How to view the stored procedure code in SQL Server Management Studio

Question

I am new to SQL Server. I am logged into my database through SQL Server Management Studio.

I have a list of stored procedures. How do I view the stored procedure code?

Answer 1

exec sp_helptext 'your_sp_name' -- don't forget the quotes

In management studio by default results come in grid view. If you would like to see it in text view go to:

Query --> Results to --> Results to Text

or CTRL + T and then Execute.

Answer 2

Use this query:

SELECT object_definition(object_id) AS [Proc Definition]
FROM sys.objects 
WHERE type='P'

Answer 3

You can view all the objects code stored in the database with this query:

    USE [test] --Database Name
SELECT
    sch.name+'.'+ob.name AS       [Object], 
    ob.create_date, 
    ob.modify_date, 
    ob.type_desc, 
    mod.definition
FROM 
     sys.objects AS ob
     LEFT JOIN sys.schemas AS sch ON
            sch.schema_id = ob.schema_id
     LEFT JOIN sys.sql_modules AS mod ON
            mod.object_id = ob.object_id
WHERE mod.definition IS NOT NULL --Selects only objects with the definition (code)

Answer 4

The other answers that recommend using the object explorer and scripting the stored procedure to a new query editor window and the other queries are solid options.

I personally like using the below query to retrieve the stored procedure definition/code in a single row (I'm using Microsoft SQL Server 2014, but looks like this should work with SQL Server 2008 and up)

SELECT definition 
FROM sys.sql_modules 
WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID('yourSchemaName.yourStoredProcedureName')

More info on sys.sql_modules:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/system-catalog-views/sys-sql-modules-transact-sql

Answer 5

Right click on the stored procedure and select Script Stored Procedure as | CREATE To | New Query Editor Window / Clipboard / File.

You can also do Modify when you right click on the stored procedure.

For multiple procedures at once, click on the Stored Procedures folder, hit F7 to open the Object Explorer Details pane, hold Ctrl and click to select all the ones that you want, and then right click and select Script Stored Procedure as | CREATE To.

Answer 6

In case you don't have permission to 'Modify', you can install a free tool called "SQL Search" (by Redgate). I use it to search for keywords that I know will be in the SP and it returns a preview of the SP code with the keywords highlighted.

Ingenious! I then copy this code into my own SP.