Compare two .mdb files for equality using C#

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

Hi,

I'm refactoring a VB6 based application that compared if two Micorosft Access (.mdb) files were the same into C#. In the old vb6 code, a hex key was developed after reading each file and I believe the comparison between the hex keys. The vb code would iterate through each database using ADO and members such as RecordSet.

I've tried looking for examples of using ADO.net with C# with no success. Also if a new hex value must be used, the alogorithm for generating it must be FIPS 140-2 compliant. This application will not be reading the databases through the internet so I think SHA-1...256 would do or MD5. I've been told the Entity framework was a good possibility but I have not seen good coding examples to confirm if this is a good idea.

Does anyone have any suggestions with coding examples for how to iterate thru a .mdb file using C# plus developing a hex code once the iteration is done. Or is there a better solution using something else. Keep in mind that third party applications are not an option for me due to requirements that I've been given. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Posted 3-Apr-15 20:56pm

Member 11579826

Add a Solution

Comments

George Jonsson 4-Apr-15 3:40am

The easiest would probably be to read the whole file into a byte array and then calculate a hash value using either SHA or MD5.
Might take some time if the files are in sizes over 10 GB.

Mehdi Gholam 4-Apr-15 3:58am

Compare how?

The easiest is to check the file sizes.

Member 11579826 6-Apr-15 11:44am

I can't do a comparison based off the file sizes. The comparison must be based off the contents in each database.

2 solutions

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Richard MacCutchan · Answer 1 · 2015-04-03T22:06:00

Solution 1

Lots of ADO.NET samples to be found: https://www.google.com/search?q=ADO.net+with+C%23[^].

Posted 3-Apr-15 22:06pm

Richard MacCutchan

Maciej Los · Answer 2 · 2015-04-04T10:08:00

Solution 2

I'd suggest to read this: Basic tasks in Database Compare[^] and this: How to: Compare Database Schemas[^]

Posted 4-Apr-15 10:08am

Maciej Los

Comments

Member 11579826 6-Apr-15 11:41am

When I build a desktop application based off the your suggestions, will the applications remember the schemas that were set?