get basic SQL Server table structure information

Question

I can get the number of columns in an SQL Server database with this:

SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE table_name = \'Address\'

Answer 1

For total columns information use below syntax : Use "DBName" go Exec SP_Columns "TableName"

For total table information use below syntax : Use "DBName" go Exec SP_help "Table Name"

Answer 2

Write the table name in the query editor select the name and press Alt+F1 and it will bring all the information of the table.

Answer 3

Instead of using count(*) you can SELECT * and you will return all of the details that you want including data_type:

SELECT *
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE table_name = 'Address'

MSDN Docs on INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS

Answer 4

Name and datatype:

USE OurDatabaseName
GO

SELECT 
    sc.name AS [Columne Name], 
    st1.name AS [User Type],
    st2.name AS [Base Type]
FROM dbo.syscolumns sc
    INNER JOIN dbo.systypes st1 ON st1.xusertype = sc.xusertype
    INNER JOIN dbo.systypes st2 ON st2.xusertype = sc.xtype
-- STEP TWO: Change OurTableName to the table name
WHERE sc.id = OBJECT_ID('OurTableName')
ORDER BY sc.colid

Or:

SELECT COLUMN_NAME AS ColumnName, DATA_TYPE AS DataType, CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH AS CharacterLength
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'OurTableName'

Answer 5

You could use these functions:

sp_help TableName
sp_helptext ProcedureName

Answer 6

sp_help will give you a whole bunch of information about a table including the columns, keys and constraints. For example, running

exec sp_help 'Address' 

will give you information about Address.