SQL Master is a stand-alone database management tool with two roles in life:

1. for the code developer it provides an advanced way to verify that your code produces the correct database objects or can be used to test and create new database objects before committing them to code in the application,
2. for an end user it is a suitable mechanism to review and manage their databases in a completely GUI environment. There is no need to know and understand SQL but it has the extended capabilities available with scripting should the end user possess the skills.

The unique nature of SQL Master is that it combines traditional database management tools with query tools but it allows the simultaneous connection to MS SQL Server, MSDE, Sybase ASA and ASE, Oracle and DB2. Such an option opens a new dimension for data transformation or conversion from one DBMS to another.

Its features include:

1. Full graphical layout of all database objects, system and user created, in the one tool.
2. A script pane that colourises syntax not only to keywords but also to table names in the current default data source. Keyword colourising is sensitive to the connected RDBMS.
3. A simplified GUI interface for design features: table design, constraints, stored procedures, views, indexes, columns and connection options. These are not cluttered with the obscure options found in advanced services but present the most commonly used features in an easy-to-use format.
4. Create scripts for all objects to assist with developing your own code.
5. You can open multiple connections against different DBMS manufacturers and even copy or move database objects between them. This is ideal for data conversion or relocation. (NB. This feature is limited to the target DBMS supporting the objects to be moved.). Data objects can be persisted out as XML and read back in.
6. You can open multiple copies of the same data source so that you can test such things as differing security or connection profiles.
7. Recordset displays are colourised to render a visual representation of key and identity columns. This is very useful when reviewing the operation of foreign keys or debugging why data won’t allow certain keys to apply or bind. Further, auto-update options exist for all returned recordsets so that you can watch live shared data sources update in real time.
8. You can write, test and store SP’s and review the source code to all system SP’s. The special SP execution window allows you to plug in different input values for testing, as well as displaying recordset and scalar results. This feature also works with system and extended stored procedures.
9. There is a primary and foreign key tester which attempt to apply your key specification over a table of data. It returns the rows that cause the key to fail. This is very useful for managing legacy data that needs to be loaded into your DBMS or for simply building new keys over old data.

The product is written in CA’s Visual Objects and a source code version of this tool is available complete with extensive code samples using our SQL Class libraries. Almost all aspects of connection management through to table management are covered and well commented. The code also contains examples of how to use the different cursor types and the advanced OpenSchema features of ADO .