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Document SQL Server 2000/2005 Database

4.83/5 (103 votes)
17 Oct 2009CPOL1 min read 13   27.2K  
T-SQL script to generate the document of SQL 2000/2005 database

Introduction

Here is the script to generate the HTML document of your SQL Server 2000/2005 database. It is reverse engineering after the database is created. I hope it will be useful to many of you.

Background

While working as a part time DBA for some projects, I encountered difficulties in documenting and publishing my databases because I do not have any tool available to generate the document. I have written this script that gives the output in HTML that is easy to be modified/published/distributed.

Using the Code

Follow these steps to use this script:

  • Download the attached script file and open it in Management Studio (tested on version 9.00).
  • Select the database for which you want to generate document.
  • Select Result to File (Ctrl+Shift+F) from Query - Results To menu.
  • Execute (F5) the script.
  • In the Save Result dialogue box, type a file name (filename.htm/filename.html) in the File Name text box and select All Files (*.*) in Save As Type dropdown.
  • After successful execution of query, check the output file.

Note: For populating the description of table and columns, update the Description property of table and columns while creating database diagram or add extended property for them with name as MS_Description.

I hope this information will be helpful. I am planning to provide details of code in my next update.

Updates

  • Bug in getting index column is resolved
  • Bug in getting check constraints list is resolved
  • Definition of check constraints is added to document
  • Table Summary is changed to Table Description
  • Table and column description is populated from extended property

Download documentation application from here.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)