Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Using T-SQL to Create Tables

Ultimately, all the tables created with the visual tools can also be created by using T-SQL. As with many of the SSMS tools, database objects can be resolved or scripted into T-SQL statements. Let’s examine the T-SQL syntax to better understand some of the table creation options; then we can discuss the definition of the columns in each table.

The full T-SQL CREATE TABLE syntax is extensive. It includes options to define table constraints, indexes, and index options. The SQL Server Books Online topic named “CREATE TABLE (Transact-SQL)” shows the full syntax and describes each of these options in detail. Listing 20.1 shows the basic T-SQL syntax; the first part of the syntax is listed in Books Online. This syntax is ...