Getting list of tables, and fields in each, in a database

Question

I'm looking at creating a basic ORM (purely for fun), and was wondering, is there a way to return the list of tables in a database and also the fields for every table?

Using this, I want to be able to loop through the result set (in C#) and then say for each table in the result set, do this (e.g. use reflection to make a class that will do or contain xyz).

Further to this, what are some good online blogs for SQL Server? I know this question is really about using system SPs and databases in Sql Server, and I am ok with general queries, so I'm interested in some blogs which cover this sort of functionality.

Thanks

Answer 1

Is this what you are looking for:

Using OBJECT CATALOG VIEWS

 SELECT T.name AS Table_Name ,
       C.name AS Column_Name ,
       P.name AS Data_Type ,
       C.max_length AS Size ,
       CAST(P.precision AS VARCHAR) + '/' + CAST(P.scale AS VARCHAR) AS Precision_Scale
FROM   sys.objects AS T
       JOIN sys.columns AS C ON T.object_id = C.object_id
       JOIN sys.types AS P ON C.system_type_id = P.system_type_id
WHERE  T.type_desc = 'USER_TABLE';

Using INFORMATION SCHEMA VIEWS

  SELECT TABLE_SCHEMA ,
       TABLE_NAME ,
       COLUMN_NAME ,
       ORDINAL_POSITION ,
       COLUMN_DEFAULT ,
       DATA_TYPE ,
       CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH ,
       NUMERIC_PRECISION ,
       NUMERIC_PRECISION_RADIX ,
       NUMERIC_SCALE ,
       DATETIME_PRECISION
FROM   INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS;

Reference : My Blog - http://dbalink.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/querying-the-object-catalog-and-information-schema-views/