How can I find out what FOREIGN KEY constraint references a table in SQL Server?

Question

I am trying to drop a table but getting the following message:

Msg 3726, Level 16, State 1, Line 3
Could not drop object \'dbo.UserProfile\' bec

Answer 1

In Object Explorer, expand the table, and expand the Keys:

Answer 2

SELECT 
    obj.name      AS FK_NAME,
    sch.name      AS [schema_name],
    tab1.name     AS [table],
    col1.name     AS [column],
    tab2.name     AS [referenced_table],
    col2.name     AS [referenced_column]
FROM 
     sys.foreign_key_columns fkc
INNER JOIN sys.objects obj
    ON obj.object_id = fkc.constraint_object_id
INNER JOIN sys.tables tab1
    ON tab1.object_id = fkc.parent_object_id
INNER JOIN sys.schemas sch
    ON tab1.schema_id = sch.schema_id
INNER JOIN sys.columns col1
    ON col1.column_id = parent_column_id AND col1.object_id = tab1.object_id
INNER JOIN sys.tables tab2
    ON tab2.object_id = fkc.referenced_object_id
INNER JOIN sys.columns col2
    ON col2.column_id = referenced_column_id 
        AND col2.object_id =  tab2.object_id;

Answer 3

--The following may give you more of what you're looking for:

create Procedure spShowRelationShips 
( 
    @Table varchar(250) = null,
    @RelatedTable varchar(250) = null
)
as
begin
    if @Table is null and @RelatedTable is null
        select  object_name(k.constraint_object_id) ForeginKeyName, 
                object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) TableName, 
                object_name(k.referenced_object_id) RelatedTable, 
                c.Name RelatedColumnName,  
                object_name(rc.object_id) + '.' + rc.name RelatedKeyField
        from sys.foreign_key_columns k
        left join sys.columns c on object_name(c.object_id) = object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) and c.column_id = k.parent_column_id
        left join sys.columns rc on object_name(rc.object_id) = object_name(k.referenced_object_id) and rc.column_id = k.referenced_column_id
        order by 2,3

    if @Table is not null and @RelatedTable is null
        select  object_name(k.constraint_object_id) ForeginKeyName, 
                object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) TableName, 
                object_name(k.referenced_object_id) RelatedTable, 
                c.Name RelatedColumnName,  
                object_name(rc.object_id) + '.' + rc.name RelatedKeyField
        from sys.foreign_key_columns k
        left join sys.columns c on object_name(c.object_id) = object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) and c.column_id = k.parent_column_id
        left join sys.columns rc on object_name(rc.object_id) = object_name(k.referenced_object_id) and rc.column_id = k.referenced_column_id
        where object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) =@Table
        order by 2,3

    if @Table is null and @RelatedTable is not null
        select  object_name(k.constraint_object_id) ForeginKeyName, 
                object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) TableName, 
                object_name(k.referenced_object_id) RelatedTable, 
                c.Name RelatedColumnName,  
                object_name(rc.object_id) + '.' + rc.name RelatedKeyField
        from sys.foreign_key_columns k
        left join sys.columns c on object_name(c.object_id) = object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) and c.column_id = k.parent_column_id
        left join sys.columns rc on object_name(rc.object_id) = object_name(k.referenced_object_id) and rc.column_id = k.referenced_column_id
        where object_name(k.referenced_object_id) =@RelatedTable
        order by 2,3



end

Answer 4

The easiest way to get Primary Key and Foreign Key for a table is:

/*  Get primary key and foreign key for a table */
USE DatabaseName;

SELECT CONSTRAINT_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE
WHERE CONSTRAINT_NAME LIKE 'PK%' AND
TABLE_NAME = 'TableName'

SELECT CONSTRAINT_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE
WHERE CONSTRAINT_NAME LIKE 'FK%' AND
TABLE_NAME = 'TableName'

Answer 5

Here it is:

SELECT 
   OBJECT_NAME(f.parent_object_id) TableName,
   COL_NAME(fc.parent_object_id,fc.parent_column_id) ColName
FROM 
   sys.foreign_keys AS f
INNER JOIN 
   sys.foreign_key_columns AS fc 
      ON f.OBJECT_ID = fc.constraint_object_id
INNER JOIN 
   sys.tables t 
      ON t.OBJECT_ID = fc.referenced_object_id
WHERE 
   OBJECT_NAME (f.referenced_object_id) = 'YourTableName'

This way, you'll get the referencing table and column name.

Edited to use sys.tables instead of generic sys.objects as per comment suggestion. Thanks, marc_s

Answer 6

In SQL Server Management Studio you can just right click the table in the object explorer and select "View Dependencies". This would give a you a good starting point. It shows tables, views, and procedures that reference the table.