Database Dictionary Tool

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Database Dictionary Tool

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January 6, 2014 at 2:18 pm

#288091

What is a good way to get a SQL Server 2008 R2 Database Dictionary?

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Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398908 More actions · Answer 1

It kind of depends on how you define database dictionary, but check out Red Gate SQL Doc[/url].

Disclaimer: I work for Red Gate.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt

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eli.misael SSC Rookie Points: 31 More actions · Answer 2

Can use several documenters, like Ápex Doc or SAP Sybase PowerDesigner, that is very detailed for documented databasess

karjanic Grasshopper Points: 14 More actions · Answer 3

Here are a few tools I found:

Dataedo http://dataedo.com (nice export - PDF and HTML, nice features)

SQL Doc http://www.red-gate.com/products/sql-development/sql-doc/[/url] (nice HTML)

DBDesc http://dbdesc.com/[/url] (relationship diagram)

ApexSQL Doc http://www.apexsql.com/sql_tools_doc.aspx

Documenter https://www.spectralcore.com/documenter

SchemaSpy http://schemaspy.sourceforge.net/[/url]

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125562 More actions · Answer 4

A data dictionary, or metadata repository, as defined in the IBM Dictionary of Computing, is a "centralized repository of information about data such as meaning, relationships to other data, origin, usage, and format."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_dictionary

Unfortunately an automated tool can't describe the meaning of database entities. However, one good feature to look for an automated database cataloging tool is to ability to output to Excel or MS Word, so domain experts and developers within IT can fill in that detail.

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004402 More actions · Answer 5

Eric M Russell (10/7/2015)
A data dictionary, or metadata repository, as defined in the IBM Dictionary of Computing, is a "centralized repository of information about data such as meaning, relationships to other data, origin, usage, and format."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_dictionary
Unfortunately an automated tool can't describe the meaning of database entities. However, one good feature to look for an automated database cataloging tool is to ability to output to Excel or MS Word, so domain experts and developers within IT can fill in that detail.

Agreed. Not describing either meaning or caveats is the biggest drawback no matter how good the tool is at a pretty presentation. The best way to keep the meaning with the database is through extended properties. Then, you can do some really cool stuff when it comes to a meaningful data dictionary.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

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