(15))
  PostalCode (varchar(10))
  Country (varchar(15))
  Phone (varchar(24))
  Fax (varchar(24))
  HomePage (varchar(255))
    Index   : PostalCode
    Index   : CompanyName
    Index   : SupplierID, Primary, Unique 
 
Links
 
categories
 
customers
 
employees
  employees : ReportsTo
 
orders
  customers : CustomerID
  employees : EmployeeID
  shippers : ShipVia
 
order_details
  orders : OrderID
  products : ProductID
 
products
  categories : CategoryID
  suppliers : SupplierID
 
shippers
 
suppliers

Explanation

Not Nullable Foreign Key

This information reminds that this field needs to be filled, otherwise, an error will be thrown.

Not Nullable Without Default Value

This information reminds that this field needs to be filled, otherwise an error may or may not be thrown, according to the database server setting. For example, see the MySql strict mode. If you provide a default value for all fields in this case, you will avoid this trap, and you won't have this warning anymore. Otherwise, it is safe to set the same strict mode setting for your development environment as your production environment.

Nullable Field for a Unique Index

MySQL (5.6) can't guarantee uniqueness (unicity) if one field of a unique key is nullable, you can have duplicates records in the table. Consider using a conventional mnemonic code instead, for example '_ALL' for 'all the items' of this field, and set it to not nullable.

Projects

ListBox or ComboBox to recall a list of databases recently used, instead of only the last one.

History

Version 1.02 - 24/01/2016

DB report change : 'an unique index' -> 'a unique index'
MouseOver control messages : disabled
Reset settings button
Cancel button
Check boxes for options
Option to display or hide the description of tables and fields

Version 1.01 - 03/01/2016: First version

Links

See also:

(French) DBComp2: le comparateur de structure de base de données Access (translate)
Source code : DBComp.vbp.html

DBReport: DataBase Reporting Tool for DataBase Administrator