Getting list of tables, and fields in each, in a database
I'm looking at creating a basic ORM (purely for fun), and was wondering, is there a way to return the list of tables in a database and also the fields for every table?
Using this, I want to be able to loop through the result set (in C#) and then say for each table in the result set, do this (e.g. use reflection to make a class that will do or contain xyz).
Further to this, what are some good online blogs for SQL Server? I know this question is really about using system SPs and databases in Sql Server, and I am ok with general queries, so I'm interested in some blogs which cover this sort of functionality.
Thanks
Is this what you are looking for:
Using OBJECT CATALOG VIEWS
SELECT T.name AS Table_Name ,
C.name AS Column_Name ,
P.name AS Data_Type ,
P.max_length AS Size ,
CAST(P.precision AS VARCHAR) + '/' + CAST(P.scale AS VARCHAR) AS Precision_Scale
FROM sys.objects AS T
JOIN sys.columns AS C ON T.object_id = C.object_id
JOIN sys.types AS P ON C.system_type_id = P.system_type_id
WHERE T.type_desc = 'USER_TABLE';
Using INFORMATION SCHEMA VIEWS
SELECT TABLE_SCHEMA ,
TABLE_NAME ,
COLUMN_NAME ,
ORDINAL_POSITION ,
COLUMN_DEFAULT ,
DATA_TYPE ,
CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH ,
NUMERIC_PRECISION ,
NUMERIC_PRECISION_RADIX ,
NUMERIC_SCALE ,
DATETIME_PRECISION
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS;
Reference : My Blog - http://dbalink.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/querying-the-object-catalog-and-information-schema-views/
Tables ::
SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_TYPE='BASE TABLE'
columns ::
SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
or
SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE TABLE_NAME='your_table_name'
Get list of all the tables and the fields in database:
Select *
From INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
Where TABLE_CATALOG Like 'DatabaseName'
Get list of all the fields in table:
Select *
From INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
Where TABLE_CATALOG Like 'DatabaseName' And TABLE_NAME Like 'TableName'
I tested a few solutions an found that
Select *
From INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
gives you the column info for your CURRENT/default database.
Select *
From <DBNAME>.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
, without the < and >, gives you the column info for the database DBNAME.
SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS