Blog Post

Redgate SQL Data Masker Refreshing Schema

,

This is a quick blog to help me remember what is going on with the Data Masker product. This is for the SQL Server version, but I believe the Oracle one is very similar.

I added a new column to a table, and I had a masking plan already built. How do I get my masking plan to show the new column?

Here is my masking plan:

2020-10-27 10_56_12-simpletalk_5_prod_ Data Masker for SQL Server

I added a new column to the DCCheck table, which is under rule 01-0026.

2020-10-27 11_00_47-SQL Change Automation - Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio

If I open that mask and add a new column, I get this, but I can’t expand the dropdown. All the columns in this table are masked, and data masker doesn’t know about the new one.

2020-10-27 10_57_23-Edit Substitution Rule

I need an updated schema, as the rules do not update in real time. To get this to work, I need to return to the masking plan and double click the controller at the top. This is the schema manager for my set of rules.

Note: If I mask different schemas, I need different controllers.

Once this opens, I can see my connection to a database. In my case, I’m building this in dev areas, so it’s pointed to the QA environment.

2020-10-27 10_57_50-Edit Rule Controller

If I click the “Tools” tab at the top, I see lots of options, one of which is to refresh.

2020-10-27 10_57_57-Edit Rule Controller

Once I pick that one, I have a bunch of more options, which gets confusing, but I can click the “refresh all tables” at the top, leaving everything alone. Once that’s done, I get a note.

2020-10-27 10_58_12-

Once I get this, I can return to my rule, and when I add a new column, and I see it listed.

2020-10-27 10_58_29-Edit Substitution Rule

This isn’t the smoothest flow, but data masker isn’t something that is likely to be in constant use. For many of us, adding new schema items is relatively rare, so we can adjust our plans as needed.

The one good thing is that I can easily find where I need to add a column, as opposed to digging through a number of .SQL scripts.

Original post (opens in new tab)
View comments in original post (opens in new tab)

Rate

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

Share

Share

Rate

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating