Comparing Multiple Plans Using Bulk Compare - Visual Explain

Comparing Multiple Plans Using Bulk Compare

Use Teradata Visual Explain to identify the differences in the execution paths for a set of plans across Teradata Database releases, as well as compare multiple plans as a one‑batch operation. The bulk compare feature provides the facility to:

Compare a set of plans across Teradata Database releases

Perform multiple plan comparisons as a one‑batch operation

Restart a previously aborted bulk‑compare operation

Generate output reports

View the current bulk compare results

View the previous bulk compare results

Note: This feature is not available for XML plans captured into the QCD.

To compare multiple plans using the Bulk Compare feature

1 Click .

The Bulk compare dialog box appears.

2 Select the QCDs containing the plans to be compared by doing one or more of the following:

Specify a QCD name:

i Enter the name of a QCD in the QCD Name box.

i Enter the name of a QCD in the QCD Name box.

ii Click Add.

Choose from a list of available QCDs:

i Click List QCDs.

i Click List QCDs.

ii Select QCDs from the list.

iii Click Add.

Add QCDs from a different server:

i Click Connect To.

i Click Connect To.

ii Specify the new server name.

Remove selected QCDs from the Selected QCDs list:

i Highlight the QCD name.

i Highlight the QCD name.

ii Click Remove.

3 Click Next.

The Customize dialog box appears.

4 Select a range type used to select the queries for comparison:

Query ID

Query Tag

Capture Date

5 Under Selected QCD list, type a range in the Range fields.

Range Type	Range
Query ID	Enter the range of queries for each QCD. For example, enter 1-100 or 1,3,6-10.
Query Tag	Enter the name of the query tag. The % and _ characters can be used as wildcards, in any combination. The % character represents any string of zero or more arbitrary characters. For example, query% would match query, query1, query12, and so on. The _ character represents one arbitrary character; therefore, any single character is acceptable in the position in which the _ character appears.
Capture Date	Enter the date in yyyy/mm/dd format.

6 Click Load to display the queries for the specified ranges.

7 [Optional] To view statement text, get query server or source information, or remove any of the displayed queries:

a Right‑click on the specific query cell.

b Select the appropriate menu item.

8 [Optional] To reorder queries for comparison (remapping from the default one-to-one order):

a Highlight the a query.

b Click Up or Down to move the query within the query list.

Note: To drag and drop queries, click the top left corner with the left mouse button.

9 Double‑click on the top cell of the column containing the base OCD for the bulk compare.

The selected column becomes the left‑most column and is highlighted.

10 Click Next.

The Save As dialog box appears.

11 [Optional] To save the results of each plan comparison in separate files, select Save as multiple files.

12 [Optional] To remove the control file after viewing the Bulk Compare results, select the Delete control file check box.

During the Bulk Compare operation, a control file is created with a.bcf extension. This file is used to display the results in the View Report window.

13 Click Compare to start the bulk compare process.

A confirmation message appears indicating the Bulk Compare operation completed.

14 Click OK to close the confirmation message.

When the Bulk Compare operation is complete, the Bulk Compare report viewer opens.