Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies®

II.5.1. Getting a List of Your Tables

Here's how to use the SQL Server Management Studio to come up with this important list:

1. Launch the SQL Server Management Studio.

2. Connect to the appropriate SQL Server instance.

3. Expand the connection's entry in the Object Explorer view.

4. Expand the Databases folder.

5. Expand the Tables folder.

That's all there is to it. You have a full list of all the tables present in a database. Figure 5-1 shows this list, along with details about a specific table.

In reviewing Figure 5-1, you might notice that the entries are divided between system tables and user tables. As you might expect from the name, system tables are maintained by SQL Server for your benefit.

There should rarely, if ever, be a reason for you to modify a system table. Look, but don't touch!

Let's take a look at each of the folders underneath a given table. Figure 5-2 shows this list, along with details about a specific table.

Figure II.5-1. A list of tables as shown in the SQL Server Management Studio.

Figure II.5-2. Details about a given table, as provided by the SQL Server Management Studio.

Each of these folders contains important details about the table, so we spend a moment examining ...