Jeff...the link that Bill provided should point you in the right direction.

This is the update that you need: http://forum.strataframe.net/Topic15687-22-2.aspx.  Two issues of the DDT were addressed in separate posts on that thread...the first regarding the importing of tables and the second regarding the indexes.  The last, 8/12 entry at 10:51am (EST?) is the one that you want.

I am one of the most fallible developers on the planet.  So, with any error I encounter I make the basic assumption that it is my fault.  I always start there.  When I cannot figure it out, I then ask for help from the outside world to tell me where I am wrong, or what is the better way to do something.  Twice I attempted to use the DDT in a brand new project.  This is the first project in which I am using the DDT to do what it is designed to do: "a meta-data tool that is used to create, maintain, and deploy SQL Server schemas and data".  After each attempt I encountered a problem but I did not ask for help until I spent several hours reading, searching forums, testing and retesting my procedures.  Both times I was told that it was a problem that had to be resolved with an update to the DDT.  No big deal--however, I was unable to go forward with my development as I had desired to do it...a "show-stopper", so to speak.  I am not making a complaint here, at all.  I am trying to make sure that I am using this tool for what it was designed to do.  If not, I am hoping you, or someone else, will tell me.

Thanks!
Bill

Hi Trent,

I have downloaded and installed the build that the the link from the 8/7 post in this thread pointed to.  This post indicates there will be another one.  Do I need to download this build you are referring to?

Thanks,

Jeff

Bill,

Your last statement bothers me a bit.  You said that you keep running into "show-stoppers."  I am not sure how much you know about us as a company, but we actually have a very large medical application that we distribute nation wide.  We have a VERY complex database and distribution environment, and the DDT is the heart and soul of this.  Aside from our experiences as well, we have SF users that have extremely large and complex applications that are deployed with SF and the DDT....so this is one area that I will say that I already know that the DDT is a solid and proven environment.  Now as I have already mentioned, the import did break...my fault...sorry.  But the DatabaseMigrator (the class within the framework that deploys a package) is solid, tested, and proven.  Not that there are not things that have crept up and I would neve go as so far as to say that there may not be a bug under certain conditions.  But my faith is in the DDT as I know for a fact that when used properly...it works like a champ!

Ok.  I will try again after the next update.

As I pointed out, primary keys were being dropped.  Expect the unexpected, eh?

Certainly.  If there are gotchas or heads ups that I need to know about, then please let us know.  I have made basic assumptions about how the DDT works and each step has been met with show-stoppers.  I know that I can reproduce all of these tables on my own and handle any changes via sql scripts...and, I have no problem doing that.  It just seems like a nice thing to be able to import a DB schema into a tool so that I can manipulate it, then deploy the changes back to the original server.  If my understanding of what this tool does is wrong, then please correct me.  I can take it.

Thanks,
Bill

A couple of things here.

First, the index thing was just a bug that was intrduced the same time as the tables when schemas were added as part of the criteria.  So this was a very simple and easy fix and we checked to see if this would crop up anywhere else and so at this point things should be fine.  A build is being created as we speak and will be posted in the next hour or so.

Now, a couple of things in regards to your expectations.  The database import is intended to bring your structures, relationships, indexes, etc. in and then allow you to massage them and go from there.  When you first post, you MAY actually see some tables be modifed that you are not expecting which is not an issue in many cases as extended properties are being applied, foreign keys updated, etc.  In this case it was an issue since the indexes were missing.

Finally, the last thing that you should do is deploy to a production server the first time you are testing your meta-data.  Obviously do a backup of your database, then copy it over, and test it on a NON-PRODUCTION database until you can massage and deploy as you are expecting. 

Finally, the import tool in not intended to be a 100% catch-all.  It gets you a long ways down the road and in many cases is 100% depending on the database.  But like anything else...be sure to test on a non-production environment until you are getting the results that you are expecting.

I still must not be doing something right. 

I downloaded the most recent update (8/1) and ran the import this evening.  Sorry it took so long to get back to this.  All of the tables were brought into the DDT.  Great.  Then, I proceeded to change a few things (add a table, alter tables, add fields, delete fields...you know, the typical stuff).  When I finished with my changes (not too many), I decided it was time to deploy those changes to the server.  I created the deployment package and began the deployment.  I was met instantly with the first table being prepared for modification...I never touched the first table.  It then proceeded to tell me that the primary key index was dropped and that the table was successfully altered.  Ugh!!  It then did the same thing to the next two tables before I stopped the carnage.  It looked like it was going to hit every table in the database.

After a quick review and comparison I discovered that no indexes were imported.  Not even the primary key indexes registered in the DDT.

First, why didn't any indexes get imported?  Second, why did any unchanged table in the DDT get altered in the database at all?

Thanks,
Bill

I posted it 30 minutes after my previous post here ...you can download it from here: http://forum.strataframe.net/FindPost18263.aspx

Hi Trent,

What is the status on the DDT patch? 

Thanks,

Jeff