Randolph
The ability to maintain different versions of SQL Server database is crucial to the development cycle. Many solutions are offered for version management for source code – Microsoft SourceSafe and CVS, for example – while versioning SQL Server has usually been overlooked. Yet the database schemas are central to any database-oriented project. The various products on the market right now do not offer a full solution, and even the new SourceSafe 2005 and SQL Server 2005 offer only limited integration.

“In all database development projects I ever participated in – be it as a developer, team lead, or project manager – managing SQL Server versions was a problem” says Jonathan Sion, a manager at Nob Hill Software. “The various products on the market all had various problems: either they only capture part of the schema, or they require installation on each and every machine so that all database interaction will go only through the software, or they require consistent discipline on the part of the developers who are already overburdened with project deliverables, or they demand a complete change of work patterns and procedures. The net result is that many times an overall backup of the entire database is what we settle for when it comes to versioning. I felt that the time for this problem to be solved is long overdue”

Randolph offers a full solution. What may first seem as a very simple software to operate, actually has a lot under the hood. Its essence is shifting the responsibility of versioning from human beings into the software. The software itself does periodical scanning of the database schema and logs the changes an internal database, or straight into your SourceSafe. “We believe in this solution, because we developed it out of our own need - a need which every other database software development project has. We have been using it for over two years now, and it rescued many otherwise lost deadlines for us. Its not only the wide array of features, the ease of perusing database history or of being able to answer questions like ‘when did this entity changed, and how’ or execute things like ‘lets go back to the database as it was yesterday, at 4:00PM’. It’s the fact that it puts no demands on anyone! It does the job for us. It requires no change of procedures or work habits. We do everything as well always did, fully confident that at any point in time we can launch the software, or our SourceSafe, and all the history is there!’

More information is available at: http://www.nobhillsoft.com/randolph.aspx

Features Summary
· The software can be scheduled to run at any interval and scan any amount of SQL Server databases on any number of servers, and automatically detect when changes are made in the schema
· The software logs all changes, and provides a very intuitive interface to browse through the schema, just like SQL Server Enterprise manager does, with one important addition: you can now do it across time as well.
· A feature rich filter mechanism is available, to find entities in the database across time according to many different attributes.
· Code comparison of different entities, to help focus on specific changes
· Roll back and roll forward of your database to any point in time
· SourceSafe use is optional, and users can control what is actually being pushed into SourceSafe.
· The software is compatible with SQL Server 2000 and 2005, and SourceSafe 6.0 and 2005
Licensing and Pricing
Randolph is licensed on a per installation basis. Each installation can monitor an unlimited number of databases on any number of servers. Single license is available for the introductory price of 249$. Like all of Nob Hill Software’s products, Randolph is available free of charge for students.

Larger quantity discounts are available by contacting Nob Hill Software, Inc.

About Nob Hill Software
Nob Hill Software is a privately held company based in Midtown Manhattan, NY. Conceived in 1998 and incorporated in 2003, its goal is to be the number one provider of software tools for Microsoft SQL Server. Nob Hill Software’s developers have written articles and books, and speak frequently at conferences and user group meetings in the United States, Canada and Europe.