Which SQL command can I use to see the structure of a table on SQL Server?

Question

Hi there,

I have a table on a SQL Server and I would like to export its structure to send to a colleague. Which SQL command should I issue to get the structure? I don't have access to the SQL Server Management Studio.

Thanks

Answer 1

sp_help '<TableName>'

will give you the structure of a table

Also you can use the information_Schema to get a detailed information,

SELECT COLUMN_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'TableName' 

Check this out http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms186778.aspx

Answer 2

Get, and tell him to get, DBVisualizer. :-)

Answer 3

MS SQL Server Management Studio has the capability to export the table's DDL, as well as many other 3rd party tools (Aquafold, DBArtisan, etc...).

Answer 4

Visual Studio has tools for designing and browsing database schema under Data Connections in Server Explorer. Certain versions also have full schema and data comparison tools similiar to Red Gate's Sql Compare

Answer 5

Brad Schulz has a pretty awesome DDL generating script he just blogged about the other day: (there are a few limitations with it though)

http://bradsruminations.blogspot.com/2010/06/more-fun-with-hyperlinks-ddl-code.html

Answer 6

sp_help tablename