This document discusses tables in a database. It defines a table as a list of items organized into columns and rows. It provides instructions for creating, naming, opening, reviewing, modifying and deleting tables using SQL statements and the SQL Server Management Studio interface. Key points covered include defining columns, creating temporary tables, viewing table properties, renaming tables using sp_rename, and granting permissions to users to create tables.

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Lession 4: The Tables of a Database
Tables Fundamentals
Introduction
A table is primarily a list of items or a group of lists. To manage such a list, it should be
meticulously organized. To organize this information, it is divided in sections. Here is an
example:
Name Age Gender Relationship
Judie 18 Female Sister
Ernest 24 Male Cousin
Bill 52 Unknown Uncle
David 36 Male Brother
Hermine 12 Unknown Niece
Based on this, a list is simply an arrangement of information and this information, also
called data, is stored in tables.
Visual Creation of a Table
The information of a table is organized in categories called columns and horizontal
arrangements called records or rows. A column holds a category of data that is common
to all records. A table must have at least one column. This means that you cannot create
a table without defining at least one column.
Tables Names
To complete the creation of a table, you must save it. If you are freshly creating a table
and decide to save it, you would be prompted to name it. The name of a table:
Can be made of digits only. For example you can have a table called 148
Can start with a digit, a letter, or an underscore
Can be made of letters, digits, and spaces
Besides these rules, you can make up yours. To avoid confusion, here are the rules we
will use to name our tables:
A name will start with a letter. Examples are act or Second
After the first character as an underscore or a letter, the name will have
combinations of underscores, letters, and digits. Examples are _n24, act_52_t
Unless stated otherwise, a name will not include special characters such as !, @, #,
$, %, ^, &, or *
If the name is a combination of words, each word will start in uppercase. Examples
are Staff Members or Video Titles
Creating a Table With SQL
Introduction

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To assist you with creating a table, you use a Data Definition Language (DDL) command
that is CREATE TABLE, followed by a name. Therefore, to create a table, you start with
the following statement:
CREATE TABLE TableName;
The CREATE TABLE expression is required. The TableName factor specifies the name of
the new table. The TableName can use the rules and suggestions we reviewed for the
tables.
After specifying the name of the table, you must create at least one category, called a
column of data.
Temporary Tables
After creating a table, it becomes part of its database and you can use that table over and
over again. In some cases, you may want to create a table to test something and you
would not need to use that table the next time you connect to the server. Such a table is
referred to as a temporary table.
To create a temporary table, start its name with #, followed by the desired name. Once
the table has been created, it would be available as long as you are using the same
connection to the server. If you close Microsoft SQL Server, the table would be
automatically deleted.
Using Sample Code
To assist you with creating a table, Microsoft SQL Server can generate sample code for
you. You can then simply modify or customize it. First display or open an empty query
window. To display the Templates Explorer, on the main menu, you can click View ->
Templates Explorer. In the Templates Explorer, expand the Table node. Under table, drag
Create Table and drop it in the query window. Sample code would be generated for you.
Tables Maintenance
Introduction
Table maintenance consists of reviewing or changing its aspects. This includes reviewing
the list of tables of a database, renaming a table, or deleting it.
Viewing the Properties of a Table
Like every other object of a database or of the computer, a table possesses some
characteristics that are proper to it. To view these characteristics, in the Object Explorer,
right-click the table and click Properties.
Opening a Table
Most operations require that you open a table before using it. There are various ways a
table displays, depending on how you want to examine it:
To view the structure of a table, perhaps to change its columns, in the Object
Explorer, expand your database and its Tables node. Right-click the table and click
Modify. The table would open in design view, the same view you use to visually
create a table.

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If you want to view the SQL code of a table, in the Object Explorer, right-click the
table, position the mouse on Script Table AS, CREATE To, and click New Query Editor
Window
To open a table to view its data, perhaps to perform data entry, in the Object
Explorer, right-click the table and click Open Table
Tables Review
To see the list of tables of a database in the Object Explorer, you can click the Tables
node:
To see the list of tables of a database using SQL, in a Query window, specify the database
(using a USEstatement), and execute sp_help (it is a stored procedure). Here is an
example:

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Renaming a Table
If you find out that the name of a table is not appropriate, you can change it. To change
the name of a table in the SQL Server Management Studio, in the Object Explorer, right-
click the table and click Rename. Type the desired name and press Enter.
To change the name of a table with code, execute sp_rename, followed by the current
name of the table, a comma, and the new desired name of the table. The formula to use
is:
sp_rename ExistingTableName, TableNewName;
The names of tables should be included in single-quotes. Here is an example:
sp_rename N'StaffMembers', N'Employees';
GO
In this case, the interpreter would look for a table named StaffMembers in the current or
selected database. If it finds it, it would rename it Employees. If the table doesn't exist,
you would receive an error.
Deleting a Table
If you have an undesired table in a database, you can remove it. To delete a table in the
SQL Server Management Studio, in the Object Explorer, right-click the table under its
database node and click Delete. You will receive a warning giving you a chance to confirm
your intentions. If you still want to remove the table, click OK.
To delete a table using SQL, use the following formula:
DROP TABLE TableName
The DROP TABLE expression is required and it is followed by the name of the undesired
table. When you execute the statement, you will not receive a warning before the table is
deleted.

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You can also use sample code that Microsoft SQL Server can generate for you. First
display an empty query window. Also display the Templates Explorer and expand the
Table node. Under Table, drag Drop Table and drop it in the empty query window. Sample
code would be generated for you. You can then simply modify it and execute the
statement.
Referring to a Table
In future lessons, we will write various expressions that involve the names of tables. In
those expressions, you will need to specify a particular table you want to use. There are
three main ways you can do this. To refer to, or to indicate, a table:
You can simply type its name. An example would be Students
You can type dbo, followed by the period operator, followed by the name of the
table. An example would be dbo.Students
You can type the name of the database to which the table belongs, followed by the
period operator, followed by dbo, followed by the period operator, and followed by
the name of the table. An example would be RedOakHighSchool.dbo.Students
Tables and Permissions
The table as an object doesn't have many own rights. Its permissions are controlled partly
by its database owner and by its contents. The primary right to exercise on a database is
the ability to create a table. To visually allow or deny this, access the Database Properties
of the database that owns the table. In the Select a Page list, click Permissions. In the
Users or Roles list, select the user. In the Permissions list, locater the Create Table row:
After granting or denying access, click OK.
To programmatically allow a user to create tables on a database, type GRANT CREATE
TABLE TO followed by the name of the user. Here is an example:
USE Exercise1;
GO
GRANT CREATE TABLE TO [Raymond Kouma];

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GO