T-SQL query to show table definition?

Question

What is a query that will show me the full definition, including indexes and keys for a SQL Server table? I want a pure query - and know that SQL Studio can give this to me

Answer 1

Try the sp_help stored procedure.

sp_help <>

Answer 2

Use this little Windows command-line app that gets the CREATE TABLE script (with constraints) for any table. I've written it in C#. Just compile it and carry it on a memory stick. Perhaps someone can port it to Powershell.

using System;
using System.Linq;
using Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common;
using Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo;
namespace ViewSource
{
    public class ViewSource
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            if (args.Length != 6)
            {
                Console.Error.WriteLine("Syntax: ViewSource.exe <server>" +
                     " <user> <password> <database> <schema> <table>");
            }

            Script(args[0], args[1], args[2], args[3], args[4], args[5]);
        }
        private static void Script(string server, string user,
            string password, string database, string schema, string table)
        {
            new Server(new ServerConnection(server, user, password))
                .Databases[database]
                .Tables[table, schema]
                .Script(new ScriptingOptions { SchemaQualify = true,
                                               DriAll = true })
                .Cast<string>()
                .Select(s => s + "\n" + "GO")
                .ToList()
                .ForEach(Console.WriteLine);
        }
    }
}

Answer 3

"Note that I really do want the DDL that defines the table."

use pg_dump:

pg_dump -s -t tablename dbname

It gives you the table definition (-s is schema only, no data) of a certain table ( -t tablename ) in database "dbname" in plain SQL. Additionally you will get sequence, primary key and constraint info. The output you can -maybe after checking and editing according to your needs- be fed again into (the same or another) Postgres database:

pg_dump -s -t tablename dbname1  > /tmp/foo.sql
psql -e dbname2 < /tmp/foo.sql

This is for UNIX/Linux, but I'm sure, that a pg_dump also exists for Windows.

Answer 4

sp_help 'YourTableName'

Answer 5

Simply type the table name and select it and press ATL + F1

Say your table name is Customer then open a new query window, type and select the table name and press ALT + F1

It will show the complete definition of table.

Answer 6

Visit http://www.stormrage.com/SQLStuff/sp_GetDDL_Latest.txt.

You will find the code of sp_getddl procedure for SQL Server. The purpose of the procedure is script any table, temp table or object.

USAGE:

exec sp_GetDDL GMACT

or

exec sp_GetDDL 'bob.example'

or

exec sp_GetDDL '[schemaname].[tablename]'

or

exec sp_GetDDL #temp

I tested it on SQL Server 2012, and it does an excellent job.

I'm not the author of the procedure. Any improvement you make to it send to Lowell Izaguirre (scripts@stormrage.com).