Please start any new threads on our new
site at https://forums.sqlteam.com. We've got lots of great SQL Server
experts to answer whatever question you can come up with.
| Author |
Topic |
|
ron2112
Starting Member
44 Posts |
 Posted - 2006-11-07 : 13:00:27
|
| Hi folks,I'm so sure this is a clueless newbie question, I'm embarrassed to be asking it. The short version of my question is, "What's the best path to generating printed documentation of my SQL 2005 database?" The long version follows...I've just completed the first draft of my new SQL database design (using Management Studio). We were previously storing our data in seven (yes, seven) separate Access databases, now I have everything set up quite nicely in one SQL db, all nice and relational and with proper field sizes and naming conventions, etc. It's all beautiful, but now I need to document it.Why wasn't it documented first and then built? Let's just say I inherited this task in mid-stream with a looming deadline. Yes, I would have liked to follow a different workflow, but it is what it is and I am where I am.So I can go through every table and type up everything in Word, but I'm hoping there's some feature in Management Studio that will give me a head start. I read the Help file under "documenting databases," and it says you can output the metadata as and XMLA script. Sadly, it doesn't actually tell you how to do this, which is rather unhelpful.I'd like to end up with a document that list all my tables, with field definitions, indexes, keys, and triggers. Is there an easier way to get there than going table-to-table and typing it all out?Thanks,Ron MosesConEst Software Systems |
|
|
Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2006-11-07 : 13:23:35
|
| This maybe?www.elsasoft.orgKristen |
 |
|
|
Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
|
|
SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
Posted - 2006-11-08 : 08:53:40
|
| Innovasys has an excellent documenter too, DocumentX! 5.Peter LarssonHelsingborg, Sweden |
|
|
|
Page47
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
2878 Posts |
Posted - 2006-11-09 : 10:07:32
|
| I'm doing the same type of thing right now. The method I've selected is entering metadata into extended properties and then using a tool (like ElsaSoft) to generated the documentation based on that metadata. I think it is working well for my needs now.Jay White |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Documenting my database