[ -? ]

Returns the list of supported parameters.

-sourceserver source_server_name[\instance_name]

Is the name of the source server. Specify source_server_name for the default instance of SQL Server. Specify source_server_name\instance_name for a named instance of SQL Server.

-sourcedatabase source_database

Is the name of the source database.

-sourcetable source_table_name

Is the name of the source table being checked.

-sourceschema source_schema_name

The schema owner of the source table. By default, the table owner is assumed to be dbo.

-sourcepassword source_password

Is the password for the login used to connect to the source server using SQL Server Authentication.

Security Note:
When possible, supply security credentials at runtime. If you must store credentials in a script file, you should secure the file to prevent unauthorized access.

-sourceuser source_login

Is the login used to connect to the source server using SQL Server Authentication. If source_login is not supplied, then Windows Authentication is used when connecting to the source server. When possible, use Windows Authentication.

-sourcelocked

The source table is locked during the comparison using the TABLOCK and HOLDLOCK table hints.

-destinationserver destination_server_name[\instance_name]

Is the name of the destination server. Specify destination_server_name for the default instance of SQL Server. Specify destination_server_name\instance_name for a named instance of SQL Server.

-destinationdatabase subscription_database

Is the name of the destination database.

-destinationtable destination_table

Is the name of the destination table.

-destinationschema destination_schema_name

The schema owner of the destination table. By default, the table owner is assumed to be dbo.

-destinationpassword destination_password

Is the password for the login used to connect to the destination server using SQL Server Authentication.

Security Note:
When possible, supply security credentials at runtime. If you must store credentials in a script file, you should secure the file to prevent unauthorized access.

-destinationuser destination_login

Is the login used to connect to the destination server using SQL Server Authentication. If destination_login is not supplied, then Windows Authentication is used when connecting to the server. When possible, use Windows Authentication.

-destinationlocked

The destination table is locked during the comparison using the TABLOCK and HOLDLOCK table hints.

-b large_object_bytes

Is the number of bytes to compare for large object data type columns, which includes: text, ntext, image, varchar(max), nvarchar(max) and varbinary(max). large_object_bytes defaults to the size of the column. Any data above large_object_bytes will not be compared.

-bf number_of_statements

Is the number of Transact-SQL statements to write to the current Transact-SQL script file when the -f option is used. When the number of Transact-SQL statements exceeds number_of_statements, a new Transact-SQL script file is created.

-c

Compare column-level differences.

-dt

Drop the result table specified by table_name, if the table already exists.

-et table_name

Specifies the name of the result table to create. If this table already exists, -DT must be used or the operation will fail.

-f [ file_name ]

Generates a Transact-SQL script to bring the table at the destination server into convergence with the table at the source server. You can optionally specify a name and path for the generated Transact-SQL script file. If file_name is not specified, the Transact-SQL script file is generated in the directory where the utility runs.

-o output_file_name

Is the full name and path of the output file.

-q

Perform a fast comparison by only comparing row counts and schema.

-rc number_of_retries

Number of times that the utility retries a failed operation.

-ri retry_interval

Interval, in seconds, to wait between retries.

-strict

Source and destination schema are strictly compared.

-t connection_timeouts

Sets the connection timeout period, in seconds, for connections to the source server and destination server.

The tablediff utility cannot be used with non-SQL Server servers.

Tables with sql_variant data type columns are not supported.

By default, the tablediff utility supports the following data type mappings between source and destination columns.

Use the -strict option to disallow these mappings and perform a strict validation.

The source table in the comparison must contain at least one primary key, identity, or ROWGUID column. When you use the -strict option, the destination table must also have a primary key, identity, or ROWGUID column.

The Transact-SQL script generated to bring the destination table into convergence does not include the following data types:

• varchar(max)
  
• nvarchar(max)
  
• varbinary(max)
  
• timestamp
  
• xml
  
• text
  
• ntext
  
• image
  

To compare tables, you need SELECT ALL permissions on the table objects being compared.

To use the -et option, you must be a member of the db_owner fixed database role, or at least have CREATE TABLE permission in the subscription database and ALTER permission on the destination owner schema at the destination server.

To use the -dt option, you must be a member of the db_owner fixed database role, or at least have ALTER permission on the destination owner schema at the destination server.

To use the -o or -f options, you must have write permissions to the specified file directory location.

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