Using object dependencies in sql server 2008 tech republic

Using object dependencies in sql server 2008 tech republic

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  Using Object Dependenciesin SQL Server 2008 | TechRepublic ZDNet Asia SmartPlanet TechRepublic Log In Join TechRepublic FAQ Go Pro! Blogs Downloads Newsletters Galleries Q&A Discussions News Research Library IT Management Development IT Support Data Center Networks Security Home / Blogs / The Enterprise Cloud Follow this blog: The Enterprise Cloud Using Object Dependencies in SQL Server 2008 By John Sheesley October 9, 2008, 10:20 AM PDT Takeaway: Tracking object dependencies has always been difficult with SQL Server. SQL Server 2008 makes it easier because it tracks dependencies by the object’s name rather than ID. Here’s how it works. Previous versions of SQL Server were not that great at keeping track of object dependencies. The reason for this was due to the fact that all object dependencies were tracked by the ID of the object, which meant that the object had to exist first. SQL Server 2008 greatly expands on this capability by tracking objects by the name of the object, rather than relying upon the ID. Advantages of this approach are that object dependencies remain tracked even after some objects have been removed from the database, as well as are tracked even if an object has yet to be created. New Management Objects SQL Server 2008 introduces two new dynamic management functions and a new system view for keeping track of object dependencies. These new objects hold information stored by the Database Engine for dependencies created when objects are created, altered, or dropped. A dependency is created between two objects when one object appears by name inside a SQL expression stored in another object. The object that appears inside the expression is known as the referenced entity, while the object that houses the SQL expression is known as the referencing entity. sys.sql_expression_dependencies This view holds one record for each dependency on a user-defined object in the current database. These user-defined objects can be objects stored in the current database, objects stored in a different database and referenced using a three part naming convention (databasename.schemaname.objectname), objects on a different server and referenced via a linked server using a four part naming convention (servername.databasename.schemaname.objectname), and objects that do not exist at the time the object is created (known as deferred objects). sys.dm_sql_referenced_entities This function returns one row for each user defined object referenced by name in the definition of the specified referencing entity. For example, if the view vw_SampleView references Field1, Field2, and Field3 of the table Table1, then four rows will be returned; three for the referenced fields and one for the table reference. http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/using-object-dependencies-in-sql-server-2008/460[08/29/2012 3:42:43 PM]
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  Using Object Dependenciesin SQL Server 2008 | TechRepublic sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities This function returns one record for each user defined object in the current database that references another user defined object by name. For example, if the view vw_SampleView references Table1 and Table2, then two records will be returned by this function; one for each table reference. An Example Let’s look at an example of how dependencies are tracked inside the database by creating some objects and querying the new DMVs. Use the script below to create a table named SalesHistory. CREATE TABLE [dbo].[SalesHistory]( [SaleID] [int] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED, [Product] [char](150) NULL, [SaleDate] [datetime] NULL, [SalePrice] [money] NULL ) In the following script, I create a stored procedure named dbo.usp_GetSales. This procedure references the SalesHistory table created in the above script. CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.usp_GetSales ( @Product VARCHAR(10) ) AS BEGIN SELECT COUNT(SaleID) AS SalesCount, SUM(SalePrice) AS SalesAmount FROM dbo.SalesHistory sh END The following script uses the table-valued function sys.dm_sql_referenced_returns function to find all objects that reference the SalesHistory table. This query will not only return references to the SalesHistory table, but also includes the fields from the SalesHistory table that are referenced. Note the use of the CROSS APPLY operator. This is due to the fact that entities is a table-valued function and the APPLY operator is required when passing field values to table-valued functions. Note that a call to the sys.dm_referenced_entities function will error if it encounters a reference to an entity field that does not exist. SELECT ReferencedEntityName = o.name, g.referenced_entity_name, referenced_minor_name FROM sys.objects o JOIN sys.schemas s on o.schema_id = s.schema_id CROSS APPLY sys.dm_sql_referenced_entities(s.name + ‘.’ + o.name, ‘OBJECT’) g WHERE referenced_entity_name = ‘SalesHistory’ The following script queries the new dynamic management view sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities to find any objects referenced by the procedure usp_GetSales. http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/using-object-dependencies-in-sql-server-2008/460[08/29/2012 3:42:43 PM]
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  Using Object Dependenciesin SQL Server 2008 | TechRepublic SELECT ReferencingObject = referencing_entity_name, ReferencedObject = o.name FROM sys.objects o JOIN sys.schemas s on o.schema_id = s.schema_id CROSS APPLY sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities(s.name + ‘.’ + o.name, ‘OBJECT’) g WHERE referencing_entity_name = ‘usp_GetSales’ In the following script, I create a new stored procedure named usp_GetSalesFromArchive, which references the nonexistent SalesHistoryArchive table. CREATE PROCEDURE usp_GetSalesFromArchive ( @Product VARCHAR(10) ) AS BEGIN SELECT COUNT(SaleArchiveID) AS SalesCount, SUM(SaleArchivePrice) AS SalesAmount FROM dbo.SalesHistoryArchive sh END I can now use the sys.sql_expression_dependencies system view to find any objects that reference the SalesHistoryArchive table. Alternatively, I can alter this same query just a bit to find the tables referenced by the usp_GetSalesFromArchive stored procedure. SELECT ReferencingObject = o.name , ReferencedObject = d.referenced_entity_name FROM sys.sql_expression_dependencies d join sys.objects o on d.referencing_id = o.object_id WHERE o.name = ‘usp_GetSalesFromArchive’ Conclusion There are certainly advantages to tracking dependencies via object name rather than object ID. My favorite aspect is the ability to find stored procedures that reference objects that do not exist. This is great because it allows me to find any stored procedures that may not longer be used or perhaps need to be updated. Get IT Tips, news, and reviews delivered directly to your inbox by subscribing to TechRepublic’s free newsletters. http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/using-object-dependencies-in-sql-server-2008/460[08/29/2012 3:42:43 PM]
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  Using Object Dependenciesin SQL Server 2008 | TechRepublic VMware and Microsoft go iSCSI is the future of storage head to head People who read this... Using Object Dependencies in SQL Server 2008 Moving the Tempdb and Master Database in SQL Server Moving the Tempdb and Master Database in SQL Server 3 Join the conversation! Add Your Opinion Comments Follow via: Staff Picks Top Rated Most Recent My Contacts See All Comments RE: Using Object Dependencies in SQL Server 2008 0 aspemail@... 21st Oct 2008 Votes If the Stored Procedure code was "Select * From ..." then these DMFs/DMVs are smart enough to resolve that from "Select * .." to "Select Col1, col2, col3,....", which I found very interesting. Thought... Read Whole Comment + View in thread RE: Using Object Dependencies in SQL Server 2008 0 aspemail@... 21st Oct 2008 Votes If you could have added screen shots of what the result would have looked like, that would have been great View in thread Parameter Usage 0 aspemail@... 21st Oct 2008 Votes You created 2 SP's in this sample code which passes parameter. Not sure if it was required. View in thread See all comments Join the TechRepublic Community and join the conversation! Signing-up is free and quick, Do it now, we want to hear your opinion. Join Login http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/using-object-dependencies-in-sql-server-2008/460[08/29/2012 3:42:43 PM]