Creating and Using a ‘TableDifferencesScript’ to determine Added Rows and Changed Fields during Database Operations (eg. Making a Payment or Adding/Changing an Order)”

Part 1: Backing Up and Restoring the SQLDB Database to an ‘SQLDB_B4’ Database (which will be used for Comparing Changes)

1.  Backup the current SQLDB Database to file (eg SQLDB_20231023.bak)

        a.   Right-click the current SQLDB database, Click 'Tasks,' and Click 'Back Up.'

        b.   In the 'Destination' options, Click 'Add,' then append to the 'File name' field a

              suitable Back-Up file name (eg SQLDB_20231023.bak)<></>

        c.   Click 'OK' to Execute the Backup.

2.    Source Options

       a.   In the 'Source' options, Right-Click on 'Databases' and choose 'Restore     

             Database'.

       b.   Click 'Device,' Click the '...' Box, Click 'Add,' Choose the previously created

             Database Backup File (e.g. SQLDB_20231023.bak), Click 'OK,'.

3.    Destination Options

       a.   In the 'Destination' options, Change the Database name from the current SQLDB

             Database to 'SQLDB_B4'

4.     Select a Page Options

       a.   In the ‘Select a Page’ options (upper left of the Restore Backup form), Select the

            'Files' page

       b.  On the 'SQLDB_Data' row, click the 'Restore As' column and insert '_B4' into the

            'MDF' filename (eg ....  SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\SQLDB_B4. MDF)

      c.   On the 'SQLDB_Log' row, click the 'Restore As' column and insert '_B4' into the

           'LDF' filename  (eg ....  SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATASQLDB_B4_ Log.LDF)

5.  Click 'OK' to Execute the Restore.

Part 2:  Using the “SQL_GenTableDifferencesScript” script to Create a “TableDifferencesScript” and then using the resulting Script to generate a final result (showing the original and changed lines in succession)

1.  Executing the “SQL_ GenTableDifferencesScript” script

       a.  Right Click the current SQLDB Database in SQL Server Management Studio and

            Execute the 'SQL_ GenTableDifferencesScript.sql' script.

2.  Using the resulting “TableDifferencesScript” to determine the Tables, Rows and

     Columns that have been changed

       a.  Copy the Resulting "SQL TableDifferencesScript" from above to a 'New Query.'

            Window and 'Execute' it.

3.  Modify the TableDifferencesScript using the resulting rows of its initial result to

     produce “Before and After” differences

       a.   Using the initial result of the TableDifferencesScript, Update the Commented

             Line's 'IN ( -1 )' statement by replacing '-1' with the resulting row’s Primary Key

             value (which is usually the 'SeqNum' value)

       b.   Uncomment the Commented Line

       c.   Re-Execute the TableDifferencesScript to achieve a “Before and After” view of

             the Table/Row/Column Adds and Changes