sp_pkeys and Primary Key Metadata in SQL Server
Jun 16, 2026 / · 6 min read · sql server sp_pkeys sys.key_constraints sys.index_columns sys.columns sys.types sys.tables sys.objects sys.schemas information_schema primary keys catalog views metadata database structure scripts ·Which columns make up a table's primary key, and in what order are they declared? For a single table, the system stored procedure sp_pkeys answers in one line; for a database-wide inventory, the catalog views behind it give you full control. This post covers both, from the quick lookup to the complete metadata query. …
Read MoreSQL Server Find Columns by Data Type Across the Database
"Where is every datetime column?" — "Which tables still use text instead of varchar(max)?" — "Are any columns using a deprecated user-defined type?" These are recurring DBA questions during schema audits, deprecation sweeps, and pre-migration assessments. This T-SQL script joins sys.columns to sys.types, sys.tables, …
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