Thank you for writing this article Dinesh, and especially drawing attention to the role of data generation in database unit tests. Even when real data is available, to keep customer data secure it is still sometimes a good idea to use generated data.

If you do not have a copy of Data Dude there are also some third-party options available. Red Gate Software (full disclosure: I work for Red Gate) has a tool called SQL Data Generator which is currently in public beta. You can download a copy of it from here, and there is also a guide to using it available. Other tools worth taking a look at include EMS Data Generator and DTM Data Generator.

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Theo Spears
Red Gate Software
 

Hi Theo,

Thanks for the comment. I have used some of the red-gate tools and I must say that you guys are doing a great job. I will definitely download the SQL Data Generator and see.

Just to inform you, we do sessions/presentations related to red-gate tools every other month in SQL Server Sri Lanka User Group meeting. I will definitely show this tool too.

Thanks again for the comment and info.

I am using the Data Generation tool which is still in it's beta. Like other tools from Red-gate, this tool is a nice tool

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Blog: http://dineshasanka.spaces.live.com