how to query the database without accessing the tables, correct the database but not the tables

Question

used is c# sql vs 08 sql server 2005 express

whenever and where ever an sql select statement is used, its always like

select  * from tablename

or count statement is alsi like

select count something from table name

for selecting or doing anything on the tables,

i would like to know which tables exits in my the database i am connected to!

so like

select alltablenames from database_name.

please guide.

Answer 1

to list all table of database

USE YourDBName
GO 
SELECT *
FROM sys.Tables WHERE type='u' 

to check table exists in database or not

IF EXISTS (SELECT 1 
    FROM sysobjects 
    WHERE xtype='u' AND name='tablename') 
        SELECT 'tablename exists.' 
ELSE 
        SELECT 'tablename does not exist.'

Answer 2

The following query returns the names of the tables in an SQL Server database:

select name from sysobjects where xtype = 'U'

Answer 3

See http://database.ittoolbox.com/documents/finding-table-names-in-sql-18556 - simple queries for all table names and all columns for a given table.

Answer 4

Personally, I would use the Information_Schema.Tables & Information_Schema.Columns views as these are views provided by Microsoft. (Rather than using the sysobjects tables)

Answer 5

or

EXEC sp_tables