SQL Server Important System Views and Tables

Introduction

 

In this article I have listed few methods to know about the list of database, tables, views,etc.., It will be very useful 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 filter the result set based on our requirement.

 

How to list out the available database in the SQL Server 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 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 available 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 list out 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.