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View the Dependencies of a Table

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Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

You can view a table's dependencies in SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.

In This Topic

Before You Begin

Security

Permissions

Requires VIEW DEFINITION permission on the database and SELECT permission on sys.sql_expression_dependencies for the database. By default, SELECT permission is granted only to members of the db_owner fixed database role. When SELECT and VIEW DEFINITION permissions are granted to another user, the grantee can view all dependencies in the database.

Using SQL Server Management Studio

To view the objects on which a table depends

  1. In Object Explorer, expand Databases, expand a database, and then expand Tables.

  2. Right-click a table, and then click View Dependencies.

  3. In the Object Dependencies<object name> dialog box, select either Objects that depend on <object name>, or Objects on which<object name>depends.

  4. Select an object in the Dependencies grid. The type of object (such as "Trigger" or "Stored Procedure"), appears in the Type box.

Using Transact-SQL

To view the objects that depend on a table

  1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

  2. On the Standard bar, click New Query.

  3. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click Execute.

    USE AdventureWorks2012;  
GO  
SELECT * FROM sys.sql_expression_dependencies  
WHERE referencing_id = OBJECT_ID(N'Production.vProductAndDescription');   
GO

To view the dependencies of a table

  1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

  2. On the Standard bar, click New Query.

  3. The following example returns the objects that depend on the table Production.Product. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click Execute.

    USE AdventureWorks2012;   
GO  
SELECT * FROM sys.sql_expression_dependencies  
WHERE referenced_id = OBJECT_ID(N'Production.Product');   
GO

For additional information, see sys.sql_expression_dependencies (Transact-SQL)