What actions generate the schema snapshot required for drift and deploy preview reports?

PeterDaniels

I want to get clear on what activities ensure that I get drift and deploy preview reports.  I'm currently executing New-DataBaseReleaseArtifact via PS script and get the following WARNING:
"No schema snapshot could be retrieved from the target d
atabase; no report will be generated until your next deployment."   Yet, I have deployed to this DB, although only through executing the TargetedDeploymentScript.sql via SSMS.  Are there certain conditions for creating the snapshot?  Thank you. -Peter

Sergio R

The dbo.__SchemaSnapshot table is only created if you release using the package.

Since you have now started deployed using the package, you should now have this table in the target and this should work next time.

PeterDaniels

Sergio answered the question, but for additional documentation, the schema snapshot will NOT get created when deploying using SSMS (ie TargetedDeploymentScript.sql).

PeterDaniels

It's also not generated when deploying using MSBuild within the IDE.