In this article, we will explore some advanced usages of data-tier applications in SQL Server. Data-tier applications are a powerful feature in Visual Studio that allow developers to build and deploy database applications for SQL Server and Azure SQL Database. We will specifically focus on two concepts: SQLCMD variables and Publish Profiles.

Using SQLCMD Variables

SQLCMD variables are used to define values at runtime in data-tier applications. These variables can be leveraged to define values that will be populated during the deployment process. This is particularly useful when building data warehouse applications that need to fetch data from multiple source databases. Instead of hardcoding the database names in the scripts, SQLCMD variables can be used to dynamically assign the names during deployment.

Let’s consider an example where we have two source databases, SourceDB1 and SourceDB2. We want to create a stored procedure in our data-tier application that can dynamically assign the name of the source database while deploying the database. Here’s an example of how the stored procedure can be created:

CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[usp_Move_Customers]
AS
DECLARE @SourceDB NVARCHAR(128) = '$(SourceDatabaseName)'
DECLARE @sqlStatement NVARCHAR(max)
SET @sqlStatement = N'INSERT INTO [dbo].[Customers] SELECT * FROM [' + @SourceDB + '].[dbo].[Customers]';
EXEC sp_executesql @sqlStatement;
RETURN 0;

In the above example, we are using the SQLCMD variable $(SourceDatabaseName) to dynamically assign the name of the source database. During deployment, the SQLCMD variable will be replaced with the actual value set in the properties of the data-tier application.

Using Publish Profiles

Publish Profiles are another useful feature in data-tier applications that allow for easy deployment to multiple environments. Instead of manually changing the target database connections every time, Publish Profiles can be used to save and store information related to various environments and variables.

To create a Publish Profile, simply click on “Create Profile” while deploying the project. This will generate an XML file that stores the necessary information for deploying the database application with the correct parameters.

Once the Publish Profile is created, you can simply double-click on it to deploy the database project with the specified values. This feature can be used to deploy to different server environments as well.

Conclusion:

Data-tier applications in SQL Server provide a powerful framework for developing and deploying database applications. In this article, we explored the advanced usages of SQLCMD variables and Publish Profiles. SQLCMD variables allow for dynamic assignment of values during deployment, while Publish Profiles simplify the deployment process to multiple environments. By leveraging these features, developers can build robust and flexible database applications in Visual Studio.