Generating Data with Data Generators

You can use Visual Studio Team System Database Edition to generate meaningful data for testing. You can generate random data, generate data from existing data sources, and control many aspects of data generation. For example, you can specify the statistical distribution of randomly generated data, you can use regular expressions to specify the format of string data, and you can specify the percentage of NULL data generated. You can generate data that accurately models a production database without putting any production data at risk. When you generate data in this manner, you can test applications that access data without compromising production databases. The topics in this section provide guidance about how to use the data generation functionality.

Note

Instead of generating data, you can also copy some or all the data from a source database into a target database. For more information, see Overview of Comparing Database Data.

In This Section

• Overview of Generating Data
  Describes the uses and capabilities of the data generation functionality.

• Security of Data Generators
  Describes important security concerns that you must consider before you use data generators.

• Data Generation Plans
  Contains links to topics that describe how to create data generation plans, and run them to generate data.

• Using Standard Data Generators
  Contains links to topics that describe how to use the standard data generators, such as the integer, string, and regular expression generators.

• Creating Custom Data Generators
  Contains links to topics that describe how to use extensibility to create, register, and deploy custom data generators.

• Data Generator Walkthroughs
  Contains links to topics that show you the different data generation processes step-by-step.

Reference

Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamSystem.Data.DataGenerator

Related Sections

• Creating and Updating Version-Controlled Database Schemas
  Describes how you can use database projects in combination with version control software to manage database change. This section includes overviews of how you can use database projects in a team environment, how database developers can set up isolated development environments in which to work, and how you can define, build, and deploy database objects.

• Database Edition
  Provides links to topics about advanced database development tools, which include change management, data generation, refactoring, and testing tools that help teams to build reliable database applications.

• Getting Started with Database Edition
  Provides overviews, introductory walkthroughs, glossary definitions, and other basic information to help you start to learn about Team Edition for Database Professionals.

• Terminology Overview of Database Edition
  Describes terminology that is associated with the features of Database Edition.