Bet Way to Patch SQL database

[kerinbanner]

Hello All

I am a IR True Update3 user and this question is not wholly about True Update but looking for some general advice that an experienced setup guy would know. I have an app using Sql server express/VB.net, installation & patches using Installshield 2007 and True Update 3 to inform of any updates. As yet I have not designed any patches for my system and I was wondering firstly what basic way I should deal with updating a database scheme during an update of my software whilst retaining any data already input. Is there an industry standard way of doing this or a clever way or should I buy some third party software that applies database changes to an existing schema and build that in to my Ishield patch?

I am reletively inexperienced in the whole setup design and use a contractor but have never managed to get a coherrent answer that i understand with regard to schema changes and Installshield patches.

Any help would be extremely welcome.


Thanks

[jassing]

Hello All

I am a IR True Update3 user and this question is not wholly about True Update but looking for some general advice that an experienced setup guy would know. I have an app using Sql server express/VB.net, installation & patches using Installshield 2007 and True Update 3 to inform of any updates. As yet I have not designed any patches for my system and I was wondering firstly what basic way I should deal with updating a database scheme during an update of my software whilst retaining any data already input. Is there an industry standard way of doing this or a clever way or should I buy some third party software that applies database changes to an existing schema and build that in to my Ishield patch?

I am reletively inexperienced in the whole setup design and use a contractor but have never managed to get a coherrent answer that i understand with regard to schema changes and Installshield patches.

Any help would be extremely welcome.


Thanks


Databases (or data/documents of any type) do not lend themsevles to patching at all -- unless they are static & never change.

You should write sql scripts to make your schema changes and execute them with osql or other tool.