Introduction:
In this article I have listed few methods to know about the list of database, tables, views,etc.., It will be very use ful when we trace the database objects in the query window. Even though it can be accessible in the sql server object explorer, but when we write the query it can be customized.That means it can be filter the result set based on our requirement.
How to list out the available database in the sql sever current connection?
Method 1 : SP_DATABASES
Method 2 : SELECT name FROM SYS.DATABASES
Method 3 : SELECT name FROM SYS.MASTER_FILES
Method 4 : SELECT * FROM SYS.MASTER_FILES -- Type=0 for .mdf and type=1 for .ldf
The sp_databases is a system stored procedure it can be listed the database with the size.
The sys.databases will list the databases, created date, modified date and database id along with the other information
The SYS.MASTER_FILES will query the database details like the database id, size, physical storage path and list the both mdf and ldf.
How to list the user tables in the database?
The following method can be used to get the list of user tables in the sql server.
Method 1 : SELECT name FROM SYS.OBJECTS WHERE type='U'
Method 2 : SELECT NAME FROM SYSOBJECTS WHERE xtype='U'
Method 3 : SELECT name FROM SYS.TABLES
Method 4 : SELECT name FROM SYS.ALL_OBJECTS WHERE type='U'
Method 5 : SELECT table_name FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_TYPE='BASE TABLE'
Method 6 : SP_TABLES
How to list out the Stored Procedures in the database?:
Method 1 : SELECT name FROM SYS.OBJECTS WHERE type='P'
Method 2 : SELECT name FROM SYS.PROCEDURES
Method 3 : SELECT name FROM SYS.ALL_OBJECTS WHERE type='P'
Method 4 : SELECT NAME FROM SYSOBJECTS WHERE xtype='P'
Method 5 : SELECT Routine_name FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.ROUTINES WHERE ROUTINE_TYPE='PROCEDURE'
The SYS.OBJECTS table has the common table that has the list for all the procedure, table, triggers, views,etc.., Here procedure can be filtered using the type='p'.
The Information_schema.routines is a view that has used in the sql server 7.0 version. Now exclusive table avaiable for the stored procedure.
How to list all Views in the database?
Method 1 : SELECT name FROM SYS.OBJECTS WHERE type='V'
Method 2 : SELECT name FROM SYS.ALL_OBJECTS WHERE type='V'
Method 3 : SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.VIEWS
Method 4 : SELECT name FROM SYS.VIEWS
How to listout the Functions in the database?
Method 1 : SELECT name FROM SYS.OBJECTS WHERE type='IF' -- inline function
Method 2 : SELECT name FROM SYS.OBJECTS WHERE type='TF' -- table valued function
Method 3 : SELECT name FROM SYS.OBJECTS WHERE type='FN' -- scalar function
Method 4 : SELECT name FROM SYS.ALL_OBJECTS WHERE type='IF' -- inline function
Method 5 : SELECT name FROM SYS.ALL_OBJECTS WHERE type='TF' -- table valued function
Method 6 : SELECT name FROM SYS.ALL_OBJECTS WHERE type='FN' -- scalar function
Method 7 : SELECT Routine_name FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.ROUTINES WHERE ROUTINE_TYPE='FUNCTION'
Note: IF - Inlined Function, TF- Table valued function, FN- Scalar Function
How to get the Triggers in the database?:
Method 1 : SELECT * FROM SYS.TRIGGERS
Method 2 : SELECT * FROM SYS.OBJECTS WHERE type='TR'
How to get the triggers in a table?
Method 1 : SP_HELPTRIGGER Products
Method 2 : SELECT * FROM SYS.TRIGGERS WHERE parent_id = object_id('products')
How to get the columns in a table?
Method 1 : SP_HELP Products
Method 2 : SP_COLUMNS Products
Method 3 : SELECT * FROM SYS.COLUMNS WHERE object_id = object_id('Products')
Method 4 : SELECT COLUMN_NAME,Ordinal_position,Data_Type,character_maximum_length FROM
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE TABLE_NAME='Products'
How to find the Columns in the table?
Method 1 : SELECT O.name FROM SYS.OBJECTS O INNER JOIN SYS.COLUMNS C ON C.Object_ID =
O.Object_ID WHERE C.name LIKE '%ShipName%'
Method 2 : SELECT OBJECT_NAME(object_id) AS [Table Name] FROM SYS.COLUMNS WHERE name LIKE
'%ShipName%'
Method 3 : SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE COLUMN_NAME
LIKE '%ShipName%'
How to get the Total rows in the table?
Method 1 : SELECT COUNT(@@ROWCOUNT) FROM Products
Method 2 : SELECT COUNT (ProductID) FROM Products
Method 3 : SELECT OBJECT_NAME(id) AS [Table Name],rowcnt FROM SYSINDEXES
WHERE OBJECTPROPERTY(id,'isUserTable')=1 AND indid < 2 ORDER BY rowcnt DESC
Method 4 : SELECT rowcnt FROM sysindexes WHERE id = OBJECT_ID('Products') AND indid < 2
Method 5 : SELECT OBJECT_NAME(OBJECT_ID) TableName,row_count FROM sys.dm_db_partition_stats
WHERE object_id = object_id('Products') AND index_id < 2
How to get the Check Constraints in the database?
Method 1 : SELECT * FROM SYS.OBJECTS WHERE type='C'
Method 2 : SELECT * FROM sys.check_constraints
How to find the Indexes in the table?
Method 1 : sp_helpindex Products
Method 2 : SELECT * FROM sys.indexes WHERE object_id = object_id('products')
How to view the View schema definition?
Method 1 : SELECT OBJECT_NAME(id) AS [View Name],text FROM SYSCOMMENTS WHERE id IN (SELECT
object_id FROM SYS.VIEWS)
Method 2 : SELECT * FROM sys.all_sql_modules WHERE object_id IN (SELECT object_id FROM
SYS.VIEWS)
Method 3 : SP_HELPTEXT ViewName
How to find the table used in the stored procedure?
Method 1 : SELECT OBJECT_NAME(id) FROM SYSCOMMENTS S
INNER JOIN SYS.OBJECTS O ON O.Object_Id = S.id
WHERE S.text LIKE '%Products%'
AND O.type='P'
Conclusion:
I hope that the above methods will help you more when you work the query window to find the database objects.Please post your feedback and corrections about this article.