Determine Which Objects Reference a Table in SQL Server

Question

I work with SQL Server 2008 and I have a database that has more than 1500 columns and about 500 stored procedures and ... .

I want to rename a table that has several re

Answer 1

Using sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities:

SELECT 
    referencing_schema_name, referencing_entity_name, referencing_id, 
    referencing_class_desc, is_caller_dependent
FROM 
    sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities ('mySchemaName.myTableName', 'OBJECT');
GO

where 'mySchemaName.myTableName' is your schema.table, for example 'dbo.MyTable'

Answer 2

It is an another solution I found. You do not have to install any tools. Just run on query analyzer.

Use [Database]
Go

SELECT
referencing_schema_name = SCHEMA_NAME(o.SCHEMA_ID),
referencing_object_name = o.name,
referencing_object_type_desc = o.type_desc,
referenced_schema_name,
referenced_object_name = referenced_entity_name,
referenced_object_type_desc = o1.type_desc,
referenced_server_name, referenced_database_name
--,sed.* -- Uncomment for all the columns
FROM
sys.sql_expression_dependencies sed
INNER JOIN
sys.objects o ON sed.referencing_id = o.[object_id]
LEFT OUTER JOIN
sys.objects o1 ON sed.referenced_id = o1.[object_id]
WHERE
referenced_entity_name = 'SP_Pay_GetData'
order by referencing_object_name

Answer 3

If you need to find database objects (e.g. tables, columns, triggers) by name - have a look at the FREE Red-Gate tool called SQL Search which does this - it searches your entire database for any kind of string(s).

It's a great must-have tool for any DBA or database developer - did I already mention it's absolutely FREE to use for any kind of use??