In T-SQL how to display columns for given table name? - sql-server

Question

I am trying to list all of the columns from whichever Adventureworks table I choose. What T-sQL statement or stored proc can I execute to see this list of all columns? I want to use my C# web app to input one input parameter = table_name and then get a list of all the column_names as output. Right now I am trying to execute the sp_columns stored proc which works, but I can't get just the one column with select and exec combined. Does anybody know how to do this?
Thanks everyone for all your replies, but none of your answers do what I need. Let me explain my problem more for you. The query below returns what I need. But my problem is incorporating this logic into an SP that takes an input parameter. So here is the successful SQL statement:
select col.name from sysobjects obj inner join syscolumns col
on obj.id = col.id
where obj.name = 'AddressType'
order by obj.name
And currently my SP looks like:
CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[getColumnNames]
#TableName VarChar(50)
AS
BEGIN
SET NOCOUNT ON;
SET #TableName = RTRIM(#TableName)
DECLARE #cmd AS NVARCHAR(max)
SET #cmd = N'SELECT col.name from sysobjects obj ' +
'inner join syscolumns col on obj.id = col.id ' +
'where obj.name = ' + #TableName
EXEC sp_executesql #cmd
END
But I run the above as
exec getColumnNames 'AddressType'
and it gives me error:
Invalid column name 'AddressType'
How do I accomplish this?

Answer 1

select * from sys.columns where object_id = object_id(#tablename);

Answer 2

You don't need to create the statement as a string -- in fact, that's what's messing you up. Try this:
CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[getColumnNames] #TableName VarChar(50) AS
BEGIN
SET NOCOUNT ON;
SELECT col.name FROM sysobjects obj
INNER JOIN syscolumns col ON obj.id = col.id
WHERE obj.name = #TableName
END

Answer 3

to display info for database.dbo.yourtable try this:
SELECT
*
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE
TABLE_CATALOG ='database'
AND TABLE_SCHEMA='dbo'
AND TABLE_NAME ='yourtable'
ORDER BY ORDINAL_POSITION
EDIT based on OP's edit
You don't need dynamic sql, just use the given parameter:
CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[getColumnNames]
#TableName VarChar(50)
AS
BEGIN
SET NOCOUNT ON;
DECLARE #Rows int
,#ReturnValue int
SET #ReturnValue=0
SELECT
col.name
FROM sysobjects obj
inner join syscolumns col on obj.id = col.id
WHERE obj.name = #TableName
ORDER BY obj.name
SELECT #Rows=##ROWCOUNT
IF #Rows=0
BEGIN
SET #ReturnValue= 1 --table not found!!
END
RETURN #ReturnValue
END
if you check the return value and get a 1 then no table was found matching the given #TableName parameter. You can use this to give a error message in the application.

Answer 4

SELECT *
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'TableName' AND TABLE_CATALOG = 'DatabaseName'

Answer 5

Use Remus Rusanu answer or use SqlConnection.GetSchema() function from your c# code

Answer 6

A reply to your edited question:
Your script does not work because you're building a dynamic string, and within that dynamic string you must add quotes to the string you are placing in your where clause. The revised code would be:
BEGIN
SET NOCOUNT ON;
SET #TableName = RTRIM(#TableName)
DECLARE #cmd AS NVARCHAR(max)
SET #cmd = N'SELECT col.name from sysobjects obj ' +
'inner join syscolumns col on obj.id = col.id ' +
'where obj.name = ''' + #TableName + ''''
EXEC sp_executesql #cmd
END
However, why are you buliding a dynamic string? This would do the same thing and not require the overhead of dynamic SQL:
BEGIN
SET NOCOUNT ON;
SET #TableName = RTRIM(#TableName)
SELECT col.name from sysobjects obj
inner join syscolumns col on obj.id = col.id
where obj.name = #TableName
END
If you are worried about SQL injection, is not a problem here -- either obj.name = (whatever they passed in), or it doesn't.