In a VS environment, I've always used database projects to implement the update scripts. I tend to use unimaginative names like "DatabaseUpdate17.sql" or "PriceUpdateFebruary2010.sql" for my scripts. Having them as database projects lets me tie them to Team Server tasks, bugs (and if we did code reviews, to them as well). I also include in each database (that I have authority over) a table specifically for the collection of changes to the schema.
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[AuditDDL](
[EventID] [int] IDENTITY(1,1) PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
[EventData] [xml] NULL, -- what did they do
[EventUser] varchar(100) NOT NULL, -- who did it
[EventTime] [datetime] DEFAULT (getdate()) -- when did they do it
)
GO
Well, that takes care of 3 of the 6 Ws.
CREATE TRIGGER [trgAuditDDL]
ON DATABASE
FOR DDL_DATABASE_LEVEL_EVENTS
AS
INSERT INTO AuditDDL(EventData, EventUser)
SELECT EVENTDATA(), original_login()
GO
I include an insert statement to log the beginning of a patch as well as the end of a patch. Events happening outside of patches are things to look into.
For example, a "begin patch" insert for "patch 17" would look like:
INSERT INTO [dbo].[AuditDDL]
([EventData]
,[EventUser])
VALUES
('<EVENT_INSTANCE><EventType>BEGIN PATCH 17</EventType></EVENT_INSTANCE>'
,ORIGINAL_LOGIN())
GO
Since it also catches when indices are rebuilt, you'll need to run the following every month or so to clear out those events:
DELETE FROM AuditDDL
WHERE [EventData].exist('/EVENT_INSTANCE/EventType/text()[fn:contains(.,"ALTER_INDEX")]') =1
GO
DELETE FROM AuditDDL
WHERE [EventData].exist('/EVENT_INSTANCE/EventType/text()[fn:contains(.,"UPDATE_STATISTICS")]') =1
GO
Earlier version previously posted on Server Fault.
In a SOX and PCI-DSS compliant environment, you will never have access to the production servers. Therefore the scripts need to be clear and exercised beforehand. The comments at the top of the update scripts include lists of new tables, stored procs, functions, etc as well as lists of modified tables, stored procs, functions, etc. If data gets modified, explain what is being modified and why.
A secondary problem is that you sometimes end up needing to manually coordinate changes if two separate tasks change the same database object. This may just be the way it is but it still seems like there should be some automated way of "flagging" these issues or something.
I've never come across a tool that lets us track this automatically. Previous employers used a principle of "database owner" - one and only one person who is personally in charge of the database. This person won't be the only developer working against that database, but rather all changes have to go through them. This has worked reasonably well to keep changes from colliding and damaging each other.
Best Answer
We also use source control for managing schema changes. When it comes to deployment of new versions, I find it irreplaceable. It saves a lot of time and saves oneself from headaches
Red Gate is a good choice, though we went for ApexSQL Diff and ApexSQL Version
But none of these can track actual data changes. And data changes are not stored in source control
The tool that we use for monitoring data changes is ApexSQL Log, so we can see what data changed (records added, deleted or modified), who made a change and when. It also shows the schema changes - a table modified, a store procedure dropped, etc. Its main request is a database in Full recovery model, which requires regular backups and hard disk space - but on the other hand, you'll be ready if it comes to a disaster recovery ;)