Standard Data Generator Types
Visual Studio Premium includes a variety of pre-defined standard data generators. You can use the standard data generators to generate random data for columns. For example, if you have an int column, you can use the Integer data generator to create random data for the column.
Every SQL data type has a default data generator that is associated with it. The default generator is automatically assigned to columns that have a particular SQL data type when you create a data generation plan. The default generator is also assigned when you add columns to the plan. For more information, see Default Generators for SQL Server Data Types.
You can control how data is generated to fill columns by adjusting the data generation plan. You can specify the data generator that is used for each column. You can also set the properties of each data generator in each column. For example, if you have a smalldatetime column that is named birthdate, the DateTime generator is assigned by default. You can set the Max property to enforce a business rule that no employee can be younger than 18. For more information, see Specify Details of Data Generation for a Column.
The Standard Data Generators
The following table describes the standard data generators and what kind of data they generate.
Generator |
Description |
|---|---|
Binary |
Generates random binary data. |
Bit |
Generates a random bit value (0 or 1). |
BigInt |
Generates a random integer value that corresponds to the SQL bigint type. |
DateTime |
Generates a random SQL DateTime value. |
DateTime2 |
Generates a random SQL DateTime2 value. |
DateTimeOffset |
Generates a random SQL DateTimeOffset value. |
Data Bound |
Generates a value that is selected from a pre-determined data source. The data is randomly selected from the data source after the returned dataset is cached. For more information about the Data Bound generator, see The Data Bound Generator. |
Decimal |
Generates a random decimal value. |
Float |
Generates a random floating point value that corresponds to the SQL float type. |
Foreign Key |
Generates a random foreign key. |
GUID |
Generates a GUID that acts as a unique identifier. |
Integer |
Generates a random integer value |
Image |
Generates a random image value. |
Money |
Generates a random money value. |
Real |
Generates a random floating point value that corresponds to the SQL real type. |
RegularExpression |
Generates a random Unicode string that matches a predefined regular expression. For more information about this generator, see The Regular Expression Generator. |
Sequential data bound |
Generates a value that is selected from a pre-determined data source. The data is selected, one row at a time, from the data source. The order in which values are returned is determined by the query statement. You can control the order by using an ORDER BY clause in the query. |
SmallInt |
Generates a random integer value that corresponds to the SQL smallint type. |
String |
Generates a random string value. The string is Unicode or non-Unicode, depending on the SQL data type of the column. |
TimeSpan |
Generates a random SQL TimeSpan value. |
TinyInt |
Generates a random integer value that corresponds to the SQL tinyint type. |
See Also
Concepts
Generating Test Data for Databases by Using Data Generators