Phil Factor shows how a set of Redgate tools can be used together via PowerShell to build a database from object-level source, stock it with data, document it, and then provision any number of test and development servers. Before tearing down and rebuilding a database to a new version, we take care to save any DDL changes made to the existing copy.
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In order to deliver database changes more quickly, there are several tasks that must be automated. It can be a daunting job to ensure that the whole team has the latest database build when there is a proliferation of copies and the database is big. This article provides a PowerShell automation script that creates and refreshes the various databases on one or more servers that are required for test and development work. It uses Redgate's SQL Clone (a component of SQL Provision), SQL Compare and a few other optional tools from the SQL Toolbelt.