data dictionary

Question

data dictionary

John Esraelo-498130

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Points: 5914
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February 20, 2008 at 3:50 pm

#119990

Is there a script for buliding a data dictionary for an existing database here on this site?
thx
John Esraelo
Cheers,
John Esraelo

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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sqlagentman SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4484 More actions · Answer 1

How familiar are you with SQL Server Management Studio? You could script out the database tables and format it to fit your "data dictionary" needs.

- Tim Ford, SQL Server MVPhttp://www.sqlcruise.comhttp://www.thesqlagentman.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyford

John Esraelo-498130 SSCertifiable Points: 5914 More actions · Answer 2

I have been using:

use mydatabase

go

select *

from information_schema.columns

of course I write this information to a table (mydatabase.dbo.mydictionary) and then take it to my authoring tools for preparing a document.

I was just wondering if there was a better way of doing it.

John Esraelo

Cheers,
John Esraelo

Joe B-478020 SSC Eights! Points: 966 More actions · Answer 3

If you're looking for a compiled help file, try this:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vb/DBdoc.aspx

Dustin W. Jones Ten Centuries Points: 1147 More actions · Answer 4

there are some tools to do this such as Apex SQLDOC or you can use the built in meta data functions.

Dustin W. Jones - Database Tech.

mtassin SSC-Insane Points: 23099 More actions · Answer 5

I found two in the scripts listings here. One works great on SQL 2k5, the other for 2k. I modified them to accept the database to store the data dictionary in, as well as the database to perform on, and a snapshot datestamp.

I have a weekly job that does an sp_msforeachdb run of the procedure to capture what the dictionary looks like at the beginning of the week. I do this to keep an eye on developers that won the battle to have Sa level access before I began where I am.

--Mark Tassin
MCITP - SQL Server DBA
Proud member of the Anti-RBAR alliance.
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Sugesh Kumar One Orange Chip Points: 27311 More actions · Answer 6

You can also use tools like ERWIN, EMBARCARDEO and datacompare to just generate the scripts of your tables for you. but the best is to use the SSMS for that.

Cheers,
Sugeshkumar Rajendran
SQL Server MVP
http://sugeshkr.blogspot.com