SQL Server List All Tables

Greetings, Dev! As a developer, you are probably familiar with SQL Server and its importance in managing data in software applications. One of the basic tasks you might encounter is listing all the tables in a database. This article will guide you through the process of doing so using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Transact-SQL (T-SQL).

Listing Tables in SSMS

If you are using SSMS, there are different ways to list all the tables in a database. One of the easiest ways is to use the Object Explorer pane.

Opening Object Explorer

To open Object Explorer, follow these steps:

Once you have expanded the Tables node, you will see a list of all the tables in the selected database. You can also right-click on the Tables node and select Refresh to make sure you have the latest information.

Using Object Explorer Details

If you prefer to see more details about each table, you can use the Object Explorer Details pane.

The Object Explorer Details pane will display a list of all the objects in the selected database, including tables, views, stored procedures, and more. To filter the list to show only tables, use the Object Type drop-down list and select Tables.

Using sp_tables

If you prefer to use T-SQL to list all tables, you can use the sp_tables system stored procedure.

What is sp_tables?

sp_tables is a system stored procedure that returns a list of tables and their associated information for the current database or for a specified database.

How to use sp_tables

To use sp_tables, follow these steps:

The result set will include a list of all the tables in the current database or in the specified database, along with their table type, owner, create date, and more.

FAQ

Can I use sp_tables to list tables from other databases?

No, sp_tables only returns information for the current database or for a specific database that is specified as a parameter in the stored procedure.

Can I use SSMS to list tables from other SQL Server instances?

Yes, you can use SSMS to connect to multiple SQL Server instances and list tables from each one. Simply repeat the steps described above for each instance you want to connect to.

Can I customize the columns returned by sp_tables?

Yes, you can specify a list of columns to return by using the @table_type parameter in the sp_tables stored procedure. For example, to return only the table names and their create dates, you can use the following T-SQL statement: EXEC sp_tables @table_type = "'TABLE'", @fUsePattern = 1, @fResultFilter = 1

Are there other ways to list tables in SQL Server?

Yes, there are many other ways to list tables in SQL Server, including using system views, dynamic management views, and T-SQL queries. However, the methods described in this article are some of the most common and easiest ways to accomplish this task.

That concludes our guide on how to list all tables in SQL Server. We hope you found this article helpful, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions for improvements. Happy coding, Dev!